Dear Members and Partners of COFACE Families Europe,
As we step into this new year, I want to take a moment to extend my warmest greetings and gratitude to each of you, for your dedication, resilience, and commitment to contribute to the efforts we make for improving the quality of life of families in Europe.
The challenges that families face today are growing more complex: Work-life imbalances and care responsibilities weigh highly on many, poverty and spiraling costs create new pressures, and families continue to encounter barriers to accessing the social rights they need and deserve. Family diversity remains unrecognized, families with disabilities are excluded far too often, and the invaluable contributions of family carers still go unacknowledged in many contexts. Furthermore, the rapid integration of Artificial Intelligence into our daily lives—impacting jobs, education, health, and more—adds another layer of complexity, requiring us to ensure that these technologies are used ethically and inclusively, to benefit all families without creating new inequalities.
Despite these hurdles, COFACE Families Europe has remained steadfast in its mission to advocate for inclusive family policies and practices. Due to your support and commitment, we make continuous progress on all the above-mentioned issues by utilizing the experience of our work in the field, in research, in recording deficiencies, in collecting good practices, and submitting policy proposals to senior decision-making centers in Europe. It is still very important that we have made significant progress, and our voice is steadily heard in Europe regarding the importance of issues related to Early Childhood Education and Care, as well as to people who require Long-Term Care. The creation of the COFACE European Family Lab has also elevated our long-standing efforts on the issue of inclusive education for all families, as well as professionals working with families, as they can have access any time and benefit from the online and free nature of all trainings and other material included in it. We are particularly delighted to receive praise and positive feedback from the people engaging with it.
This year brings a renewed opportunity for us to collaborate and innovate. With your continued support and expertise, I am confident that we can tackle many pressing issues that emerge and continue our good work, so that social rights are accessible to all families and contribute to a more inclusive and strong Europe.
Let us keep building on the excellent work we have achieved over the years, as we look forward to meeting in person in Helsinki, Warsaw, Brussels, and in Paris in 2025.
Warm thanks from my part also to our very committed director, Elizabeth Gosme, our Executive Bureau team, the great secretariat of COFACE in Brussels, and last but not least to our former president Annemie Drieskens who continues to tirelessly strive to promote the values and work of COFACE.
Thank you all for your tireless efforts. Together, we will continue to make a difference, empowering families and shaping a better future.
I wish you a year filled with inspiration, impactful work, and meaningful connections.
Warm regards,
Antonia Torrens, President, COFACE Families Europe
