About the campaign
What is Minimum Income?
Minimum Income provisions are social assistance schemes of last resort, and are therefore a lifeline for the people in greatest poverty. Minimum Income schemes are often for people of working age and access to the schemes often requires that the person is actively seeking work.
What is the current situation in the European Union?
Three Member States currently do not have Minimum Income schemes in place (Greece, Italy, Hungary). The same is also true for Norway. Even where schemes exist there are serious flaws with the accessibility and the adequacy of these schemes.
Why this campaign?
International human rights instruments commit Governments to respect human dignity. The 2008 EU Commission Recommendation on Active Inclusion recognises “the individual's basic right to resources and social assistance sufficient to lead a life that is compatible with human dignity”. Through this campaign, EAPN seeks to hold Governments accountable for these commitments.
Campaign tools – what you can do
Please sign our appeal, calling for adequate Minimum Income schemes for a dignified life across Europe. Your support could mean a better life for someone. You can find adapted versions in your language on our homepage.
This appeal has already been signed by prominent European and national personalities and people with direct experience of minimum income schemes. You can see our supporters here. We are presently gathering more support in favour of this initiative.
More information about Minimum Income schemes in Europe:
What EAPN wants: A brief overview of our main concerns and demands regarding adequate minimum income schemes
Myths and Realities: A paper by Prof John Veit-Wilson, offering strong arguments in favour of the idea of an adequate minimum income for a decent and dignified level of living for all
Minimum Income Schemes Overview: A document mapping out the different situations in Member States regarding the accessibility, affordability, amount and conditionality attached to Minimum Income schemes, based on MISSOC statistics.
New Report on Minimum Income Schemes across EU Member States - October 2009
Hugh Frazer and Eric Marlier, of the European Network of National Independent Experts on Social Inclusion, have cosigned a new report on minimum income schemes across the EU, which EAPN considers to be a reference document, both for its clarity and comprehensiveness.
Adequacy explainer – Available soon
A document presenting the definitions and challenges attached to the notion of “adequacy” and what we propose in terms of calculating “decent” minimum income schemes.
