• More than 4 million homeless people currently live in the EU

• Homelessness is one of the most severe forms of poverty, caused by a combination of structural, institutional and personal factors

• Members states should decriminalise homelessness

Homeless people and people in precarious housing situations face particular risk due to COVID-19, warn members of the Committee on Petitions.

In a draft resolution adopted with 33 votes in favour, the Committee on Petitions (PETI) expresses deep concerns over the situation of more than 4 million homeless Europeans as the ongoing COVID-19 crisis puts more people out of jobs and makes them more dependent on social protection.

Homelessness and housing exclusion are a social problem that should be permanently solved, stress MEPs, adding that decent housing and being part of society is crucial for allowing people to realise their full potential and to contribute to society.

Ending homelessness at EU level

The draft text recalls that housing is a fundamental human right of all people and calls on the EU and member states to set a goal to end homelessness at EU level by 2030. Homelessness is identified as one of the most severe forms of poverty and deprivation that needs to be abolished in a sustainable manner that takes personal and structural risk factors (such as housing and employment) into account, explain MEPs.

The European Commission should take stronger action to support member states in reducing and eradicating homelessness, continue to mobilise funding and put forward an EU Framework for National Homelessness Strategies. The committee also calls for a common framework definition and coherent indicators on homelessness, which would help to better understand and assess the extent of the situation, as well as stronger data collection mechanisms.

Supporting and reintegrating homeless people

Additional recommendations to member states, include:

• assuming primary responsibility in tackling homelessness and working on prevention and early intervention; exchanging best practices with other member states;
• providing equal access to public services such as health care, education and social services;
• supporting labour market integration via specialised measures, training and targeted schemes;
• implementing long-term, community-based, housing-led, integrated national homelessness strategies;
• decriminalising homelessness;
• providing financial assistance to NGOs and supporting local authorities to secure safe spaces for the homeless and preventing evictions;
• providing constant and continuous access to emergency shelters, as temporary solutions;
• promoting social entrepreneurship and self-innovation activities to improve active inclusion.

• Background

  The Committee on Petitions has received multiple petitions sounding the alarm over the situation of more than 4 million homeless Europeans and an alleged 70% increase of homeless people across the EU over the last 10 years. Such increases are due to a combination of factors related to rising housing costs, economic crisis, reduction of social protection and inadequate policies.

  Reports on the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the affordability of housing in the EU indicate that economic recession and loss of jobs and income may further increase the housing cost and homelessness rates in Europe.

Il Garante regionale Andrea Nobili si è fatto promotore dell’iniziativa con la collaborazione dell’Università Politecnica delle Marche e di quella di Macerata. Prevista la durata di un anno per un monte complessivo di 40 ore di lezione, iscrizione per un massimo di 50 partecipanti. Le finalità illustrate nel corso di una conferenza stampa

Il Garante regionale dei diritti alla persona della Regione Marche, al fine di approfondire dal punto di vista scientifico e formativo le tematiche relative al diritto di famiglia, delle relazioni affettive e della tutela dei minori, con la collaborazione dell’Università Politecnica delle Marche e dell’Università di Macerata, si è fatto promotore di un nuovo Corso di perfezionamento in “Diritto minorile, Diritto di famiglia, Sicurezza sociale”, destinato prevalentemente ai professionisti del settore. L’iniziativa è stata illustrata nel corso di una conferenza stampa alla quale hanno partecipato il Rettore della Politecnica, Gian Luca Gregori; il Garante Andrea Nobili; il direttore del corso Antonio Di Stasi, docente ordinario di diritto del lavoro.

“In anticipo sulle celebrazioni per la giornata internazionale dei diritti del fanciullo, che cade il prossimo 20 novembre – ha sottolineato Nobili – questa scelta pone il territorio regionale marchigiano in prima linea sul fronte della tutela dei diritti dei minori. Si tratta di un importante salto di qualità nei percorsi di formazione in materie che richiedono una vera e propria specializzazione e assume rilevanza in un contesto sociale che, anche nel nostro territorio e non solo a causa dell’emergenza sanitaria, vive radicali mutamenti che impattano sulle famiglie e sulla tenuta del sistema di protezione dei minori”.

Il corso di perfezionamento, come ha spiegato sempre Nobili, vuole essere prodromico ad una vera e propria scuola di specializzazione, da realizzarsi anche in collaborazione con l’Università di Macerata.

L’organismo di riferimento dello stesso corso sarà il Comitato scientifico per la gestione didattica, formato da docenti delle due Università, dal Garante dei Diritti della persona della Regione Marche, dal Presidente della Corte d’Appello delle Marche, dal Presidente del Tribunale per i Minorenni delle Marche, dal Presidente dell’Ordine degli avvocati di Ancona e dal Viceresidente dell’Ordine degli assistenti sociali delle Marche. Il Corso avrà la durata di un anno per un monte complessivo di 40 ore di lezione e sarà aperto all’iscrizione di un massimo di 50 partecipanti.

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Link: https://curia.europa.eu/jcms/upload/docs/application/pdf/2020-11/cp200136en.pdf

Court of Justice of the European Union

PRESS RELEASE No 136/2020

Luxembourg, 10 November 2020

Judgment in Case C-644/18 Commission v Italy

Italy has infringed EU law on ambient air quality The limit values applicable to concentrations of PM10 particulate matter were systematically and persistently exceeded between 2008 and 2017

In 2014, the European Commission launched an infringement procedure against the Italian Republic for having systematically and persistently exceeded, in a certain number of zones in Italy, the limit values for PM10 particulate matter laid down by the Air Quality Directive.1

The Commission maintained, first, that, since 2008, the Italian Republic had systematically and persistently exceeded, in the zones concerned, the daily and annual limit values applicable to concentrations of PM10 particulate matter, under Article 13(1) of, read in conjunction with Annex XI to, the Air Quality Directive. Secondly, the Commission complained that the Republic of Italy had failed to fulfil its obligation under Article 23(1), read in conjunction with Annex XV to, that directive, to adopt appropriate measures to ensure compliance with the limit values for PM10 particulate matter in all the zones concerned. 

In June 2019 the Ombudsman launched an investigation into the Department for Communities’ (the Department) administration of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) benefit system, focusing on the availability and application of further evidence in the PIP benefit decision making and internal complaints processes.

Under the 2016 Act, the Ombudsman must give the Department and the assessment provider Capita the opportunity to comment on the evidence before she concludes her investigation and publishes her report. A draft of the investigation report was shared with the Department during October and their full response is expected on 18 December 2020.

The Ombudsman intends to publish the report early in the New Year.

Con profonda tristezza la Garante dei diritti della persona del Veneto, Mirella Gallinaro, congiuntamente alla rete dei Garanti delle Regioni e delle Province autonome, saluta il Presidente dell'Unicef Italia Francesco Samengo, spentosi ieri sera a Roma, e si stringe con dolore e con affetto alla sua famiglia. “Per noi è stato un esempio di instancabile costanza e coerenza. Avevamo collaborato da poco...