(1)

The objective of the proposed European citizens’ initiative entitled ‘Start Unconditional Basic Incomes (UBI) throughout the EU’, as amended by the group of organisers in reply to the Commission letter of 19 February 2020 (2), is ‘to establish the introduction of unconditional basic incomes throughout the EU which ensure every person’s material existence and opportunity to participate in society as part of its economic policy. This aim shall be reached while remaining within the competences conferred to the EU by the Treaties.’ The organisers request the Commission to make a proposal for unconditional basic incomes throughout the Union, which reduce regional disparities in order to strengthen the economic, social and territorial cohesion in the Union and indicate that ‘this shall realise the aim of the joint statement by the European Council, the European Parliament and the European Commission, stated in 2017, that “the EU and its Member States will also support efficient, sustainable and equitable social protection systems to guarantee basic income” in order to combat inequality.’

(2)

An annex on the subject matter, objectives and background to the proposed European citizens’ initiative contains the four criteria which would define the proposed ‘Unconditional Basic Income’: it should be ‘universal’, ‘individual’, ‘unconditional’ and ‘high enough’.

(3)

The Treaty on European Union reinforces citizenship of the Union and enhances further the democratic functioning of the Union by providing, inter alia, that every citizen is to have the right to participate in the democratic life of the Union by way of a European citizens’ initiative.

(4)

To this end, the procedures and conditions required for the citizens’ initiative should be clear, simple, user-friendly and proportionate to the nature of the citizens’ initiative so as to encourage participation by citizens and to make the Union more accessible.

(5)

The group of organisers refers to a number of provisions of the Treaties considered relevant, including Article 5 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union , which provides that the Member States are to coordinate their economic policies within the Union and that, to this end, the Council is to adopt measures, in particular broad guidelines for these policies. That provision confers competence for coordination in the economic and social fields on the Union, but does not constitute a legal basis which would allow the Commission to make a proposal for a legal act of the Union.

(6)

However, a legal act of the Union for the purpose of implementing the Treaties on ‘Unconditional Basic Incomes throughout the EU’ for all citizens, as called for in the proposed initiative, could be adopted on the basis of Article 121(2) of the Treaty. That provision enables the Commission to recommend that the Council formulate a draft for the broad guidelines of the economic policies of the Member States and of the Union and report its findings to the European Council. On the basis of the conclusion of the European Council, the Council may adopt a recommendation setting out those broad guidelines.

(7)

For these reasons, none of the parts of the proposed initiative manifestly falls outside the framework of the Commission’s powers to submit a proposal for a legal act of the Union for the purpose of implementing the Treaties in accordance with Article 6(3)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2019/788.

(8)

The group of organisers has provided appropriate evidence that it fulfils the requirements laid down in Article 5(1) and (2) of Regulation (EU) 2019/788 and has designated the contact persons in accordance with the first subparagraph of Article 5(3) of that Regulation.

(9)

The initiative is not manifestly abusive, frivolous or vexatious, nor is it manifestly contrary to the values of the Union as set out in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union and rights enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

(10)

The proposed initiative entitled ‘Start Unconditional Basic Incomes (UBI) throughout the EU’ should therefore be registered,