By Desmond Hinton-Beales - 8th February 2012
Citizenship is a very clear concept and is the basis of the entire EU
Niccolo Rinaldi, MEP
ALDE deputy Niccolo Rinaldi has said that homeless people in the EU are being "excluded" from their rights to European citizenship and freedom of movement.
Speaking at an ALDE press briefing on EU citizenship, Rinaldi said homelessness and freedom of movement was an "important commitment" to champion the rights of homeless people.
"Citizenship is a very clear concept and is the basis of the entire EU," he said, adding that homeless people are "denied active participation in society, basic services and freedom of circulation".
"The number of homeless is increasing with serious speed and EU democracy has difficulty connecting with this. The homeless do not vote or have constituencies.
"Children sleeping on the street with their families is a growing phenomenon and we are trying to focus the EU institutions on these difficult and vulnerable sectors," said the Italian MEP.
Rinaldi added that there must be an "increasing and good use of EU funds" to tackle this issue, stressing that the role of the media is fundamental as this is an "extremely visible problem" on the streets of Europe, yet receives little attention.
Swedish deputy Cecilia Wikström said that an "increasing number of EU citizens are destitute", before criticising some member states for displaying the "wrong mentality" when it comes to dealing with this issue.
"This is a failure and is hugely undignified for the EU," she said.
Secretary general of Eurodiaconia Heather Roy said the EU must accept that the free movement of citizens "is not just a success, but also a problem".
"Those who are out of work and from other EU member states can fall through the gaps. Our systems are failing the most vulnerable."
Roy said that the EU must recognise that freedom of movement brings rights and responsibilities to member states, as well as to citizens.
"There is a lack of clarity on this issue," she said. "What are citizens entitled to in other member states?"
Freek Spinnewijn, director of the European federation of national organisations working with the homeless (Feantsa), said, "The EU is, maybe purposely, blind to the dark side of free movement.
"The most rapidly increasing section of rough sleepers is EU citizens from other member states.
"Every EU citizen, whatever their status should have access to social care."
