Petition of FAFCE to all the Heads of States and Government of the EU
Berlin , July 17th, 2007
the European Summit of Heads of State and Government held in Brussels on 21-22 June 2007 decided to launch an Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) to finalize and adopt the new Treaty of the European Union.
Such an IGC, which will be opened on 23-24 July within the frame of the next General Affairs/External Relations Council meeting, is crucial for the future of Europe. Its work will be founded on the project drafted by the Convention that had been attached to the minutes of the recent European Council Summit.
The FAFCE, together with COFACE, will take this opportunity to request that among the Objectives of the European Union, an explicit mention be made concerning the support of family life.
Indeed, showing concern about the Union’s and member States’ demographic future, at their previous Summit on March 8 th, the Heads of State and Government unanimously decided to set up a “European Alliance for Families”. This Alliance was confirmed at the 21-22 June Summit. All member States agree to defend the idea to support families by means of ‘family-friendly policies’. Thus the EU appears to have to play the role of coordination, promotion and exchange in the field of family policies, without however necessitating further competences in this matter. As FAFCE we particularly appreciate the “European Alliance for Families”.
No doubt there exists indeed a relation between family life and the objectives of equal opportunities between women and men, of solidarity between the generations and of the protection of children’s rights, i.e. the objectives mentioned in the present draft treaty of the EU.
We therefore propose that in article 3 of the draft – Objectives of the EU, the words in bold letters hereafter be added under item 3, §2:
“It shall combat social exclusion and discrimination, and shall promote social justice and protection, equality between women and men, solidarity among the generations and protection of the rights of the child as well as the support of family life”.
Indeed, all surveys highlight the fact that family life is one of the first values of European citizens 1.
Family is the first learning place of life: here experiences are passed on and are adapted by the next generation, here values are communicated, values that are indispensable for the existence of a community. Children and parents learn to practice cooperation and solidarity, to handle conflicts and to get prepared for reconciliation. They learn the ability of self-assertion, but also the virtue of empathy, thoughtfulness and tolerance.
Family is, despite all contrary predictions, a network of solidarity, which lasts as a rule over a whole life time. Family is the place where people belonging to different generations take responsibility for each other far beyond the transfers of any public social system. This solidarity as experienced in the family - where values like reliability and fidelity are fundamental – must be appreciated and conserved, and this particularly in view of the imminent demographic challenges which will put a serious strain on the generation-spanning caring and solidarity in society.
Families are real service providers. There does not exist a single state where the central government would be in a position to pay for all that. The consideration by the EU of such a family dimension will necessarily contribute to bringing the Union closer to its citizens, right within their daily lives.
Several important EU policies and initiatives already have considerable influence on the lives of European families, as specific groups. With the enlargement of the EU, such an influence will concern more and more families.
Some short examples will help to understand:
- Free circulation of persons
Such a policy has obvious repercussions on family life: social rights, employment, education, housing etc.
- Equal opportunities, in particular between women and men
It is the necessity to provide services and time for families that made the compatibility between family and work life the key element with a view to a successful policy of equal opportunity. The role of men in the family is indeed an important aspect as well as steps to be taken pro family with a view to the general organisation and the working hours.
- The struggle against discriminations
Behind each discriminated person, there is often an entire family that suffers from this discrimination.
- The fight against social exclusion and poverty
Entire families are hit by social exclusion and poverty. In the vast majority of cases the fight against child poverty means a substantial support of their parents.
- Engagement in favour of children’s rights
The important action for the protection of children against abuse and exploitation has to be driven forward. Unfortunately the role of the family as a place of shelter and development of children is decreasingly ignored in this debate.
- Flexicurity
In the discussion on security of and flexibility of employment status the perspective on family is mostly faded out. However, the Lisbon-strategy will not be crowned by success if it is merely concentrated on the promotion of employment and ignoring at the same time the living conditions of families. This will not help to overcome the demographic challenges Europe is confronted with.
There exist of course further political domains where the family dimension is of utmost importance: such as fundamental rights, the protection of consumers, health and services of general interest etc.
Consequently, to include the support of family life on the list of EU-objectives would indeed mean to take the Europeans’ expectations serious and meet the developments demanded by the member states.
Thank you very much for your support. Looking forward to reading you soon
Yours faithfully,
Elisabeth Bußmann
President
Barbara Fiala
General Secretary
1 Eurobarometer 97 % of the Europeans state that family is important to them (Health is first, followed by work 84%, religion 52%, politics 42%). Family members are still contact persons in case of illness, in personal matters or in case of financial need or impairment of health, i.e. the generation solidarity is still functioning.