The Declaration calls for Member States to comprehensively address the problem of homelessness by providing ‘adequate and sustainable housing solutions for people experiencing extreme poverty'. It calls on the European Council to agree to an EU-wide commitment to end street poverty by 2015.
Speaking from the European Parliament, Claude Moraes MEP, Labour MEP for London said:
"Street homelessness is a serious and growing problem across the EU and particularly in London. In 2007 London had over 2000 people sleeping rough on its streets, many with severe health and welfare needs. That's why I, along with many European colleagues, called on the EU and Member States to provide annual updates on progress towards ending this unnecessary and inhuman situation."
"With free movement of people across the European Union homelessness has become of increasing concern on the streets of London with many new arrivals from new member states entering the city with little money or knowledge of how to access emergency housing services leaving them vulnerable to exploitation."
"I call on the EU to develop a coherent strategy to help assist the Mayor of London's Office, London Boroughs and other local authorities across the EU to get people off the streets and into good, affordable accommodation."
"In London there is intense pressure on housing of all types but particularly social housing. That's why with assistance from the EU we can help meet the Mayor's target of 50% of all new developments being ‘affordable' for ordinary Londoners."/ENDS
Notes for Editors:
- Claude Moraes MEP is a Labour MEP for London. He is London's first Black or Asian MEP and a former CRE Commissioner and Director of the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants. He is also President of the European Parliament Intergroup (a cross-party group of MEPs) on Anti-Racism and Diversity.
- The Declaration will be formally presented in full session of the European Parliament the week beginning 21st of April and is all-party and has been signed by over 50% of European Parliamentarians representing a diverse range of political opinion.
- The Declaration was co-authored by Mary Lou McDonald (Ireland, EUL) Jacek Protasiewicz (Poland, EPP), Claude Moraes (United Kingdom, PES), Gérard Onesta (France, Green) and Jean Marie Beaupuy (France, ALDE)
For more information please call Claude Moraes MEP on 00 44 (0)7973 185 936 or the European Parliamentary Labour Party press officer, Silke Thomson on +32 479 790 053.
European Parliamentary Labour Party, European Parliament, Rue Wiertz, 1047 BRUSSELS, Belgium -
Tel: 00 32 2 28 43736
