We asked candidates to the European Elections three questions about their take on basic income policies for Europe:
- Are you in favour of the European Union playing a more active role to ensure that all citizens can have a life in dignity, freedom and the opportunity of pursuing happiness?
- Would you support EU-wide basic income experiments?
- Do you agree that the EU should pay a monthly basic dividend to all its citizens on the subsistence level of the poorest member state?
Here are the responses we received.
Belgium
Answers of EP candidates from Belgium: defi, Ecolo, MR
Olivier De Schutter
Ecolo (Belgium, Greens/EFA)
Je suis en faveur de l’instauration immédiate d’une allocation universelle pour tous les jeunes de 18 à 25 ans, afin qu’ils fassent un choix de formation et de premier emploi sans que ces choix soient contraints par des exigences matérielles. Cela me semble prioritaire. Fixer cette allocation sur la base du « niveau de subsistance du pays le plus pauvre » me semble insuffisamment ambitieux, je pense qu’il faudrait fixer le revenu de base plutôt à 60% du revenu médian, et donc le revenu de base devrait différer de pays à pays (en fonction du niveau de vie de chaque pays).
Philippe Lamberts
Ecolo (Belgium, Greens/EFA)
- Oui
- Oui
- Oui
Olivier Maingain
DéFi (Belgium)
Q1: DéFi est évidemment favorable à cela. Nous sommes un parti pro-européen donc pour le renforcement du rôle de l’Union Européenne. Celle-ci, qui a développé le côté économique, doit à présent développer le côté social afin d’améliorer la qualité de vie des citoyens européens. Nous voulons une harmonisation sociale, fiscale, et environnementale au sein de l’Union.
Q2: Oui.
Q3: Cela n’est pas possible car cela ne rentre pas dans les compétences actuelles de l’Union européenne.
Germany
Answers of candidates from Germany: Bündnis Grundeinkommen, CDU, Die Linke
Svenja Baukje Dobberstein
Bündnis Grundeinkommen (Germany)
Selbstverständlich antworte ich auf alle drei Fragen mit einem klaren Ja.
Das Bündnis Grundeinkommen setzt sich für die Einführung eines Bedingungslosen Grundeinkommen ein. Das gilt auch für Schritte dahin wie Experimente, zum Beispiel “BGE statt Braunkohle” oder die Euro-Dividende.
Darüber hinaus positionieren wir uns demokratisch und proeuropäisch, im Sinne des Friedens und einer größtmöglichen Freiheit der Bürger (nicht der Konzerne).
Michael Gahler
CDU (Germany, EPP)
Zu Frage eins lautet meine Antwort Ja. Dafür wollen wir den europäischen Binnenmarkt weiter ausbauen und haben die Weichen gestellt, damit verstärkt Forschung an neuen Technologien betrieben werden kann. Dies wird es der Europäischen Union ermöglichen, wirtschaftlich zu prosperieren.
Die Verantwortung für die klassische Sozialpolitik und ihre Sicherungssysteme liegt demgegenüber bei den Mitgliedsstaaten. Im Ergebnis beantworte ich Ihre Fragen zwei und drei daher mit Nein.
[Die Antwort wird aus Längengründen hier gekürzt wiedergegeben. UBIE]
Martina Michels
Die LINKE (Germany, GUE/NGL)
I would overall agree to your demands, however, the EU with a budget of only 1% of GDP and with little legislative competences in the field of social policy would not be able to pay a direct basic income. I still think that minimum and basic income models based on an emancipatory approach should be tested and EU wide agreed principles about them could help reduce the worst effects of poverty and social exclusion. At the same time, basic income models cannot replace our struggle for collective agreements, the tripartite responsibility for universal social systems and protection of workers from precarious conditions such as fixed term and temporary work contracts.
Greece
Answers of EP candidates from Greece: MISS, Pirate Party
Xrysanthi Lytra
MISS (Greece, Greens/EFA)
- Yes
- Yes
- Yes
Vassilis Perantzakis
Pirate Party (Greece)
- Yes
- Yes
- Yes
Maria Peteinaki
MISS (Greece, Greens/EFA)
- As long as we try to fight on out own, at a state level, in this globalised word, it will be very difficult. EU can play a decisive role as long as we want to change EUs priorities from the market to the well being of its citizens.
By changing European taxation, reducing tax competition between states, abolishing tax havens, and bringing states closer together, we can face the huge amount that Europe is losing in taxes, and from it, have enough funds for the citizens. Life shouldn’t be about a competition to survive and mak ends meet, but happiness and fulfillment. Basic income can make this happen. - I would not only support it but I would fight for it as it is in our priorities.
- We ask for the introduction of a European legislation to ensure minimum income in all European countries. This minimum adequate level of social support should be provided by all Member States to all their citizens. As a first step, this policy could be applied horizontally to all young people, without discrimination and bureaucracy, for two years after completing their studies. Greens in Europe support experiments in national policies for universal basic income, but also for working time reduction schemes, especially for workers over 40 years of age.
Ireland
Answers of EP candidates from Ireland: Green Party
Ciarán Cuffe
Comhaontas Glas / Green Party (Ireland, Greens/EFA)
Happy to agree on the broad thrust, but more research is needed before rolling out in every country.
Brendan Smith
Fianna Fáil (Ireland, ALDE)