06/07/2006: Within the general discussion on intergenerational relations and their impact on economic and social life, the meeting of the Intergroup on Family and Protection of Childhood which took place on the 5th of July in the EP in Strasbourg focused on the situation of adults of the so-called " transition generations" identified as those who care both for the young and the elderly. The meeting, which gathered representatives of EU organs, the French Ministry for the Family, civil society and NGOs, enabled exchange of ideas on the one hand, on the way to support the conciliation of professional activities with family life and on the other, on the social, economic and cultural recognition of unpaid family work.
Mrs Noora Heinonen, from the Finnish Presidency of the Council of the EU presented the activities scheduled for the next six months on the conciliation of family and professional life and stressed that the Presidency would focus on the follow up and implementation of EU legislation on equal opportunities and protection of disadvantaged persons. In addition, she gave an overview of existing Finnish legislation on the matter.
Mr Dominique de Legge, inter-ministerial delegate for the family of the French Government, indicated the new measures adopted by the French Government in favour of families and "family helpers" in order to be able to respond to the new family and social challenges. Among the measures proposed one can find the creation of a family support leave for family helpers, measures for return to the workforce, a solidarity action plan for the very old aiming at establishing temporary housing facilities for the elderly and finally, the granting of loans with no interest rates for young people between 18 and 25 years old to help them enter professional life.
Mrs Maryse Huet who represented the European Commission, recalled the EU legislation and programmes aiming at improving conciliation between family and professional life and a more balanced sharing of obligations between parents. She explained that in addition to family leave and services of care for dependant persons, the European Commission will propose measures in favour, among others, of caring facilities for young children, support for family helpers, creation of a pro-family environment in companies and finally, the diversity of the employment market and the flexibility of working time and professional conditions.
Mrs Marielle Helleputte from the European Federation of Unpaid Carers and Parents at Home (FEFAF) recall the voluntary work which takes place within the family or within associations in favour of children, the elderly and dependent persons plays an important role in safeguarding social stability. She underlined however, that most national legislations relating to the conciliation of family and professional life give priority to employment and put aside persons who wish to chose a lifestyle adapted to their family's needs. Free choice should be promoted through the recognition of the human, cultural, economic, educational and social value of family work. According to Mrs Helleputte, this recognition depends on the opening of pension rights for the parent who stays at home and the provision of help for social reintegration.
Concluding the meeting, Mrs Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou called on Member States should evaluate the impact of the new responsibilities taken up by adults and adopt social policies in order to enable parents to chose to combine professional and family life or to focus on the latter while enjoying the same social and pension rights as paid workers.
Mrs Noora Heinonen, from the Finnish Presidency of the Council of the EU presented the activities scheduled for the next six months on the conciliation of family and professional life and stressed that the Presidency would focus on the follow up and implementation of EU legislation on equal opportunities and protection of disadvantaged persons. In addition, she gave an overview of existing Finnish legislation on the matter.
Mr Dominique de Legge, inter-ministerial delegate for the family of the French Government, indicated the new measures adopted by the French Government in favour of families and "family helpers" in order to be able to respond to the new family and social challenges. Among the measures proposed one can find the creation of a family support leave for family helpers, measures for return to the workforce, a solidarity action plan for the very old aiming at establishing temporary housing facilities for the elderly and finally, the granting of loans with no interest rates for young people between 18 and 25 years old to help them enter professional life.
Mrs Maryse Huet who represented the European Commission, recalled the EU legislation and programmes aiming at improving conciliation between family and professional life and a more balanced sharing of obligations between parents. She explained that in addition to family leave and services of care for dependant persons, the European Commission will propose measures in favour, among others, of caring facilities for young children, support for family helpers, creation of a pro-family environment in companies and finally, the diversity of the employment market and the flexibility of working time and professional conditions.
Mrs Marielle Helleputte from the European Federation of Unpaid Carers and Parents at Home (FEFAF) recall the voluntary work which takes place within the family or within associations in favour of children, the elderly and dependent persons plays an important role in safeguarding social stability. She underlined however, that most national legislations relating to the conciliation of family and professional life give priority to employment and put aside persons who wish to chose a lifestyle adapted to their family's needs. Free choice should be promoted through the recognition of the human, cultural, economic, educational and social value of family work. According to Mrs Helleputte, this recognition depends on the opening of pension rights for the parent who stays at home and the provision of help for social reintegration.
Concluding the meeting, Mrs Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou called on Member States should evaluate the impact of the new responsibilities taken up by adults and adopt social policies in order to enable parents to chose to combine professional and family life or to focus on the latter while enjoying the same social and pension rights as paid workers.
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