Parliamentary Intergroup "Family and Protection of Childhood"
The subject of the Intergroup meeting on May 11 (14,30 - 15,30) was "Solidarity
between the Generations and Demography". The contributions of the
guest speakers focused upon the new Green paper of the Commission.
FAFCE was represented by General Secretary Kloiber and Ms Schuler.
Graham Taylor from the GD Employment of the European Commission introduced the Green Book. He explained this edition of the Green Paper as a sheer necessity, as it becomes clear that the population of Europe begins to shrink down. The Commission wishes to initiate a debate across Europe, as this does not impact only single national states, but the whole of EU. That is why this issue should be based upon the broadest possible partnership. One of the desirable outcomes is good balance between the generations. It is quite unambiguous that the very low birth index is the strongest accelerator of the demographic problem, rather than the long life expectancy of the population. The Commission envisages a conference in June to which all actors should be invited.
The following contribution was given by Mr, Bloch-Lainé from the European Economic and Social Committee. He informed that the Committee had formulated its own opinion to the demographic problem and adopted the same in 2002. He favours such family policy that does not focus upon high birth rates only, but also upon the analysis of the present day problem. He distinguishes three essential areas: the demographic issue, overall family friendly building concepts, and children poverty.
The third speaker was Philippe Steck from the French Caisse Nationale for the support of families. Using a number of indicators, he showed how Europe is going to shrink down, as compared with the world population (see Minutes of the Meeting, to be distributed later). At the present day he sees considerable solidarity between the generations: 13 Mil. € are transferred from the grandparents to the parents and further 13 Mil. € from the grandparents to the children. This solidarity, however, is going to recede considerably, the pension reform being inevitable.
Contribution of FAFCE GS Kloiber: The subsidies for young families having various forms, such as tax relief (see France) or transferred payments (see Austria, Luxembourg), ought to result in a method of open co-ordination, in agreeing a binding European minimum standard.
In the informal part of the meeting Kloiber suggests that Intergroup
could prepare and agree a common contribution to the Green Paper