Guerreiro calls on Economic and Social Council to debate Unconditional Basic Income

Lisbon, 15 December 2020- Portuguese MEP Francisco Guerreiro (Greens/EFA) wants the Economic and Social Council (CES) to consider and debate Unconditional Basic Income (UBI) and its possible implementation in Portugal.

“In view of the serious social and economic situation, brought about by the pandemic that is plaguing the world, I am of the opinion that all the possibilities of structural change should be considered and debated, namely Unconditional Basic Income, an instrument with several facets, which could serve as an answer to the difficulties faced by a very expressive fringe of the Portuguese population,” says the communication sent to CES.

Francisco Guerreiro recalls several initiatives he has developed: “I recently questioned the European Commission on this issue and I remember that several countries in Europe and the World have already advanced with this social measure. Increasingly, citizens are debating this reality around the world and in Portugal as well. At the academic level, the matter has deserved the greatest care from the community, as evidenced by tomorrow’s debate (wednesday, 16 December), promoted by Economics students at ISCTE - Lisbon University Institute, in which I will participate with other figures from national politics and society”.

In addition, a request for signatures is underway to establish the introduction of Unconditional Basic Income in the European Union, a European Citizens’ Initiative started on 25 September, which already has more than 80 thousand signatures and can be seen here.

The Portuguese MEP recalls that CES is a consultation body in the field of economic and social policies, with an active role in the preparation of economic and social development plans, and, taking into account its relevance and competence, challenged it to ponder the possibility of commenting on this matter at the Plenary, since it raises more and more interest in the academic and political spheres.

Read the request below:

Your Excellency Dr. Francisco Assis,

I now come to question you, bearing in mind that the Economic and Social Council is a consultation body in the field of economic and social policies, with an active role in the preparation of economic and social development plans, and the fact that it holds the prerogative of carrying out its own initiatives, after the Plenary has approved a proposal for a topic, even without having been consulted by the government or the Parliament, about the possibility of analysing the feasibility of implementing an Unconditional Basic Income in our country.

In view of the serious social and economic situation, brought about by the pandemic that is plaguing the world, I am of the opinion that all the possibilities of structural change should be considered and debated, namely Unconditional Basic Income, an instrument with several facets, which could serve as an answer to the difficulties faced by a very expressive fringe of the Portuguese population.

Therefore, and taking into account your revelance and competence, I challenge CES to ponder the possibility of commenting on this matter at the Plenary, since it raises more and more interest in the academic and political spheres. I look forward to your comments.

Without further ado, I send you my best regards.

Francisco Guerreiro,

MEP

See below the answer from the President of the Economic and Social Council, Francisco Assis (in Portuguese).

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