09/02/2006: Following the meeting of EPP-ED Members Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou, Zuzana Roithová and José Ribeiro e Castro with the Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs Vladimir Špidla on October 19 2005, a meeting has been agreed between the Commissioner and the European Large Families Confederation (ELFAC) to take place on February 6 2006.
The Board Members of ELFAC - formally created in Lisbon on March 27 2004 - went to the European Parliament in Brussels on the invitation of Mrs Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou and Mr Ribeiro E Castro.
On this occasion, representatives of ELFAC - which is comprised of several European associations - presented MEPs with their objectives and activities - the promotion of equal treatment for all large families. Their goal is the exchange of ideas on the improvement of family situations in Europe. In addition, they presented the difficulties that large families experience in various Member States such as discrimination, difficulties in access to education, the unsuitable pensions systems, the absence of special measures for large families on housing, electricity and public transport, the lack of favourable fiscal measures (i.e. taxes), etc.
Although all speakers agreed that family policy was to remain a national policy, they insisted, however, on the need for carrying out exchanges of good practices and creating a framework action of support for family life at European level. In addition, they expressed the wish that discrimination which affects large families be abolished and that their specificity, and in particular their vulnerability, be recognised. Lastly, the ELFAC representatives indicated that they wished for better recognition by the Community Institutions of the family's key role in maintaining social cohesion.
The Board Members of ELFAC - formally created in Lisbon on March 27 2004 - went to the European Parliament in Brussels on the invitation of Mrs Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou and Mr Ribeiro E Castro.
On this occasion, representatives of ELFAC - which is comprised of several European associations - presented MEPs with their objectives and activities - the promotion of equal treatment for all large families. Their goal is the exchange of ideas on the improvement of family situations in Europe. In addition, they presented the difficulties that large families experience in various Member States such as discrimination, difficulties in access to education, the unsuitable pensions systems, the absence of special measures for large families on housing, electricity and public transport, the lack of favourable fiscal measures (i.e. taxes), etc.
Although all speakers agreed that family policy was to remain a national policy, they insisted, however, on the need for carrying out exchanges of good practices and creating a framework action of support for family life at European level. In addition, they expressed the wish that discrimination which affects large families be abolished and that their specificity, and in particular their vulnerability, be recognised. Lastly, the ELFAC representatives indicated that they wished for better recognition by the Community Institutions of the family's key role in maintaining social cohesion.
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