This article summarises the arguments in favour of an EU initiative on minimum wages and highlights the steps that have been taken so far, focusing, in particular, on the First Stage consultation document prepared by the European Commission. Based on this consultation document and previous proposals, this article assesses some of the issues related to promoting an EU target minimum wage as a percentage of a national reference wage. Focusing on the adequacy of minimum wages for workers and their families, this article highlights first, the impact rather technical issues relating to the definition of the reference wage may have, and second, the importance of considering the interaction of the minimum wage with the broader tax benefit system in ensuring adequate in-work incomes. Whereas an EU initiative on minimum wages certainly has merit, these two caveats illustrate the need for a clear definition of what one wants to achieve by this initiative, and indicate that specific goals will require additional accompanying measures, such as a further monitoring of the net incomes of minimum wage earners

中文翻译：

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欧盟为获得足够的工作收入而制定的最低工资目标？

本文总结了支持欧盟最低工资倡议的论点，并重点介绍了迄今为止已采取的步骤，特别关注欧盟委员会准备的第一阶段咨询文件。基于此咨询文件和之前的提案，本文评估了与促进欧盟最低工资目标占国家参考工资的百分比相关的一些问题。本文着眼于工人及其家庭的最低工资是否充足，首先强调与参考工资定义相关的技术性问题可能产生的影响，其次强调考虑最低工资与更广泛的税收优惠制度以确保足够的工作收入。欧盟关于最低工资的倡议当然有好处，