Resolution of the Federation of Catholic Family Associations in Europe (FAFCE) on the new Social Agenda of the European Commission
The European Commission places the second phase of the Social Agenda under the maxim "A social Europe within the global economy: jobs and opportunities for all". The Federation of Catholic Family Associations in Europe (FAFCE) welcomes the intention of the European Commission to commit itself to modernizing and developing the European social model and to promoting social solidarity as a component of the Lisbon Strategy and comments upon this.
With the new agenda the Commission wishes to create a climate of trust
in which the citizens of Europe feel confident to overcome such economic
and social changes as low employment rates, unemployment, poverty, inequality
and discrimination. The Commission has realized that this development
has to be backed up by an inter-generational approach. The recently published
Green Paper, "Confronting demographic change: a new solidarity between
the
generations" is an important step towards answering the question
of the future relationship between the generations and the role of families.
Therefore, the FAFCE demands a European generations strategy, which supports families in their tasks, which recognizes the work that they do and relieves the strain on them in their duties relating to public welfare. Thus the FAFCE demands that the following points be integrated into the implementation of the Social Agenda:
Testing of legal resolutions for family tolerance
In the interests of "family-mainstreaming", legal resolutions
should be tested for their effects on families, in a similar way to what
already happens with regard to gender fairness or discrimination. NGOs
are to be involved in this testing process, as, on account of their experts,
they are able to contribute to a deeper analysis, to represent civilian
society and to act as a corrective to governments.
Minimum standards for family support
In order to create a society of solidarity with equal opportunities for
all, it has to be an aim of the Union to keep social support for certain
groups within the Union as equally balanced as possible. The FAFCE pleads
for methods of open coordination regarding minimum standards for family
support within the EU-states, as well as for a fixed percentage of the
respective national gross domestic products as cash support for families.
Family-orientated world of work
In the new social political agenda, the Commission establishes that Europe
needs both more quantity and more quality of jobs. The FAFCE demands that
reforms facilitating a transition towards more flexible working hours
give regard to the aspect of family tolerance and the compatibility of
family and gainful employment.
Support of the family and demography
Women's phases of life differ from those of men, especially as far as
fertility is concerned. The FAFCE calls for an adjustment of industrial
regulations to make allowances for this fact.
The employment pattern of women should be brought into line in such a
way that no disadvantage for women results.
Fighting the poverty risk for families
Families with a large number of children and one-parent families are among
the groups of the population which are especially at risk of poverty.
For this reason the FAFCE requests that the Commission include tax exemption
on the minimum income for each family member in the methods of open coordination.
Better clarification of the contractual dimension of marriage and society
Individual citizens have no right to expect everything from the government,
without fulfilling their own duties. For the FAFCE the first societal
contract is that of marriage between man and woman as a place of respective
support, as the origin of a new generation, as the place in which children
are brought up and the older generation is cared for. The FAFCE thus demands
that this contract between society and married partners be made more visible,
stands out over other forms of living together and that its stability
be supported.
Establishment of a European Generations Institute
Without families, the public sector would neither quantitatively nor qualitatively
be able to meet the demands of upbringing, education and care. The FAFCE
points out the necessity for constant analysis of the challenges which
will arise in the future relationship between the generations and the
role of the family. It thus demands the establishment of a European Generations
Institute.
Support of social integration of families
Not all families are in a position to fulfil the tasks which are indirectly
set to them in the Green Paper, "Confronting demographic change:
a new solidarity between the
generations". For this reason we need the support and promotion of
establishments which contribute towards external integration- with the
aim of improving the compatibility of family work and gainful employment
- and towards internal integration - with the aim of improving relationships
within the family and increasing parental competence.