[Ireland] Citizens’ panel recommends introduction of EU minimum wage

A citizens panel meeting in Dublin has recommended that the EU should introduce a minimum wage and support the targeted delivery of social housing in member states, The Irish Times reports.

The vote followed a weekend of deliberations in Dublin Castle among 200 citizens of all ages and backgrounds from across the EU. The group voted to adopt a series of 48 wide-ranging and ambitious recommendations as part of the EU’s Conference on the Future of Europe.

Their recommendations will now go forward to a plenary session of the European Parliament which will reportedly take place in Strasbourg later this month.

The group met in Dublin to finalise and vote on their recommendations, after previous meetings in Strasbourg and online.

Citizens’ Assemblies in Ireland and other EU countries inspired the idea for the panel.

Among their recommendations were the introduction of an EU minimum wage, which would be adjustable based on the cost of living in individual member states and for greater EU efforts to prevent tax evasion.

The group voted 83 per cent in favour of EU action to support the targeted delivery of social housing.

The citizens also made a recommendation to include the introduction of an EU right to ‘smart working.’ It would include recognising the right of EU workers to work remotely at home or from another location once connected online.

The group were set the task of debating a range of European issues, including: ‘A stronger economy; social justice and jobs; education; culture; youth and sport; and digital transformation’.

Hannah Deasy - Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA) communications director and conference lead - said the focus over the weekend was “rightly on the fact that war has returned to the continent of Europe, and we are all shaken by the senseless invasion of Ukraine.”

That sentiment was reportedly “palpable” during the weekend’s deliberations, with many EU citizens from Central and Eastern Europe sharing their “lived experiences and reinforcing how important it is that we do not take our democratic freedoms for granted,” Ms Deasy said.

The full list of adopted recommendations was published on March 1.

Source: The Irish Times

(Quote via original reporting)

A citizens panel meeting in Dublin has recommended that the EU should introduce a minimum wage and support the targeted delivery of social housing in member states, The Irish Times reports.

The vote followed a weekend of deliberations in Dublin Castle among 200 citizens of all ages and backgrounds from across the EU. The group voted to adopt a series of 48 wide-ranging and ambitious recommendations as part of the EU’s Conference on the Future of Europe.

Their recommendations will now go forward to a plenary session of the European Parliament which will reportedly take place in Strasbourg later this month.

The group met in Dublin to finalise and vote on their recommendations, after previous meetings in Strasbourg and online.

Citizens’ Assemblies in Ireland and other EU countries inspired the idea for the panel.

Among their recommendations were the introduction of an EU minimum wage, which would be adjustable based on the cost of living in individual member states and for greater EU efforts to prevent tax evasion.

The group voted 83 per cent in favour of EU action to support the targeted delivery of social housing.

The citizens also made a recommendation to include the introduction of an EU right to ‘smart working.’ It would include recognising the right of EU workers to work remotely at home or from another location once connected online.

The group were set the task of debating a range of European issues, including: ‘A stronger economy; social justice and jobs; education; culture; youth and sport; and digital transformation’.

Hannah Deasy - Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA) communications director and conference lead - said the focus over the weekend was “rightly on the fact that war has returned to the continent of Europe, and we are all shaken by the senseless invasion of Ukraine.”

That sentiment was reportedly “palpable” during the weekend’s deliberations, with many EU citizens from Central and Eastern Europe sharing their “lived experiences and reinforcing how important it is that we do not take our democratic freedoms for granted,” Ms Deasy said.

The full list of adopted recommendations was published on March 1.

Source: The Irish Times

(Quote via original reporting)