The European Parliament,
– having regard to Rule 116 of its Rules of Procedure,
- A. whereas homelessness was identified as a priority by the EPSCO Council in 2005, and is a priority under the 'active inclusion' strand of the EU social protection and inclusion strategy,
- B. whereas access to adequate housing is a fundamental human right and access to shelter often the first step towards adequate and sustainable housing solutions for people experiencing extreme poverty and exclusion,
- C. whereas every winter people freeze to death across the EU because of lack of emergency accommodation and outreach services catering for their needs,
- D. whereas street homelessness is the most visible form of homelessness, which can only be addressed effectively as part of a wider holistic strategy,
- E. whereas the European Parliament called twice for urgent action to tackle homelessness this year,
- Calls on the Council to agree on an EU-wide commitment to end street homelessness by 2015;
- Calls on the Commission to develop a European framework definition of homelessness, gather comparable and reliable statistical data, and provide annual updates on action taken and progress made in EU Member States towards ending homelessness;
- Urges Member States to devise ‘winter emergency plans’ as part of a wider homelessness strategy;
- Instructs its President to forward this declaration, together with the names of the signatories, to the Council, Commission and the Member States.
0111/2007 - Written declaration on ending street homelessness
