CESI calls for adequate minimum income schemes in Europe

According to the position, CESI welcomes the Recommendation as a step further to encourage Member States to ensure national minimum income schemes that effectively combat poverty. In particular, CESI:

1. welcomes the broad definition of poverty and the combination of this with a recommendation that Member States should set ‘adequate’ income support at a height of at least the relative national-at-risk-of poverty threshold – notes however that a careful balance needs to be struck between adequate minimum incomes and adequate minimum wages through the recent EU minimum wage directive 2022/2041. While minimum income schemes (including further potential social benefits) must prevent a risk of poverty as a basic right of all citizens, minimum wages must ensure a standard of living beyond this.
2. welcomes the Recommendation as a tool to encourage Member States to ensure a better take-up of available minimum income schemes including through step-by-step guidance for those who need it, using digital and non-digital tools – notes however that citizens in need always require a physical person in public administrations to rely on. Digital tools should not replace staff that provides assistance at place.
3. welcomes a foreseen individualised service provision for citizens on minimum income schemes to help them overcome social exclusion and access employment, and also welcomes the importance placed on the need of further access to enabling essential services that will help citizens in need, beyond material assistance through minimum income – notes however that Member States need to commit to considerable investments in their public services and administrations to implement the Recommendation in this regard.
4. welcomes the Recommendation’s encompassing character to approach poverty in a holistic manner – notes however that the Recommendation is not legally binding and that a central role will pertain to trade unions and social partners to maintain political pressure on national governments to implement it.

CESI Secretary General Klaus Heeger said: “Acting on minimum incomes is a key area of responsibility for the EU to deliver on the objective stated in the Treaties to combat social exclusion. Adequate minimum income schemes are above all about human dignity, social fairness, inclusion and societal cohesion.”

He added: “Minimum income schemes also represent economic investments that will pay off for public budgets – and from an internal market point of view, adequate minimum income schemes in Europe can also contribute to a more balanced intra-EU migration.”

The full position is available here.