Annual Growth Survey 2018 Calls on Member States to Tackle Homelessness

Today, the European Commission published its 2018 Annual Growth Survey, launching the Semester for economic and social policy coordination within the EU. As in previous years, the AGS focuses on three broad priorities: boosting investment, structural reforms and fiscal responsibility.

For the first time, the Commission has underlined investment in adequate social housing and other housing assistance as "essential", focusing on the need to protect "vulnerable people against unjustified forced eviction and foreclosures, as well as tackling homelessness". FEANTSA is delighted that the Commission has raised its level of ambition on homelessness and housing exclusion in the Semester process. This is a major breakthrough compared to previous years and demonstrates a serious engagement with Priority 19 of the recently proclaimed European Pillar of Social Rights. FEANTSA now looks forward to seeing this new ambition reflected in the monitoring, reporting and recommendation phases of the 2018 Semester, and into concrete action to tackle homelessness within Member States and at EU level.