MEPs pass robotics report with key changes

Parliament rejected demands for a basic income for workers who lose their jobs and a tax on robots.

The European Parliament Thursday passed a controversial report on robotics, but deleted the demands for a basic income for workers who lose their jobs and a tax on robots.

The MEPs, however, supported a European agency for robotics and artificial intelligence, as well as a supplementary fund for victims in accidents in self-driving vehicles.

Mady Delvaux, the Socialists & Democrats member in the Legal Affairs Committee, drafted the document and was disappointed with the outcome.

“Although I am pleased that the plenary adopted my report on robotics, I am also disappointed that the right-wing coalition of ALDE, EPP and ECR refused to take account of possible negative consequences on the job market,” she said in a statement.

The report passed 396-to-123, with 85 abstentions.