A4-0273/98

Resolution on the situation of single mothers and single-parent families

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the text of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child ratified by the Member States,

- having regard to its resolution of 8 July 1986 on one-parent families ((OJ C 227, 08.09.1986, p. 31.)),

- having regard to the Commission's report on 'Women in the European Community¨ ((EUROSTAT, Luxembourg, ISBN 92-826-3136-2, 1992.)),

- having regard to the Commission's 'Demographic Report of 1997" ((DG V, UNIT V/E.1, Series Employment & Social Affairs, September 1997.)),

- having regard to its study on 'One-parent families in the Member States of the European Union¨ ((European Parliament, Research and Documentation, W-9, 6-1996.)),

- having regard to Rule 148 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Women's Rights (A4-0273/98),

A. whereas everyone has the right to a decent existence, with those unable to obtain the necessary resources through their own work, or otherwise having them available, receiving a state subsistence allowance;

B. whereas public budgets are under increasing pressures, including the ones agreed under the convergence criteria of the EMU,

C. whereas social security budgets traditionally constitute a large part and often the biggest part of public budgets,

D. whereas social benefits to single parents and their dependent children is a major budget line in many Member States; whereas the wish for new policies in this area, with a view to savings, has come to the forefront of the social policy debate,

E. whereas the burden of the necessary reduction of public expenditure cannot be allowed to fall on the weakest families, i.e., in many cases, single-parent families,

F. whereas several Member States are revising policies for single parents, mainly from a budgetary viewpoint,

1. Observes that the structure of the family in the European Union is changing considerably, due particularly to ongoing demographic changes, that single-parent families constitute 10% of family units in the European Union and that social and social security policies should therefore take account of these changes;

2. Stresses the fact that the incomes of single-parent families are often substantially lower than those of two-parent families and that they are thus often more susceptible to poverty and social exclusion;

3. Emphasises that between 80-90% of these single-parents are women, acting as head of the household and taking on all the responsibilities of being the provider and carer;

4. Stresses the fact that single-parent families may have their origin in very different situations, that by its very nature this type of family is particularly vulnerable, and may therefore require specific support measures, and considers that a study should therefore be made of the various types of single-parent family in order to identify the most suitable policies;

5. Recognises that the typical single mother is often without work or in less well paid, part-time jobs characterised by lower job security and with little possibility of acquiring basic or new skills thus reducing her chances of career or of improving her employability; is concerned by the fact that, partly due to the lack of an adequate official policy, the misconception arises that the typical single mother is often deliberately without work - or prefers less well-paid, part-time jobs to full-time well-paid jobs and, therefore, benefits excessively from the social security system;

6. Insists that the single mother in particular and also the single father will only have equal access to the labour market if major efforts are made to invest in affordable child care and after-school facilities in all subsidised public and private schools without which it is impossible for a single mother or father to reconcile their family and working life;

7. Recalls that, although social security systems account for a large proportion of public budgets, they should support single-parent families in financially difficult situations in such a way that the yield corresponds to their essential needs;

8. Notes with concern that in recent new policy debates to reduce the costs of social security, benefits to single parents has taken up a prominent place;

9. Warns against making single mothers scapegoats in this debate and proposes a serious debate on guidelines and policies to help the integration of single parents into mainstream society with a view to maximising use of human resources, both from the point of view of society as well as - and in particular - that of single parents and their children;

10. Does not accept the view that single parenthood is a chosen situation or one that willingly exploits the system; which is why all parties concerned must assist single parents by enhancing policies to allow them to have the highest possible degree of economic and social independence;

11. Calls on authorities to identify and recognise the obstacles faced by most single parents wishing to take up or recommence employment - access to employment, access to education/training and above all access to affordable child care and after-school facilities during the period of training and seeking employment, without which all the other measures in support of single mothers risk being wasted investments;

12. Rejects attempts to get single mothers to work by refusing benefits unless they are employed which is inconsistent with European social welfare thinking which is built on solidarity and not punishment;

13. Calls on Member States to analyse thoroughly the situation of single parents at national level as well as at regional and local level, which might vary considerably, before formulating realistic goals to improve their situation including their access to work;

14. Asks the Commission to investigate whether and to what extent employers are unfairly reticent if not indirectly or directly discriminatory towards applications from job-seekers who prove to be single mothers;

15. Requests Member States to improve their legal systems and practices for both parents to fulfill all obligations towards their children, not least concerning care and financial assistance, while attempting to avoid a substantial lowering of their standard of living;

16. Asks Member States to ensure that their legal systems, backed up by the proper pedagogic advice, work out the best formulae for shared custody, with proper information support and publicity campaigns on the possible benefits regarding the fair division of family responsibilities in households where there are two parents;

17. Proposes to Member States that in drawing up and applying their fiscal policies they should study and assess the possibility of reducing tax burdens, which should not however have direct or indirect repercussions for workers, on those undertakings which make available to their employees a nursery and children's day-care service, particularly in those cases where the work is organised in shifts or the timetable is not in line with services of this type;

18. Urges Member States, where it is not already the case, to adapt their divorce laws and procedures to make it possible for both partners to draw up a divorce agreement, with or without the help of a social expert, in which they agree on mutual rules for the care and bringing-up of their children and which they can present to a court for examination and confirmation;

19. Calls on the Member States to revise a range of policies such as social security, taxation, pension rights and the right to proper housing, which must be considered to be direct rights and not derived rights, and on this basis to adopt support measures as an incentive to employment and integration into the working environment;

20. Insists that improving the situation of single-parent families must have priority over public budget deficit considerations; also insists that a coordinated revision of economic and financial policies must be accompanied by a revision of other social security laws such as direct and derived rights of the individual;

21. Highlights the forthcoming revision of the Union's Structural Funds, based on the principle of economic and social cohesion, which could make an important contribution to improving the situation of single-parent families;

22. Stresses that the Communities are obliged by the principle of mainstreaming to incorporate equal opportunities into all their policies and requests that particular attention be paid to the situation of single parents;

23. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States and the European social partners.