At its 540th plenary session, held on 23 and 24 January 2019, the European Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion, available in all language versions: The EESC launched the idea of a Framework Directive on a European Minimum Income already in 2013 (SOC/482). As the principle of minimum income was integrated in the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR), it was again supported twice by the EESC (SOC/542 and SOC/564). Applying the open method of coordination (OMC) as the only mechanism to reduce poverty continues to be insufficient to achieve the target set in the Europe 2020 Strategy. Introducing a binding European framework for a decent minimum income in Europe, enabling minimum income schemes in the Member States to be made "decent" (adequate) is a key European response to the serious and persistent problem of poverty in Europe. According to articles 153(1) (c) and (h) TFEU, this framework could take the initial form of a directive.
Yours sincerely, Christa Schweng President of the Section for Employment, Social Affairs and Citizenship (SOC)
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