Marginalised communities from all over the EU should benefit from European funding for housing interventions. This is the common message of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), EUROCITIES (the Network of.major European cities) and CECODHAS (the European social housing network) to the members of the European Parliament.

 

On 10 February 2010, the European Parliament is due to vote a report by MEP Lambert van Nistelrooij on a proposal of modification of the European Regional Development Fund regulation (ERDF). One of the issues to be addressed in plenary will be the eligibility of housing interventions in favour of marginalised communities.

 

"Until now, only the 12 most recent Member States were eligible for EU funding for housing interventions in favour of marginalised communities. This does not make sense. It is vital that communities, such as the Roma, can benefit from European regional funding for housing in all regions of the EU", said CEMR secretary general Frédéric Vallier.

 

Speaking on behalf of CECODHAS, President David Orr spells out the role Structural Funds can play in improving the quality of life of millions of Europeans, including vulnerable groups and victims of discriminations : “Giving the opportunity to each European region to invest in social capital and social infrastructure (including affordable housing) is the best way to guarantee against social exclusion and create socially, economically and environmentally sustainable communities across the European Union”.

 

"Our cities are increasingly faced with the challenge of ensuring access to decent housing, especially for marginalised groups at risk of social exclusion", said EUROCITIES secretary general, Paul Bevan. "We support the idea of strengthening the role that ERDF, and thus Europe, can play in tackling the critical problem of housing exclusion."