Legal basis for introducing an adequate minimum income framework in the EU
2.2.2016
Question for written answer P-001004-16
to the Commission
Rule 130
Enrique Calvet Chambon (ALDE) , Marian Harkin (ALDE)
At her hearing of 1 October 2014, the then Commissioner-designate Marianne Thyssen stated that the EU has no competence on minimum income as such, but can stimulate the use of minimum income schemes, e.g. through Country Specific Recommendations.
However, in 2013 the European Economic and Social Committee published an opinion addressing the urgent need to guarantee an adequate minimum income in the EU under a framework directive, and called on the Commission to undertake concerted action and to examine funding possibilities for a European minimum income.
Under the existing Treaties, is there a legal basis for the introduction of a European legal framework for an EU Minimum Income Scheme?