A proposal by the EELV party in the Rhône-Alpes regional council for a feasibility study into a potential Basic Income pilot programme, has been defeated. The defeat came during the budget debate at the end of January this year.

The proposal, in the form of an amendment to the council’s 2015 budget, called for €80,000 to be set aside for a preliminary investigation into a ‘Universal Existence Income’ pilot programme in the Rhône-Alpes region.

EELV member, Olivier Keller, received a round of applause after making the proposal. During his speech he said, “Beyond clichés, it’s a matter of nothing less than giving meaning back to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which links dignity, due to every one of us, to the ability to fulfill one’s needs”

The EELV are part of the governing coalition in Rhône-Alpes, where fresh regional elections are due this year.

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Language: French

Stanislas Jourdan, “EELV propose la mise en place d’une expérimentation de revenu d’existence en région Rhône-Alpes [EELV propose implementation of a Universal Existence Income experiment in Rhône-Alpes region]”, Mouvement Français pour un Revenu de Base, 3 February 2015

Europe Écologie Les Verts, “Budget Primitif 2015 Étude Pour Une Experimentation Du Revenu Universel D’Éxistence En Région Rhône-Alpes / Auvergne [Preliminary Budget 2015 Study for an Experiment into a Universal Existence Income in Rhône-Alpes / Auvergne Region]”, Europe Écologie Les Verts, 29 January 2015