Evaluation and future of the European Platform on Combating Homelessness

Question for written answer E-001367/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Estrella Galán (The Left), João Oliveira (The Left), Li Andersson (The Left), Jaume Asens Llodrà (Verts/ALE), Leila Chaibi (The Left), Rudi Kennes (The Left)

The European Platform on Combating Homelessness has been an important tool for exchanging good practices between the Member States, with the Finnish model serving as a successful reference. However, homelessness remains a serious problem in the EU, with the number of homeless people having increased in several Member States in recent years[1].

Despite the commitment made in the Lisbon Declaration[2] to eradicate homelessness by 2030, there does not yet appear to be a clear action plan to ensure the continuity and effectiveness of the platform.

An evaluation of the platform's functioning was scheduled for this year[3], but there are concerns that this process could slow down its activities or risk its permanence. Given that the European Pillar of Social Rights recognises housing as a fundamental right[4] and that the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) finances measures to combat homelessness[5], it is essential to ensure that the progress made is not lost and that cooperation among the Member States is strengthened.

Therefore:

• 1.Can the Commission outline the current status of the European Platform on Combating Homelessness, and its expectations for the platform's future?
• 2.What specific measures are being considered to strengthen the platform's role and ensure the consolidation and continuation of the progress achieved so far?

Supporter[6]

Submitted: 2.4.2025

• [1] FEANTSA and the Foundation Abbé Pierre, 'Fifth Overview of Housing Exclusion in Europe', July 2020, https://www.feantsa.org/public/user/Resources/resources/Rapport_Europe_2020_GB.pdf.
• [2] Lisbon Declaration on the European Platform on Combating Homelessness, 21 June 2021, https://ec.europa.eu/social/BlobServlet?docId=24120&langId=en.
• [3] European Commission, 'Roadmap for the Evaluation of the European Platform on Combating Homelessness', 2024.
• [4] European Commission, 'European Pillar of Social Rights', principle 19: 'Housing and assistance for the homeless', 2023, https://employment-social-affairs.ec.europa.eu/european-pillar-social-rights-20-principles_en.
• [5] Regulation (EU) 2021/1057 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2021 establishing the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1296/2013, OJ L 231, 30.6.2021, p. 21, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/1057/oj.
• [6] This question is supported by a Member other than the authors: Vicent Marzà Ibáñez (Verts/ALE)