06/06/2007: By Theo Georgitsopoulos
A large majority of the European Parliament approved the report of Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou MEP (GR) entitled "Towards a regulatory framework for measures to reconcile family life and a period of studies for young women in the EU".
The report contains several recommendations which aim to enable young people to conciliate their period of studies or training with family responsibilities, either maternity or paternity leave or in situations of care for dependent persons such as disabled or elderly people. It also stresses the fact that the later achievement of the different stages of life (studies, work and family) is responsible, amongst others, for Europe's demographic decline.
Mrs Panayotopoulos' report encourages the Commission and the Member States to promote policies for the conciliation of a period of studies or training and family life and to provide interested young people with the resources that correspond to their needs. It invites Member States to propose low cost social security schemes for students and trainees which could be extended to their dependents as well as to facilitate the provision of bank loans for students and to reduce or suppress the taxation of young people who take up family responsibilities in parallel with their studies, training or professional activity.
The report also invites Member States and social partners to facilitate lifelong learning and its conciliation with family and professional life. It calls for the suppression of all restrictions to complementary paid work activities for students as long as the amounts received do not exceed the threshold set by each Member State. Finally, it calls on Member States to examine whether family responsibilities are a factor of abandonment of studies, especially for young women.
A large majority of the European Parliament approved the report of Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou MEP (GR) entitled "Towards a regulatory framework for measures to reconcile family life and a period of studies for young women in the EU".
The report contains several recommendations which aim to enable young people to conciliate their period of studies or training with family responsibilities, either maternity or paternity leave or in situations of care for dependent persons such as disabled or elderly people. It also stresses the fact that the later achievement of the different stages of life (studies, work and family) is responsible, amongst others, for Europe's demographic decline.
Mrs Panayotopoulos' report encourages the Commission and the Member States to promote policies for the conciliation of a period of studies or training and family life and to provide interested young people with the resources that correspond to their needs. It invites Member States to propose low cost social security schemes for students and trainees which could be extended to their dependents as well as to facilitate the provision of bank loans for students and to reduce or suppress the taxation of young people who take up family responsibilities in parallel with their studies, training or professional activity.
The report also invites Member States and social partners to facilitate lifelong learning and its conciliation with family and professional life. It calls for the suppression of all restrictions to complementary paid work activities for students as long as the amounts received do not exceed the threshold set by each Member State. Finally, it calls on Member States to examine whether family responsibilities are a factor of abandonment of studies, especially for young women.
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