Here you will see news from Europe, from civil society, from research, highlighting emerging trends from local to international level relevant for families of today.
A growing recognition of the challenges faced by care systems in the EU is leading to promising steps towards stronger support for family carers. COFACE is deeply engaged in shaping this agenda, advocating for comprehensive policies as outlined in its revised European Charter for Family Carers.
Leap assists families of children with disabilities to take action for an inclusive life. ith this vision and mission in mind, Leap has designed ‘The Leadership for Inclusion Series’ to provide a strong foundation to assist people with disabilities live meaningful lives in their communities.
Ahead of the World Day for Overcoming Extreme Poverty on 17 October 2024, COFACE's member, APF France Handicap, highlighted the severe poverty affecting people with disabilities, with 2 million living below the poverty line for life.
France recently introduced a new immigration bill, and in response, COFACE Member Unaf conveyed in a press release its opposition to certain measures within the legislation, emphasising the importance of a universal approach to family policy.
On World Children's Day 2023, the Spanish presidency organised an event in San Sebastián aimed at strengthening the commitment to providing school meals, building upon the foundation laid by the European Child Guarantee. COFACE Families Europe was represented at this conference by Spanish COFACE Board member, Amaia Echevarría, Director of UNAF Spain.
As of December 2023, Eurostat introduced a novel indicator titled 'Children in formal childcare or education by age group and duration.' This indicator aims to provide insights into the participation patterns of children aged 3 years to the minimum compulsory school age in formal childcare or education within the European Union.
The Covid-19 pandemic has brought with it a series of challenges. One of these includes the effect it has taken on women and their work-life balance. The Balance Project, of which COFACE member KMOP is part of, aims to support and equip women and their workplace leaders to better manage work-life balance.
In 2020, the European Parliament requested the European Commission to carry out a pilot project on the “Role of the minimum wage in establishing the Universal Labour Guarantee”. Eurofound was entrusted with the implementation of this pilot project (2021–2023). This report examines non-compliance with minimum wage legislation and how Member States approach enforcement.
The rEUsilience project under Horizon Europe (with COFACE as an intergral partner), has recently presented its latest findings from focus groups involving over 300 family members across six European countries (Belgium, Croatia, Poland, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom). These insights delve into the realities families encounter amidst socio-economic risks like job loss and substantial care responsibilities.
