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The Presidents of the FAFCE (Federation of Catholic Family Associations in Europe) consider that there is some catching up to be done in the area of parental training with regard to the new media.

At their autumn conference, the presidents of the FAFCE-member organisations recognized the need for a parental training drive in the area of information technologies and have accordingly included a project in their work programme for 2006.

This year Strasbourg was chosen as the venue for the presidents’ meeting held from 25 th to 26 th October 2005, to enable the participants of the parliamentary intergroup “family and child protection” to take part on the Wednesday (26 th October 2005). Following consultations with the chairwoman of the intergroup, Maria Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou, the FAFCE entitled their area of concern, “New information technologies and their effects on children”. Reports on the current situation were given by experts from France and Austria and by Mme de Sarnez, the French lady responsible for reporting to the European Parliament on recommendations regarding the protection of youth within the framework of the revised TV guidelines. In addition to the opportunities offered to children by the Internet and mobile phones, serious risks such as being confronted with content unsuitable for the user’s age, the length of time being spent and the costs were outlined. Mme de Sarnez clearly spoke out in favour of stricter regulations with regard to youth protection on the Internet. Mr. Hechenberger from the platform “Safer Internet” has also become involved in the area of raising parental competence, i.e. to increase parents’ awareness and make them better able to bring up their children as far as the new media are concerned. The FAFCE supports these efforts and has submitted an application within the framework of the Socrates-Programme for a project on parental training in the area of New Media.

On 25 th October, the presidents of the FAFCE devoted their attention to the European Social Charter at the European Court of Justice. Shortly beforehand, the authorization of the FAFCE was renewed, enabling the FAFCE to put forward a collective complaint within the framework of the Social Charter. The internal focal points of the conference were the establishment of a permanent Secretary for the FAFCE, approval of the work programme for 2006 and exoneration of the executives in charge.

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