Latest activities
Check out the latest COFACE activities, and use the search for further information on the latest campaigns, media releases, publications, events, projects and more.
News
OPINION – The Future I wish for: reflections from a young mother in Italy
Daniela, a young mother, shares her testimony of challenging societal perceptions and finding empowerment through the “We care... but who cares for us?” Erasmus+ project. The initiative supports young parents under 30, helping them engage in democratic life while balancing family responsibilities. Through self-reflection, training, and advocacy, participants gain a stronger voice in shaping youth and family policies.
Parliament calls for a strong and standalone Fund to combat social exclusion
On 11 March, the European Parliament called for more resources for the European Social Fund Plus post-2027 to better support the EU’s social dimension. While it calls for a strong family dimension, the European Parliament failed to include a dedicated budget of at least €20 billion for the European Child Guarantee.
Give high priority to implementing the European Child Guarantee in Germany
COFACE member, the Association of Germany Family organisations, published an open letter on 12th March 2025 together with other organisations, directed at the...
Publications
Factsheet on Childcare gap in the European Union
The childcare gap remains one of the most pressing challenges facing new parents across Europe today. This gap arises following the birth of a child, when well-paid parental leave has been exhausted, but access to state-supported full-time Early Childhood Education and Care is not yet available. Read this new Factsheet produced by the European Observatory on Family Policy.
COFACE Families Europe adopts Digitalisation principles for creating a better Internet and web for all
COFACE Families Europe adopted 14 Digitalisation principles for creating a better Internet and web for all.
Key findings: the role of prevention systems for implementing the European Child Guarantee
In October 2024, COFACE co-hosted a European expert meeting in Berlin on the role of local prevention systems for implementing the European Child Guarantee. Click here to see the key findings.
Campaigns
Parliament calls for a strong and standalone Fund to combat social exclusion
On 11 March, the European Parliament called for more resources for the European Social Fund Plus post-2027 to better support the EU’s social dimension. While it calls for a strong family dimension, the European Parliament failed to include a dedicated budget of at least €20 billion for the European Child Guarantee.
‘Shocking’ living conditions in homes for persons with disabilities – Malta
The National Parents’ Society for Persons with Disabilities (NPSPD) in Malta issued a media release. They are deeply shocked and outraged by the findings regarding the appalling living conditions in Fondazzjoni Wens’ residences for persons with disabilities.
Parliament calls for a strong and standalone Fund to combat social exclusion
On 11 March, the European Parliament called for more resources for the European Social Fund Plus post-2027 to better support the EU’s social dimension. While it calls for a strong family dimension, the European Parliament failed to include a dedicated budget of at least €20 billion for the European Child Guarantee.
‘Shocking’ living conditions in homes for persons with disabilities – Malta
The National Parents’ Society for Persons with Disabilities (NPSPD) in Malta issued a media release. They are deeply shocked and outraged by the findings regarding the appalling living conditions in Fondazzjoni Wens’ residences for persons with disabilities.
Projects
COFACE Families Europe builds projects with its members (NGOs) and partners (research and policy), in order to deepen our actions in specific domains and strengthen the research-policy-practice triangle.
By building partnerships between practitioners, policy-makers and research institutions, we aim to support evidence-based practice and policy-making. We have been involved with a wide range of European projects, as both advisory board members and impact managers, funded by Erasmus+, Horizon 2020 and the European Research Council. We use the research to feed into EU and national policies under review and under preparation, and disseminate the results to our wide network of family organisations, inserting the research into practice via different programmes to support families which are run by COFACE members.
Opinions
OPINION – The Future I wish for: reflections from a young mother in Italy
Daniela, a young mother, shares her testimony of challenging societal perceptions and finding empowerment through the “We care... but who cares for us?” Erasmus+ project. The initiative supports young parents under 30, helping them engage in democratic life while balancing family responsibilities. Through self-reflection, training, and advocacy, participants gain a stronger voice in shaping youth and family policies.
OPINION – Muting machismo in video games: a necessary step towards equality
In a world where technology is an inexorable part of our lives, accessing and making use of it on equal terms has become a vital necessity and a right that makes the difference between full participation and discrimination, between socialisation and isolation, between inclusion and social exclusion.
Media Releases
Time for a game-changing EU Gender Equality Strategy post-2025
International Women’s Rights Day 2025 takes place at a pivotal moment for the European Union. The EU’s current Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025 is concluding this year and following this, a new strategy is to be launched in 2026. This transition offers an opportunity to set new priorities and intensify efforts towards inclusion, equity, and support for women. COFACE will continue to push for an ambitious new strategy with flagship initiatives focusing on closing the gender care gap, and in general on addressing the intersections of gender equality and family well-being.
COFACE launches its revised Digitalisation Principles: Creating a better Internet and web for children and their families
On this Safer Internet Day, COFACE Families Europe launches its revised Digitalisation Principles and calls on the European Union for a strong implementation and enforcement of EU digital policies and laws, with these 14 principles in mind. COFACE Families Europe aims to ensure that digitalisation and new technological developments support all families and respect the rights of all children.
Building a stronger framework for the rights of persons with disabilities and their families for the next five years
The 2024 International Day of Persons with Disabilities takes place at a pivotal moment for the European Union. As a new College of Commissioners is forming, the EU is concluding the first phase of its European Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2021–2030). This transition offers an opportunity to set new priorities and intensify efforts towards inclusion, equity, and support for persons with disabilities and their families.