The EU strategy on social protection and social exclusion
By being a citizen in the European Union, people should be guaranteed the fundamental rights concerning health and social protection, but that is not always the case. Multiple approaches to combat homelessness do exist, both at national level and at European level
The European Union coordinates and encourages national actions and policy development to combat poverty and social exclusion on the basis of European exchanges and mutual learning. This is primarily done through the EU strategy on social protection and social exclusion. The strategy has agreed on a common set of EU objectives within the area of social inclusion, pensions and health and long-time care.
Especially the common objectives on social inclusion are relevant in connection to homelessness, since they include goals of ensuring access for all to resources, rights and services needed for participation in society. Through this social exclusion should be addressed and prevented, and all forms of discrimination leading to exclusion should be fought.
The goals
All 27 member states submit national reports on progress made towards meeting these common objectives every two years. These reports are being used for exchange of policies and actions towards tackling poverty and social exclusion.
The strategy underpins the achievement of the European Union’s strategic goal of sustained economic growth, more and better jobs and a greater social cohesion by 2010.
Within the field of social exclusion, the European Union has created a clear agreement about the key challenges in relation to poverty, social exclusion and social protection:
- to eradicate child poverty by breaking the vicious circle of intergenerational inheritance;
- to make labour markets truly inclusive;
- to ensure decent housing for everyone;
- to overcome discrimination and increase the integration of people with disabilities, ethnic minorities and immigrants;
- to tackle financial exclusion and over-indebtedness.
It will take time to combat these key challenges, but social exclusion and poverty are areas the European Union have placed into focus.