As the firm has offices in Rome and Milan, we have focused our inquiry on these two cities. We have completed a chart on prohibited conducts for each city, attached to this note at Annexes I and II.In general, we have not found the Italian legal system to foster the criminalisation or penalisation of the homeless (in Italian, "senza fissa dimora" or "senza tetto").

According to the 2011 Human Development Index Ranking, compiled by the United Nations Development Program, human development (i.e. the standard of living and/or quality of life) in Ireland is one of the highest in the world. In the fields of overall health, education and living standards, Ireland is ranked 7^th worldwide and 3^rd in Europe.

According to the Hellenic Statistical Authority (EL.STAT.), the current number of homeless people in Greece amounts to at least 20,000, a rise of 20-25% compared to two years ago, although it is acknowledged that the official statistics do not depict the real growing number of homeless people.Greece is ranked 7^th among the European countries that experience problems with poor and socially marginalized people. Currently, 27,7 % of Greek citizens live in poverty and social exclusion and do not have sufficient means to cover housing expenses.

In Germany, homeless people will rarely have to fear criminal prosecution.  There are no criminal offences pertaining to homelessness as such.  Even though homeless people are more likely to commit offences such as trespass, prosecution will only become a possibility where there is a complaint and the accused will not face severe punishment, but instead moderate fines.

In France, certain legal provisions have been put in place that may affect the homeless, such as the prohibition of certain forms of begging and drunkenness in public, though the rationale behind these provisions was to preserve public order.

French law however, does permit local government to create certain measures against the homeless, by strengthening the effects of national statutes where they are justified due to certain local circumstances.

Currently homelessness is not a criminal offence in Finland.  However, certain everyday activities of homeless people are prohibited, as they are considered to jeopardise public order and safety; examples include drinking in public, littering, and urinating and defecating in public.  Loitering and vagrancy are not in themselves criminal offences, however police and security personnel are authorised to intervene if an activity is considered disturbing or is endangering public safety.

This memorandum summarises the laws that may be used in England and Wales to impose criminal sanctions on the homeless in relation to their everyday activities. We have not included details of legislation that penalises other, more obviously criminal activities (such as drug use, or prostitution), which the homeless may engage in.

There are no laws in Belgium that directly criminalise the fact of being homeless.  Belgian national laws and the regulations of certain municipalities do however include provisions that may have an impact on the daily life of homeless people.  Generally, the activities of homeless people (e.g. sleeping rough, silent begging) will not result in a penalty.  Some specific activities, such as aggressive begging or disturbing public order (e.g. through public nuisance, drinking, night noise and vandalism) may however be penalised.

Czech law does not define homelessness, nor does it directly aim to persecute homeless people.Criminal law is invoked only in the case of more serious offences. Therefore criminal law does not negatively impact the everyday lives of homeless people, with the exception of squatting,which is a criminal offence in the Czech Republic. Most of the activities of homeless people are therefore dealt with in administrative proceedings.Panhandling and drinking alcohol in public are prohibited by local regulations in certain areas of Prague, though sleeping rough is permitted.