Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1798 of 7 July 2026 on the request for registration of the European citizens’ initiative entitled Introduction of Unconditional Basic Income (UBI) throughout the EU, pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2019/788 of the European Parliament and of the Council (notified under document C(2026) 4721)

Official Journal EN of the European Union L series 2026/1798 20.7.2026 COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION(EU) 2026/1798 of 7 July 2026 on the request for registration of the European citizens’ initiative entitled ‘Introduction of Unconditional Basic Income (UBI) throughout the EU’, pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2019/788 of the European Parliament and of the Council (notified under document C(2026) 4721) (Only the English text is authentic) THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Having regard to Regulation (EU) 2019/788 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 on the European citizens’ initiative(1), and in particular Article 6(3) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) A request for registration of a European citizens’ initiative entitled ‘Introduction of Unconditional Basic Income (UBI) throughout the EU’ was submitted to the Commission on 14 May 2026.

(2) By letter of 15 June 2026 (C(2026) 4069 final), pursuant to Article 6(4) of Regulation (EU) 2019/788, the Commission informed the group of organisers that as regards the request for registration submitted on 14 May 2026, the requirements for registration set out in Article 6(3), first subparagraph, points (a), (d) and (e), of that Regulation were fulfilled and that Article 6(3), first subparagraph, point (b), thereof was not applicable. However, the Commission also explained that the initiative manifestly fell outside the framework of the Commission’s powers to submit a proposal for a legal act of the Union for the purpose of implementing the Treaties, in the sense of Article 6(3), first subparagraph, point (c), of Regulation (EU) 2019/788.

(3) The Commission therefore informed the group of organisers pursuant to Article 6(4), first subparagraph, of Regulation (EU) 2019/788 that they could either amend the initiative to take into account the Commission’s assessment, or maintain, or withdraw, the initial initiative in accordance with Article 6(4), second subparagraph, of Regulation (EU) 2019/788.

(4) On 16 June 2026, the group of organisers submitted an amended initiative entitled ‘Introduction of Unconditional Basic Income (UBI) throughout the EU’.

(5) The aim of the amended initiative, as expressed by the organisers, is to ‘establish an Unconditional Basic Income (UBI) in the EU’. The organisers ‘see that with the rapid developments in artificial intelligence and robotics, there is an urgent need to decouple our livelihoods from the ability to sell our labour power, as we will soon have a situation where there are not enough jobs for us.’ Therefore, the organisers ask ‘the European Commission to take all necessary and legal steps that can help with the introduction of UBI in EU Member States, and to issue a recommendation for Member States to work on the introduction of UBI.’ An annex to the initiative provides further details on its background, its subject matter and its objectives.

(6) The Commission considers that based on Article 121(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union

(TFEU), the Commission could recommend that the Council formulate a draft for the broad guidelines of the economic policies of the Member States and of the Union and report its findings to the European Council. Based on the conclusion of the European Council, the Council may adopt a recommendation setting out those broad guidelines. Similarly, based on Article 148(2) TFEU, the Commission could propose that the Council draw up guidelines, in the form of a Council decision, based on the conclusions of the European Council, which the Member States shall take into account in their employment policies.

(1) OJ L 130, 17.5.2019, p. 55, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2019/788/oj.

ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2026/1798/oj 1/2EN OJ L, 20.7.2026

(7) For those reasons, the Commission considers that none of the parts of the initiative manifestly falls outside the framework of the Commission’s powers to submit a proposal for a legal act of the Union for the purpose of implementing the Treaties.

(8) That conclusion does not affect the assessment of whether the concrete substantive conditions required for the Commission to act, including compliance with the principles of proportionality and subsidiarity and compatibility with fundamental rights, would be met in this case.

(9) The group of organisers has provided appropriate evidence that it fulfils the requirements laid down in Article 5(1) and (2) of Regulation (EU) 2019/788 and has designated the contact persons in accordance with Article 5(3), first subparagraph, of that Regulation.

(10) The initiative is not manifestly abusive, frivolous or vexatious, nor is it manifestly contrary to the values of the Union as set out in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union or to the rights enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

(11) The initiative entitled ‘Introduction of Unconditional Basic Income (UBI) throughout the EU’ should therefore be registered.

(12) The conclusion that the conditions for registration under Article 6(3) of Regulation (EU) 2019/788 are fulfilled does not imply that the Commission in any way confirms the factual correctness of the content of the initiative, which is the sole responsibility of the group of organisers of the initiative. The content of the initiative only expresses the views of the group of organisers, and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the Commission,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1 The European citizens’ initiative entitled ‘Introduction of Unconditional Basic Income (UBI) throughout the EU’ shall be registered.

Article 2 This Decision is addressed to the group of organisers of the citizens’ initiative entitled ‘Introduction of Unconditional Basic Income (UBI) throughout the EU’, represented by Klaus SAMBOR and Michele GIANELLA acting as contact persons.

Done at Strasbourg, 7 July 2026.

For the Commission Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ Member of the Commission 2/2 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2026/1798/oj