EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 78/682

(2004/C 78 E/0727)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-4059/03

by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

(8 January 2004)

Subject: Large families

There is a whole range of essential goods and services which larger families need to use but which cause them to suffer on account of the more costly pricing, charging, and rate systems.

This applies to the payment of road tolls, which are particularly high for larger families because they have to use bigger vehicles.

Another example is water consumption: the scaling policy normally applied does not allow for the number of persons making up a family unit and thus serves to impose penalties for consumption which, as far as larger families are concerned, is in no way excessive and does not constitute a luxury.

There is no doubt that overconsumption or sheer carelessness should carry a penalty, but the water consumption of a large household does not correspond to the situation which scaling is designed to counteract and simple justice consequently demands that it be exempted from such punishment. Correctives should be applied when enforcing the scaling policy. Systems whereby household consumption charge scales are calculated per head — or acting as a similar corrective — are the only means of remedying this serious social injustice.

In addition to the cases described above, there are other instances of manifest failure to allow for family size.

Given that the International Year of the Family is being celebrated in 2004 and it is ten years since the United Nations General Assembly established International Day of Families (15 May), this would be an especially appropriate time for the Union to send signals to the Member States regarding policies and the steps to take.

The Commission:

— how will it promote the necessary justice for families who, because they are larger, incur more expenses and liabilities and often pay higher prices, rates, or charges for given services? Has it compiled any list of standard situations in which large families are falling victim to discrimination or being denied the positive discrimination from which they ought to benefit;

— given that it is aware of the Union's low birth rate and the problems that will ensue if the trend is not reversed, does it not take the view that states, instead of harming the interests of families with three or more children, should, on the contrary, apply positive discrimination, not least as regards taxation and other charges or the price of public services?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(30 January 2004)

The Commission shares the Honourable Member's concerns on the issues he has raised. In addition, the Commission continues to raise public awareness of the current demographic challenge, which is partly a result of chronically low fertility rates across the Union. However, the Union does not possess a specific legal basis to develop and implement measures in the area of family policy. This is clearly a responsibility for the Member States.

Nonetheless, family issues are of interest to the Commission as they affect demographic developments and interact with a number of European policies. Therefore, the Commission focuses its attention on the study of family and household trends and their policy implications. The social situation in the European Union', which the Commission publishes annually, presents analysis on social trends and demography, including family-related aspects.

From a policy-making point of view, the European social inclusion process, based on the open method of coordination, is of particular relevance to the issues raised by the Honourable Member. The objectives for the fight against poverty and social exclusion, relevant in the context of family, include: implementing policies which aim to provide access for all to decent and sanitary housing, as well as the basic services necessary to live normally having regard to local circumstances (electricity, water, heating etc.); developing policies to promote the reconciliation of work and family life, including the issue of affordable child and dependent care; implementing action to preserve family solidarity in all its forms; and moving towards the elimination of social exclusion among children and giving them every opportunity for social integration.