Motion for a resolution - B7-0010/2014Motion for a resolution
B7-0010/2014

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on an EU homelessness strategy

8.1.2014 - (2013/2994(RSP))

to wind up the debate on the statement by the Commission
pursuant to Rule 110(2) of the Rules of Procedure

Stephen Hughes, Alejandro Cercas, Pervenche Berès on behalf of the S&D Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0008/2014

Procedure : 2013/2994(RSP)
Document stages in plenary
Document selected :  
B7-0010/2014

B7‑0010/2014

European Parliament resolution on an EU homelessness strategy

(2013/2994(RSP))

The European Parliament,

–   having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, in particular Articles 9, 14, 151 and 153 thereof,

–   having regard to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, in particular Article 34 relating to social security and social assistance, and Article 36 relating to access to services of general economic interest,

–   having regard to the European Social Charter of the Council of Europe, in particular Article 31 relating to the right to housing,

–   having regard to its declarations of 22 April 2008 on ending street homelessness[1] and of 16 December 2010 on an EU homelessness strategy[2],

–   having regard to its resolution of 14 September 2011 on an EU homelessness strategy[3],

–   having regard to the Annual Report of the Social Protection Committee (2012) entitled ‘Social Europe – Current challenges and the way forward’,

–   having regard to the Commission staff working document of 20 February 2013 entitled ‘Confronting Homelessness in the European Union’ (SWD(2013)0042),

–   having regard to the Commission staff working document of 20 February 2013 entitled ‘Social investment through the European Social Fund’ (SWD(2013)0044),

–   having regard to the Commission communication of 20 February 2013 entitled ‘Towards Social Investment for Growth and Cohesion – including implementing the European Social Fund 2014-2020’ (COM(2013)0083),

–   having regard to the roundtable discussion of 1 March 2013 of EU Ministers with responsibility for homelessness, held in Leuven,

–   having regard to its resolution of 18 April 2013 on the impact of the financial and economic crisis on human rights[4],

–   having regard to its resolution of 12 June 2013 on the Commission communication entitled ‘Towards Social Investment for Growth and Cohesion – including implementing the European Social Fund 2014-2020’[5],

–   having regard to its resolution of 11 June 2013 on social housing in the European Union[6],

–   having regard to Rule 110(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas homelessness represents one of the worst forms of social exclusion and deprivation, and results in devastating consequences for the person themself and for society as a whole;

B.  whereas homelessness is a violation of human dignity and of human rights; whereas housing is a basic human need and a precondition for a decent life and social inclusion;

C. whereas the financial and economic crisis has had a negative impact on the social situation in Europe and all signs are pointing towards a worsening of the problem of homelessness; whereas this deterioration is even worse in the countries under economic adjustment programmes;

D. whereas, according to the Annual Report of the Social Protection Committee (2012), the number of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion in the EU accounts for nearly a quarter of the population; whereas it is difficult to find accurate data on homelessness;

E.  whereas the current levels of poverty and social exclusion are jeopardising the Europe 2020 strategy target of reducing the number of people in or at risk of poverty and social exclusion by at least 20 million;

F.  whereas the European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion flagship initiative is a key element within the Europe 2020 strategy;

G. whereas homelessness is a shared problem across all the Member States, and whereas cooperation between Member States is therefore essential to combating homelessness;

H. whereas homelessness is by its nature a complex and multifaceted phenomenon which does not have a one-size-fits-all solution;

I.   whereas knowledge concerning different social groups’ specific needs must be taken into account, and whereas comprehensive data and statistics concerning homelessness are vital to tackling homelessness in an efficient way;

J.   whereas the criminalisation of homeless people can be observed in some Member States, which constitutes discrimination against homeless people and a violation of European fundamental rights;

1.  Calls on the Commission to establish, in cooperation with key stakeholders, a European homelessness strategy by the end of 2015 along the lines of Parliament’s resolution of 14 September 2011on an EU homelessness strategy;

2.  Calls on the Commission to establish a working group of relevant stakeholders, including representatives from civil society, researchers, people experiencing homelessness, and policy makers, as well as national and regional experts, to support and contribute to the development of such a strategy;

3.  Recalls that the fight to end homelessness is first and foremost the responsibility of the Member States; urges, therefore, the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) to discuss and endorse a European homelessness strategy of this kind;

4.  Recalls that research and cooperation regarding a European homelessness strategy could be financed via the European Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI) programme;

5.  Underlines the need to collect comprehensive and comparable data concerning homelessness at European level without stigmatising homeless people; stresses that data collection is a precondition for the development of efficient policies leading ultimately to the eradication of homelessness;

6.  Calls on the Member States to deepen their cooperation in order to enhance mutual learning and exchange of best practices and to develop a common policy approach; calls on the Member States to meet on a regular basis at ministerial level to discuss homelessness;

7.  Calls on the Commission to recognise homeless people as a particularly vulnerable social group, exposed to multiple forms of discrimination and with impaired basic fundamental rights; underlines, in this context, the particular needs of homeless children;

8.  Calls on the Commission to incorporate the issue of homelessness into all relevant policy domains in order to reduce the risk and magnitude of homelessness;

9.  Calls on the Commission to support and facilitate the Member States in establishing national and regional homelessness strategies as a key element in ultimately eradicating homelessness and to assist in the evaluation of these strategies;

10. Calls on the Commission and the Council to create an ‘EU shelter guarantee’ in order to ensure that there is a sufficient number of emergency shelters and other facilities and services available for homeless people in the European Union;

11. Underlines the urgent need to end any form of criminalisation of homeless people and marginalisation of entire communities; calls on the Commission and the Council to put political pressure on Member States penalising homelessness;

12. Calls on the Member States to use the resources of the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD), as well as other programmes such as the European Social Fund (ESF), to improve the situation of homeless people and create a path to social inclusion and employment integration;

13. Calls on the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) to further examine the implications of extreme poverty and social exclusion as regards fundamental, political and social rights;

14. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Committee of the Regions, the European Economic and Social Committee, the Social Protection Committee and the Council of Europe.