The European Commission launched its Guidance on independent living and inclusion in the community of persons with disabilities in the context of EU funding.The Guidance is a ‘flagship’ initiative of the Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030.
In response to the publication of the European Commission Guidance on Independent Living, EASPD, EDF, Inclusion Europe, ENIL, COFACE Families Europe, and Eurochild invite you to a jointly organised online webinar.
This webinar will bring together speakers from the EU institutions, and participants from different fields and backgrounds in order to discuss tools for monitoring and evaluation of the European Care Strategy implementation; and to share knowledge from national and EU level in order to strengthen the policy and funding levers to boost implementation.
Social investments and reforms in key areas can boost employment, social inclusion, competitiveness and economic growth. This is the main finding of the Commission’s 2024 Employment and Social Developments in Europe (ESDE) report.
On behalf of the European Expert Group on the transition from institution to community-based living (EEG), we are pleased to invite you to our annual study session.
The rEUsilience project under Horizon Europe (with COFACE as an integral partner), has recently published on eligibility and benefit adequacy for families in the tax-benefit system.
COFACE monitors closely the implementation of the strategy in both care service fields: early childhood education and care (ECEC), and long-term care (LTC). For ECEC, we monitor especially measures taken through the European Child Guarantee national action plans, working with the Alliance for Investing in Children. For LTC, we do this together with a European care advocacy alliance of more than 20 NGOs and trade unions.
In June 2024, COFACE member, KMOP, educated and raised awareness among 12 informal caregivers about improving services for people with dementia and helping them build better social relationships with their patients.
This expert meeting will use the integrated family policy framework created by the European Observatory on Family Policy to look more closely at the impact of services on children and their families, linking the implementation of the European Child Guarantee recommendation to the local level.
Following the call on 8th April 2024 for a European Long-Term Care Platform, 18 organisations signed a joint statement urging national governments and the European Commission to ensure open and transparent reporting mechanisms for the European Care Strategy, for its effective monitoring and implementation.
COFACE has the ambition to shape together a strong social Europe fit for families and foster a European society that is more inclusive, offers equal opportunities and brings everyone forward.
In preparation of the next European elections on 6-9th June 2024, here are ten specific actions we would like to see integrated in the programme of the European Union.
Familias Monoparentales (FAMS), declared that single parents don’t depend on other parents, but on the services offered by the Spanish government. This relationship between single parents and government cannot work when more than 65% of single parents are looking for part-time work so they can be available for their children in the afternoons. This means reduced income to pay for childcare and the costs that come with infancy.
It has been a year since the Council of Europe condemned the French state for violating the rights of people with disabilities and their families. COFACE members Unapei and APF France Handicap along with other NGOs are urgently reminding the French government of their obligations to protect people with disabilities and their families.
The end of March 2024 marked a significant event for Fundação LIGA, our Portuguese COFACE Disability member. In fact, representatives of their Early Childhood Intervention Program participated in the inaugural meeting of ELI AASMA. ELI AASMA is the Early Childhood Intervention Association for the municipalities of Alenquer, Arruda dos Vinhos, and Sobral de Monte Agraço and serves as a platform for collaboration and knowledge-sharing among professionals working to support children and families.
On 14 and 15 April, COFACE Families Europe participated in the Social Summit on the Future of Social Europe that took place in the small Belgian village of La Hulpe. The purpose of the high-level conference was to sign an inter-institutional declaration, with the ultimate goal of shaping the future social agenda of the European Union for period of 2024-2029.
COFACE member, Fonds du Logement Wallonie (FLW) provides housing loans to large families for the creation of special accommodation for one or more parents aged 60 or over. Since 2022, this option has been available to all households (with or without children) meeting certain income conditions: total taxable income for the penultimate year, i.e. 2022 for an application submitted in 2024, may not exceed EUR 76,000, plus EUR 5,000 per dependent child.
A representative from the Helpdesk on EU funds for social services (run by EASPD) will provide an overview of key funds and how they support the development of social services linked to the implementation of different European strategies.
This expert meeting brought together speakers from Ireland and Europe to help pave the way for family-centred education and learning systems. The expert meeting will be an opportunity to spotlight the diversity of educational approaches by featuring professionals working with families in different EU countries, to share their insights on developing learning materials by-with-for families.
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.
On the morrow of the UN International day for the Rights of Children, the European Parliament adopted an important text for children and their families. The Own Initiative report on Reducing inequalities and promoting social inclusion in times of crisis for children and their families received 386 votes in favours for 87 against and 141 abstention.
“Easy-to-read” is information that is written in a simple and clear way so that all people can understand it. In the ever-evolving landscape of information sharing, the matter of accessibility takes center stage at COFACE, particularly when it comes to our resources and the information we disseminate.
The working group aims to create an informal and collaborative space, serving as an education hub, where members from different countries can learn from one another, exchange ideas, build partnerships and explore ways to improve and promote their education practices.
As we reflect on the past year, we cannot ignore the unprecedented circumstances that shaped our journey. Throughout this transformative year, our unwavering ambition has been to shape a robust social Europe that truly caters to the needs of families.
This publication adopted ten years ago in 2012 consists of the COFACE position on the family dimension of the UNCRPD, followed by the integral text of the Convention.
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.
COFACE Families Europe is deeply concerned about the escalating situation in Ukraine and the consequences for the people of Ukraine.
It is clear that our present and our future are digital. During the pandemic, digital technologies kept families connected and societies functioning.
Even before the pandemic, child poverty levels were already high in cities – often much higher than national averages, which is why many cities have already been finding innovative ways to combat it.
Persons with Disabilities face barriers and discrimination in their participation in society every day.
In March 2020 Spain, like Italy and other European countries, introduced a hard lockdown in parts or the whole country.
Most recently, Commission President von der Leyen used her State of the European Union to underline her support for the LGBTIQ community and the recognition of rainbow families.
All-day care at that age can positively impact parents and children. However, it is not only the existence of (all-day) childcare and schooling that is crucial, but also its content and quality.
Forgotten, family carers lived through a major lack of recognition during this pandemic crisis.
Communication with deaf people who are ill or in poor health is also one of our priorities during this health emergency.
Being stuck at home, everyone has now time to ponder and reflect whether this rat race even makes sense in the first place.
Families around Europe live the same difficulties. They should unite in a same demand: parental leave for working parents during the confinement.
Never before, have I experienced a situation where human behaviour is so greatly affected that it results in feelings of anxiety isolation and uncertainty everywhere.
