Towards zero homelessness, only 6 years to succeed

The theme of this Belgian conference is homelessness, and the Member States have committed to eradicating homelessness by 2030.

Its aim is to take stock of the policies implemented by the Member States and the European Union around the five policy lines, as mentioned in the Lisbon Declaration, to eradicate homelessness by 2030, namely:

1. No-one sleeps on the streets in the absence of accessible, safe and appropriate emergency housing;
2. No-one lives in emergency or transitional housing for any longer than necessary for a successful transition to a permanent housing solution;
3. No-one leaves an institution (prison, hospital, nursing home) without being offered suitable housing;
4. Evictions should be avoided insofar as possible and no-one should be evicted from their home without finding a suitable housing solution, if necessary;
5. No-one is discriminated against because of their homeless status.

One of the main priorities of the Belgian presidency of the Council of the EU is to monitor the work on the social component of the European Union, the European pillar of social rights. This pillar contains 20 principles aimed at making the European Union more equitable and inclusive.

Much work has been done since the signing of the Lisbon Declaration in 2021, where the Member States and the European institutions created the European Platform to Combat Homelessness, EPOCH.

This platform brings together legislators, civil society organisations and European institutions to increase the exchange of knowledge and intensify political work aimed at eradicating homelessness by 2030.

The European Ministers and the European Commission are invited to take stock of ongoing work and the possibility of improving European collaboration on combating homelessness.  The Ministers are also invited to discuss their expectations and the actions that will be taken at the European level to support the Member States in their participation in EPOCH.