ALDE deputy Niccolo Rinaldi has said that homeless people in the EU arebeing "excluded" from their rights to European citizenship and freedomof movement.

Speaking at an ALDE press briefing on EU citizenship, Rinaldi said homelessness and freedom of movement was an "important commitment" to champion the rights of homeless people.

"Citizenship is a very clear concept and is the basis of the entire EU," he said, adding that homeless people are "denied active participation in society, basic services and freedom of circulation".

"The number of homeless is increasing with serious speed and EU democracy has difficulty connecting with this. The homeless do not vote or have constituencies.

"Children sleeping on the street with their families is a growing phenomenon and we are trying to focus the EU institutions on these difficult and vulnerable sectors," said the Italian MEP.