The Parliamentary Secretary of State in the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, Dr. Hermann Kues, today delivered a positive summary on the EU Council Presidency in his speeches to the European Parliament's Committees on Education and Culture, Women's Rights and Gender Equality and the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs.
"The objective of the German presidency is to improve living conditions for families. One of the positive milestones on the way to achieving this objective is the European Alliance for Families that the European Council decided to establish in March. We've put the issue firmly on the European agenda. It is essential, in light of the process of demographic change that is taking place, for Europe to rediscover the concept of family. It is also necessary to take advantage of the potential that can be derived from a family-friendly economic and growth policy." The European Alliance for Families will provide the EU Member states with a platform for the intensive exchange of knowledge and information on family-friendly policies. A website will soon be available as a central information portal. Eurofond – the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions - is also conducting research into new family policy approaches and projects.
"Family policy measures such as the creation of additional childcare facilities provides a much stronger basis for gender equality. According to studies, successful equality policies proactively use family policy instruments that are consistently oriented on real family situations. This was also the unanimous opinion at the Informal Meeting of Ministers for Equality in Bad Pyrmont," continued Kues. The team presidency, consisting of Germany, Portugal and Slovenia, signed a declaration at the outset of a joint initiative to support the implementation of the Commission's Roadmap for Equality Between Women and Men 2006-2010. The roadmap focuses on eliminating role stereotypes, promoting equality of opportunity in the labour market and the support of migrant women.
In February, the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council also adopted the decision concerning "Opportunities and challenges of demographic change in Europe: the contribution of elderly citizens to social development." It underlines the opportunities that exist as a result of the structural change that is associated with population development. "We have to discover and make use of the active and productive age. We want to tap into this population group's purchasing power by introducing new and innovative products and services so that we can contribute to economic growth and boost employment," emphasised Kues. In future, the governments will be strengthening the 'silver economy' framework to improve the quality of life of elderly citizens and safeguard growth and employment in Europe.
In the area of youth, Germany has highlighted the issue of equality of opportunity and the elimination of all barriers preventing young people from participating in society. The Council of Ministers responsible for Youth adopted four key messages for the further implementation of the European Pact for Youth. The Council also adopted a Decision on specific measures to reduce discrimination, promote generation equality and solve problems in disadvantaged urban and rural areas in May. "We have to persuade young people that the concept of Europe is a good thing because without them there is no future for Europe," said Kues to the Committee on Culture and Education.
For further information please contact: www.bmfsfj.de/eu.
