In the spotlight
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Social Platform Conference: Improving care policies in the EU
A conference entitled ‘We care, how can EU care?’, organised by the Social Platform (bringing together more than 40 European NGOs, federations and networks) was held at the International Auditorium Brussels on 9 December 2011. Representatives from civil society organisations, European institutions and social partners attended. The main aim was to discuss the need to improve the quality of care in EU member states. Recommendations for care that respects the rights of individuals, guarantees access to services and promotes social inclusion', which were produced by the Social Platform, were the basis for discussions.
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Involving parents in the education of their children (France)
'La Mallette des parents' [the parents' briefcase] is an ongoing project that is aimed at involving parents more in their children's education in around 80 schools. It is run by the Academie Creteil, which comes under the direct authority of the France's Ministry for Education. The Academie Creteil's responsibilities include regular inspections of schools in its catchment area, which is Seine et Marne, Seine St Denis and Val de Marne, close to Paris. It was set up to improve relations between parents and teachers to help parents understand more about how their child is taught so that they can contribute to their child's success at school.
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Brighter Futures, a peer mentoring service for the elderly (UK)
Brighter Futures was a Mental Health Foundation (MHF) pilot peer mentoring service for isolated older people in the Scottish regions of Glasgow, Renfrewshire and South Lanarkshire. The basic idea is for volunteers to use their skills and experience to help elderly people become more actively involved in their community.
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Project to encourage over 50s to stay entrepreneurially active (Ireland)
The Senior Enterprise Ireland project aims to raise awareness about how the over 50s can engage with enterprise and the benefits that can flow from that engagement. That may be through starting a business, alone or with others, acquiring or investing in a business, advising an entrepreneur or supporting innovation within a business owned by another.
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Work-life balance and reform of the welfare state: Innovative approaches and practices at regional level
The issue of “work-life balance and reform of the welfare state” was discussed at a regional seminar on 25 January, organised by the European Commission in collaboration with the Lombardy region under the framework of the European Alliance for Families. Hosted by the European Economic and Social Committee in Brussels, the event brought together representatives of EU regions, ministries of EU Member States, NGOs and social partners. The seminar allowed for a comparison of different innovative approaches and practices in Italy (Lombardy), Sweden (Lindköping (West Sweden)) and Spain (Catalonia). A full report on the day will be soon available on this website.
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20th Anniversary of the International Year of the Family
2014 will mark an important milestone – the 20th anniversary of the International Year of the Family (IYF). The United Nations General Assembly recognised the important role families play in society by proclaiming the IYF in 1994. Planning for this anniversary creates opportunities for re-visiting the efforts that have been made in support of family-orientated policies. The UN Secretary-General report (A/66/62-E/2011/4) outlines the major policy themes, including confronting family poverty and social exclusion; ensuring work-family balance; and advancing social integration and intergenerational solidarity within families and communities. The recent UN Secretary-General report (A/67/61–E/2012/3) focuses on the preparations for and observance of the twentieth anniversary of the International Year of the Family in 2014. The UN Focal Point on the Family also promotes family policies and contributes to the follow-up processes espoused by the IYF. The anniversary of IYF and the relevant policy developments are further explored in the recent issue of the International Federation for Family Development (IFFD).
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2011 Eurobarometer on Fertility and Social Climate – evidence on family sizes in Europe
A recently published report by Maria Rita Testa of the Wittgenstein Centre for Demography and Global Human Capital (Vienna Institute of Demography of the Austrian Academy of Sciences) entitled “Family Sizes in Europe: Evidence from the 2011 Eurobarometer Survey” reveals a discrepancy between the ideal and actual family size for Europeans in EU27. About 30% of European men and women age 40 or above in the EU27 stop their reproductive career before reaching the family size they consider to be ideal when asked in the survey. Over the last decade, preference for two-children families have slightly increased, and the ideal number of children for most Europeans remains high at about two. The report suggests that in the context of declining European fertility, high ideals leave room for policymakers to try and close the gap between ideal and actual family size
Each country in the Union has its own political, social and economic history. The country profiles reflect the current situation of families and describe national policies for families, highlighting key statistics and background information.
Whether small-scale pilot projects or nationwide schemes, there are many examples of successful initiatives supporting families. This section rounds up examples from across the Union.
Developing a better understanding of the situation of families and family-friendly policies is essential to building the policies of the future. This section covers studies and reports at EU and Member State level.
Unfamiliar with a term or acronym you have seen on this site? The glossary explains some of the jargon.
