FAFCE-Conference in Brussels: Round table discussion within the European and Social Committee
The autumn meeting of the FAFCE-Presidents takes place in Brussels from
28 to 30 November. The highlight of the agenda is doubtlessly the round
table discussion within the European Economic and Social Committee to
the subject "Compatibility of family and employment with special
regard to the children welfare" on November 29. FAFCE-President Johannes
Fenz will moderate the discussion. Co-organizers are MEP Othmar Karas,
Prof. Gudrun Cyprian, sociologist from Bamberg, Mr. Constantinos Fotakis
of the Ceneral Directorate for Employment and Social Affairs of the European
Commission and Mr. Gero Stuller from the Federal Ministry for Social Security,
Generations and Consumer Protection. The lecturers, after having offered
their statements, will be available for the following discussion.
What
does a child need for its positive development? - This aspect is hardly
ever discussed within the issue of compatibility between the work for
the family and the paid job. This event, however, should focus primarily
upon the question of the child's welfare. FAFCE intends to channel the
respective Resolution to the fact that the welfare of the child depends
upon the extent of enjoying a living space enabling to develop in its
emotional life, in the intellectual, spiritual, and physical domains,
as well as in its social environment. Referring to the UNO convention
of children's rights, FAFCE requires that both father and mother should
have the chance of caring for the child in a balanced way. This results
in the necessary postulate for women and men to be given the same option
of choosing between the work for the family and for earning money, without
economic disadvantage due to the care for children within the family.
Tuned-in with the industries, the political representatives should be
concerned that each family can implement its living model relating to
the children care. The prepared event should make the society sensitive
to the fact that the upbringing of children represents a social value
that deserves being merited.
Another highlight of the meeting of FAFCE-Presidents in Brussels will
be a soirée at the Commission of Episcopal Conferences of the European
Union to the subject "A Family Pact of the European Union - a Necessity".
FAFCE-President Johannes Fenz and MEP, Ruth Hieronymi will open the evening
with their contributions. Leaving the family policy within the competence
of the member states, accepting minimum standards, such as examination
of the Act from the viewpoint of family compatibility, the economic safeguarding
of families, these are some of the essential contents of such family pact
for FAFCE.