19/06/2007: The plenary session of the European Parliament approved by a large majority the report of Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou MEP entitled "Towards a regulatory framework for measures to reconcile family life and a period of studies for young women in the EU".
The report, which was unanimously adopted on the 5th of June by the Women's Rights Committee, contains several recommendations which aim to enable young people to reconcile their period of studies or training with family responsibilities, maternity or paternity leave, or in situations of care for dependent persons such as disabled or elderly people.
The report underlines that the later achievement of the different stages of life (studies, work, family) is responsible, amongst others, for Europe's demographic decline.
It 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 regrets that all the Member States have not yet complied with the Barcelona objectives on childcare facilities and encourages the creation of such structures within universities or professional institutes. As far as older children are concerned, the report encourages Member States to provide students with good quality and low-cost care facilities.
It recommends the establishment of a national certification system which would enable the identification of Higher Education Institutions which offer possibilities for the conciliation of studies and family life.
The report also invites the 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.
For further information: Tel: +32-2-2847447 Fax: +32-2-2849447
E-mail: marie.panayotopoulos@europarl.europa.eu
The report, which was unanimously adopted on the 5th of June by the Women's Rights Committee, contains several recommendations which aim to enable young people to reconcile their period of studies or training with family responsibilities, maternity or paternity leave, or in situations of care for dependent persons such as disabled or elderly people.
The report underlines that the later achievement of the different stages of life (studies, work, family) is responsible, amongst others, for Europe's demographic decline.
It 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 regrets that all the Member States have not yet complied with the Barcelona objectives on childcare facilities and encourages the creation of such structures within universities or professional institutes. As far as older children are concerned, the report encourages Member States to provide students with good quality and low-cost care facilities.
It recommends the establishment of a national certification system which would enable the identification of Higher Education Institutions which offer possibilities for the conciliation of studies and family life.
The report also invites the 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.
For further information: Tel: +32-2-2847447 Fax: +32-2-2849447
E-mail: marie.panayotopoulos@europarl.europa.eu
Posts
