European Commission registers initiative for universal basic income

The European Commission has officially registered a European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) that calls for the implementation of an unconditional basic income across all European Union member states. The organizers argue that rapid advancements in artificial intelligence and robotics are likely to reduce future job availability, necessitating a decoupling of survival from traditional employment. The initiative formally requests that the Commission take legal measures to facilitate basic income schemes and issue recommendations to national governments. In its response, the Commission clarified that the registration is a procedural step confirming that the initiative meets formal legal requirements. This action does not constitute an endorsement or evaluation of the proposal's content. To proceed, organizers must now collect at least one million valid signatures from EU citizens. They have six months to initiate the campaign, followed by a 12-month period to gather the required support. If the threshold is met, the Commission will be required to formulate an official position on the matter.