Basic income in the EU: from the Nice Charter to implementation policies

The right to a guaranteed minimum income is a fundamental right of European origin, since it is recognized both by the Charter of Nice and by the European Social Charter. Furthermore, since a long time EU policies have included it as basis for the fight against social exclusion, until the integration, in 2007, in the common principles on flexicurity, which is the reference axis also for the new 2020 Strategy which has replaced the Lisbon Agenda. Given its nature as social fundamental right, aiming at protecting the dignity of the person, as stated in some recent Resolutions of the European Parliament, it excludes that benefits deriving from it may be subject to unreasonable conditions, which violate the autonomy of the person. Despite the clear supranational indications, Italy is the only EU Member State, together with Greece and Hungary, lacking a guaranteed minimum income scheme. Only Regions have tried to respond to the repeated appeals of the Union, and specifically the Region Latium, which had adopted an act in 2009, now expired. However, the emergencies determined by the economic crisis and by the crisis of the Euro could drive the Union to adopt its own, legally binding regulation aiming at strengthening solidarity and internal social cohesion.

Keywords: European Union; Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union; Flexicurity; Basic income; Social inclusion; Dignity

Giuseppe Bronzini, Il reddito minimo garantito nell'Unione europea: dalla Carta di Nizza alle politiche di attuazione in "GIORNALE DI DIRITTO DEL LAVORO E DI RELAZIONI INDUSTRIALI " 130/2011, pp 225-245, DOI: 10.3280/GDL2011-130002