In spite of having been an alleged priority for the EU and the Member States over the last ten years, the number of people in situations of poverty and social exclusion remains unacceptably high. As the Covid-19 crisis unfolds, the EU is left at a crossroads that will likely be determinant for its future. This contribution explores the possibility of taking the solidarity route at this crossroads by activating the social competences in the form of a Framework Directive on Minimum Income. To this end, this contribution first discusses the context of this proposal and the importance of minimum income schemes in improving the living standards of the population. From there, it explores the possibilities for legal action under the current Treaty framework. It then emphasizes the importance of choosing adequate methodologies in such an instrument when aiming to secure adequate incomes to live a life in dignity in any given Member State. It is argued that this is equally important to comply with the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality. Ultimately, the EU will have to bet on its social dimension to remain true to its raison-d’être of becoming a social market economy.

中文翻译：

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在十字路口确保体面收入：关于最低收入框架指令的法律可行性

尽管在过去十年中一直是欧盟和成员国的优先事项，但处于贫困和社会排斥状况的人数仍然高得令人无法接受。随着 Covid-19 危机的展开，欧盟正处于可能决定其未来的十字路口。这一贡献探讨了通过以最低收入框架指令的形式激活社会能力，在这个十字路口走团结路线的可能性。为此，本文稿首先讨论了该提案的背景以及最低收入计划在提高人口生活水平方面的重要性。从那里，它探讨了在当前条约框架下采取法律行动的可能性。然后，它强调在旨在确保任何特定会员国过上有尊严生活的足够收入时，在此类文书中选择适当方法的重要性。有人认为，遵守辅助性和相称性原则同样重要。最终，欧盟将不得不押注其社会层面，以保持其成为社会市场经济的存在理由。