Brussels, 03/09/2013 (Agence Europe) - While the European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) has only just celebrated its first anniversary, the European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless (FEANTSA) pointed out, on Tuesday 3 September, that the homeless are “excluded from taking part in an ECI in 14 out of 27 countries”.
Many citizens, who do not have an identity card or address, are de facto ruled out of democratic life in the EU, contrary to their inalienable right. FEANTSA resorts to the ICE as today it is the European's ideal tool for democratic action. If the European Commission tackles this first problem, it could give impetus to other initiatives. “The ECI has the potential to be a tool in supporting progress on tackling homelessness in Europe: for example, it could be used to urge the European institutions to follow up on the European Parliament call for an EU homelessness strategy”, said Freek Spinnewijn, FEANTSA Director. (JK/transl.jl)