Brussels, 13/02/2012 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission may very well share the concerns of MEPs about the situation of the homeless in the EU in periods of abnormal cold but it falls to the member states and local authorities to come to assistance of these homeless and to put in place various targeted temporary measures, followed by structural measures to end their social exclusion, stated Internal Market and Services Commissioner Michel Barnier during a debate in the European Parliament (EP) in Strasbourg on Monday 13 February.
The commissioner pointed out that the EU has little scope for action in this area. At most, it can encourage better use of European structural funding, “simplify the rules on state aid to social services for the vulnerable” and relax constraints to the setting up and running of social companies. “Companies and government, regional and local authorities, and civil society leaders, all have their part to play in bringing about a social Europe”, Barnier said.
Joseph Daul (EPP, France) pointed out that more than 600 people had died of cold and isolation in recent days in Europe. He regretted that the stocks of food made available to the food for the needy programme were so low. He argued for the extension beyond 2013 of the scheme to provide help to those most in need and a common energy policy. He praised the work of ad hoc aid networks which had grown up over the last few weeks. Sylvie Guillaume (S&D, France) said that the EU had more than 3 million homeless and called for “proactive, concrete action” from the EU. In both 2010 and 2011, the EP called for a “genuine European, strategy to tackle homelessness” to be put in place, she recalled. “Where is the roadmap? When will the Commission call for genuine, properly funded, national strategies from member states? How much money can be made available from the structural funds?” she asked. She fears that the European anti-poverty and social exclusion platform will “remain no more than a statement of intent”. Niccolo Rinaldi (ALDE, Italy) would have liked a minute's silence to have been held at the opening of the Strasbourg plenary session as a mark of respect for those who died of cold. This phenomenon is becoming increasing European and cross-border, he said. “The EU has to play its part in bringing solidarity among European states and peoples”, argued Karima Delli (Greens/EFA, France), “angry” at the Commission failure to respond to EP demands. She called for an emergency meeting of ministers concerned and allocation of assistance funding to help the most vulnerable. Sajjad Karim (ECR, UK) said that every society is judged by how it treats its elderly and vulnerable. Gabriele Zimmer (GUE/NGL, Germany) called for indicators to gauge the extent of homelessness. (LC/JK/transl.rt)