Anyone who reads this glowing blog knows that the position of its author, myself, is strongly oriented to the granting of a form of subsidy. A subsidy that gives dignity to those who do not have a job, allows them to choose their role in society or not to give in to blackmail.
UBI. Universal Basic Income. Universal Basic Income. Call it what you like, it's been talked about in here here and, in even more peremptory terms, here. In this case, European Universal Basic Income. This is the subject of a proposal that is now starting to collect signatures.
The initiative
The European Citizens' Initiative it is a unique tool to help shape the EU by asking the European Commission to propose new pieces of legislation. When an initiative collects one million signatures, the Commission decides what action to take. (if you want to organize one, go here)
Promoted and notified in the EU by an organized group of citizens already last May, the European universal basic income initiative aims to reach the goal within a year. From the 25 September 2020 to the 25 September 2021 each EU country will have to collect a number of signatures corresponding to the MEPs of each country multiplied by 750. For Italy this means a signature collection centered on reaching 57.000 signatures. It is a goal well within our reach.
The criteria of the European universal basic income
The unconditional basic income does not aim to replace the welfare state, but to complete it, transforming it from a universal welfare subsidy into a universal emancipatory subsidy. The request is that the EU introduces at European level (according to the various national economies) a basic income: Universal, Individual, Unconditional, Sufficient. I would add "popular", it is a term that sometimes becomes obsolete. But what did the word “people” do to you in the end?
Universal: paid to everyone, without evaluation of individual resources. You are not subject to income, savings or asset limits. Every person, regardless of age, class, citizenship, place of residence, etc. has the right to receive this benefit throughout the EU.
Individual: everyone (woman, man or child) will have the right to the European universal basic income on an individual basis, as this is the only way to prevent control by other people. For this reason, be independent from the marital status or income of other cohabitants or family members.
Unconditional: the European universal basic income must not be subject to any preconditions. To obtain the universal subsidy there must be no obligation to carry out paid work, demonstrate the will to work, carry out socially useful work, or behave according to predefined gender roles.
Enough: the amount should allow a decent standard of living. It should prevent material poverty and provide the opportunity to participate in social life. For this it will have to be at least above the poverty threshold according to EU rules, that is 60% of the so-called national equivalent net average income.
Contribute with your signature. You can do it online, or by downloading a form, signing (and having it signed) and then delivering it to the initiative coordinators. Find everything at this web address.
