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.
Our member organisation, the Network of European LGBTIQ* Families Associations (NELFA), has published its response to the European Commission’s new LGBTIQ Equality Strategy.
The 12th edition of the Joint ESAs Consumer Protection Day (JECPD) was held on Wednesday, 5 November 2025 in Riga, Latvia. Martin Schmalzried from COFACE-Families Europe attended this event, representing the interests of families from across Europe in accessing affordable, accessible and quality financial services.
COFACE-Families Europe member organisation Pro Parents recently took part in the TOPX Network Summit 2025
The European Commission’s targeted consultation on a digital euro ended on the 16th of June and while the future of our common currency may seem far remote from the concerns of civil society, the stakes are much higher than one might suspect. COFACE-Families Europe answered the consultation underlining the importance of treating money as a public good, and especially, as a vital instrument for citizens to be able to transact freely.
COFACE was invited to speak at the Digital Assembly 2022 hosted by the French Presidency of the EU and the European Commission in Toulouse, France, on 21st June 2022. COFACE President Annemie Drieskens spoke more specifically in the Better Internet for Kids workshop, which consisted of two panels – the first one discussing the protection of children and young people online, and the second one addressing the empowerment and participation of minors in the online environment.
The Council has adopted conclusions on the EU strategy on the rights of the child, with a particular focus on the protection of children’s rights in crisis or emergency situations. Against the background of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the Council notes the need to protect children facing armed conflicts and their consequences.
The guidance covers both people eligible for temporary protection under the Temporary Protection Directive as well as those eligible for adequate protection under national law. Since the beginning of Russia's unprovoked war against Ukraine and its civilians, over 7 million people have fled Ukraine and reached the EU. So far, only a relatively small number of those of working age have entered the EU labour market, though the number of people wanting to do so is expected to rise.
It is a fact that is too often overlooked: having dependent children weighs on the standard of living and the more prices rise, the more the family budget is impacted. Another obvious fact is that the more children one has to support, the more one suffers the effects of inflation. In this context, UNAF demands an immediate increase in family benefits.
Throughout different periods of our lives, each of us experiences different needs, desires, commitments, and opportunities. No magic formula can be applied to our work and personal lives that would suit everyone. However, there is a tool you can use to calculate the formula precisely for your work and personal life, and it was developed by the Lithuanian Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson, in cooperation with partners: they created a work-life balance formula.
