Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions - Promoting solidarity between the generations
Date: 2007-05-10
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: European social policy, Structural Funds, employment policy, family policy, population ageing

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 10.5.2007 
COM(2007) 244 final 

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION 
TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN 
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE 
REGIONS 

PROMOTING SOLIDARITY BETWEEN THE GENERATIONS 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS 

1. 

2. 

2.1. 

2.2. 

2.3. 

2.4. 

3. 

3.1. 

3.2. 

4. 

Introduction .................................................................................................................. 3 

Public policies in support of family life: the importance of promoting employment 
and equal opportunities ................................................................................................ 3 

A general movement towards adaptation of family policies by the Member States.... 4 

The importance of promoting employment and equal opportunities ........................... 5 

The role of European Union employment and equal opportunities policies in the 
quality of family life..................................................................................................... 5 

The Lisbon Strategy, the driving force for balancing professional, family and private 
life ................................................................................................................................ 6 

European Alliance for Families ................................................................................... 7 

A platform for the systematic exchange of best practices and research ...................... 8 

Utilisation of the European Structural Funds............................................................... 9 

Conclusions .................................................................................................................. 9 

ANNEX - MAIN EUROPEAN DATA ON FAMILIES AND FAMILY POLICIES ..... Error! Bookmark not 
defined. 

The family as a support network ...............................................Error! Bookmark not defined. 

Mean actual and ideal number of children, by country. Women aged 40 to 54 ............... Error! 

Bookmark not defined. 

Frequency of care by sex, age and country groups (%) ............Error! Bookmark not defined. 

Difference of employment rate for women with and without children... Error! Bookmark not 

defined. 

Provision of childcare in European countries in 2005 ..............Error! Bookmark not defined. 

Social protection benefits targeted at family support in the EUError! Bookmark not defined. 

Preferences for family support measures ..................................Error! Bookmark not defined. 

At-risk-of-poverty rates by household type, 2005 ....................Error! Bookmark not defined. 

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1. 

INTRODUCTION 

Through  its  Green  Paper  Confronting  demographic  change  published  in  March  2005,  the 
Commission initiated a debate on the need to strengthen solidarity between the generations. In 
its  Communication  of  12 October  2006  on  the  demographic  future  of  Europe1,  it  then 
emphasised the need for the Member States of the European Union to promote demographic 
renewal,  linking  their  action  to  the  renewed  Lisbon  Strategy  for  growth  and  jobs  and 
following  up  gender  equality  policy.  By  improving  family  life  conditions,  particularly  by 
balancing  professional  and  private  life,  Member  States  could  help  Europeans  to  have  their 
ideal number of children (see Annex 2).  

The debate which then started in Europe on the subject of demographic ageing has added to 
this perspective. It has become clear that the balance in European societies rests on a set of 
inter-generational  solidarity  relationships  which  are  more  complex  than  in  the  past.  Young 
adults live under their parents’ roof for longer, while, increasingly often, the parents have to 
support  dependent  elderly  people2.  The  resulting  burdens  are  borne  mainly  by  the  young  or 
intermediate  generations,  and  generally  by  women.  Equality  between  men  and  women,  and 
equal  opportunities  more  generally,  would  therefore  appear  to  be  key  conditions  for  the 
establishing of a new solidarity relationship between the generations. 

This is why, even if family policies are the exclusive responsibility of the Member States, the 
Union  can  still  contribute  indirectly  to  their  modernisation  and  success,  particularly  on  the 
basis of the Lisbon Strategy, which puts the emphasis precisely on the participation of women 
in employment, the  need  to  do more  in terms of balancing professional life, family life and 
private life, and the employment and inclusion of young people. 

With  this  in  mind,  the  Commission  welcomes  the  initiative  for  a  European  Alliance  for 
Families  announced  by  the  Spring  European  Council.  Starting  with  a  description  of  recent 
trends  in  national  policies  supporting  family  life,  this  Communication  emphasises  the 
contribution  of  the  Lisbon  Strategy  to  these  developments  (section  2)  before  proposing 
instruments  to  allow  the  European  Alliance  to  develop  as  a  platform  for  research  and 
exchanges (section 3). It constitutes the first stage in a European response to the challenges 
laid down by demographic change. 

2. 

PUBLIC  POLICIES  IN  SUPPORT  OF  FAMILY  LIFE:  THE  IMPORTANCE  OF  PROMOTING 
EMPLOYMENT AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES 

Member  States  are  committed  to  adapting  their  policies  in  support  of  family  life  to  take 
account  of  demographic  ageing,  changes  in  living  conditions  and  the  growing  diversity  in 
family  relationships3.  Although  the  responsibility  for  family  policies  remains  with  the 
Member  States,  the  European  Union’s  policies  on  employment  and  equal  opportunities 
nevertheless have a substantial impact on the quality of family life. 

1 
2 

3 

The demographic future of Europe — from challenge to opportunity - COM(2006) 571. 
First European Quality of Life Survey 2003. European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and 
Working Conditions. 
Social Situation Report 2005/6. 

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2.1. 

A  general  movement  towards  adaptation  of  family  policies  by  the  Member 
States 

European  observation  tools  such  as  MISSOC  suggest  that  the  various  policies  in  support  of 
family life in the Member States of the European Union currently comprise three main axes: 

–  compensation for direct and indirect costs associated with the family (benefits or 

tax relief for those responsible for children or other dependent persons); 

–  parent help services in the form of education and care for young children, care and 
supervision for older children and, increasingly, services for dependent people in 
an ageing society; 

–  organisation of working and employment conditions (appropriate work schedules 

and leave) and access to services at local level. 

These  three  axes  have  developed  very  differently  from  one  Member  State  to  another.  For 
example, expenditure on family benefits and childcare services averages 2.1% of GDP in the 
Union  (EU-25)4,  but  varies  between  0.7%  and  3.9%  depending  on  the  country,  with  lower 
levels in the southern European countries (which tend to rely particularly on solidarity within 
the family) and higher levels in the Nordic and continental countries. 

However, taking account of a rapidly developing social and cultural context, Member States 
have started to adapt, moving in three directions: 

–  Family policies are now part of a broader set of public measures which all have an 
influence  on  family  situations,  notably  policies  in  the  fields  of  education,  social 
and  occupational  inclusion  of  young  people,  employment,  housing,  transport, 
health  and,  of  course,  civil  law,  which  governs  people’s  obligations  to  the  other 
members of their family. 

–  How  action  is  taken  is  changing,  with  a  trend  towards  the  decentralisation  of 
activities, individualisation of rights and benefits, and targeting of expenditure to 
increase the incentive to work and ensure a lasting escape from poverty situations. 
This  trend  manifests  itself  notably  in  a  revision  of  derived  rights  linked  to  the 
family status and the promotion of individual rights in social protection systems. 
These systems are also being adapted so as not to penalise women (whose rate of 
occupational  activity  in  the  past  has  been  low)  and  thus  avoid  a  further 
deterioration in the poverty situation affecting women in the older generations5. 

–  Finally,  family  policies  are  increasingly  taking  account  of  the  changes  in 
aspirations  and  practices  concerning  the  respective  roles  of  men  and  women  in 
society,  in  terms  of  women  participating  in  employment  without  major 
interruptions  and  men's 
in  family  and  domestic 
increased  participation 
responsibilities,  thus  contributing  to  equality  between  men  and  women  through 
the economic autonomy of the latter. 

4 

5 

Data on expenditure for families do not include tax benefits, expenditure on education (especially pre-
school),  or  other  measures  intended  to  help  families  or  to  take  account  of  family  burdens  (housing, 
social inclusion, etc.). 
ILO report on women and social security 1988. 

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These  trends  are  welcomed  by  Europeans,  who  remain  deeply  attached  to  family  life6.  One 
study  carried  out  by  the  Robert  Bosch  Foundation  in  12  countries  between  1999  and  2003 
found  that  the  main  wish  was  for  a  more  extensive  range  of  collectively  provided  care 
services for children and dependent people, particularly elderly people (see Annex 7). 

2.2. 

The importance of promoting employment and equal opportunities 

A question that is often asked is how to identify the most efficient family policies. The reply 
must take  account  of the  variety  of objectives assigned to these policies by the countries of 
Europe.  Sometimes,  the  priority  is  to  increase  the  number  of  births  by  helping  couples  to 
achieve  their  family  plans.  In  other  countries,  support  for  family  life  is  part  of  a  general 
project to promote citizens’ well-being by ensuring equal opportunities for all. Some countries 
see measures to combat poverty among certain families or reduce income inequalities as the 
main  issue.  Finally,  often  at  the  level  of  a  region  or  municipal  area,  the  aim  is  to  create  a 
framework conducive to family life with a view to attracting or retaining skilled labour. 

However, an empirical comparison shows that the countries which have implemented global 
policies to promote equality between women and men, have developed integrated systems for 
the supply of services and individual entitlement to parental leave for both men and women, 
have invested in the quality of childcare services7 and have moved towards the more flexible 
organisation  of  working time generally  have  both high birth rates and high levels of female 
employment.  Promoted  by  a  great  range  of  stakeholders,  these  initiatives  in  the  Member 
States  bring  together  government,  local  and  regional  authorities  and  social  partners, 
sometimes  under  the  heading  of  corporate  social  responsibility,  in  conjunction  with 
associations and civil society organisations. 

The  Scandinavian  countries  have  the  highest  rates  of  female  employment.  In  Sweden  and 
Denmark more than 80% of women aged 25–54 have a job. The lowest rates are observed in 
the Mediterranean countries. Fertility rates are also above average in the countries which at a 
very  early  stage  developed  policies  to  balance  professional  and  family  life  to  the  benefit  of 
gender equality. 

Arrangements  designed  to  improve  the  balance between  professional  and  family/private  life 
mean that women do not have to choose between a career and the quality of their family life 
and  contribute  thus  both  to  the  realisation  of  family  plans  and  the  employment  of  women. 
Similarly, reducing pay disparities between men and women also play a role in encouraging 
the fairer sharing of family and domestic responsibilities. 

2.3. 

The role of European Union employment and equal opportunities policies in the 
quality of family life 

Family policies are the exclusive responsibility of the Member States. However, the European 
Union  has  always  endeavoured  to  take  account  of  the  impact  of  its  own  policies  on  family 
relationships  and  family  members’  quality  of  life.  The  Lisbon  Strategy  now  offers  a 

6 

7 

Eurobarometer  273  “European  Social  Reality”:  family  life  is  one  of  the  values  highlighted  by 
Europeans when responding to surveys on well-being. 
The OECD work on awakening awareness in and educating young children shows that the development 
of structures combining care and education is becoming a necessity that transcends its contribution to 
balancing  family  and  professional  life,  as  it  contributes  to  combating  exclusion  and  boosting  the 
promotion of human capital from a very young age. 

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framework  for  the  modernisation  of  family  policies  through  the  promotion  of  equal 
opportunities and in particular through a better reconciliation of work and private/family life 
which contributes to female labour force participation. 

Community  legislation  has  long  taken  account  of  the  requirements  of  family  life  and 
corresponding rights. Its implementation concerning the freedom of movement for people and 
workers  in  Europe  has  led  to  the  coordination  of  statutory  social  security  schemes8  (which 
include  family  benefits)  and  the  right  to  family  reunification  for  workers  in  the  European 
Union, including immigrants from third countries, with own rights for spouses and children9. 
More  recently,  the  European  Union’s  concern  for  children  has  led  to  the  introduction  of 
measures  to  ensure  children’s  rights  to  a  family  and  protection10  (including,  in  particular, 
rights in terms of protection of the image, programmes to prevent violence against children, 
measures to provide them with a safe environment, etc.). 

In order to ensure equal access to employment for women and men, the balancing of family, 
private  and  professional  life  has  become  a  major  thrust  of  European  employment  policies. 
Since 1992 the Community acquis has included a legislative framework for the protection of 
pregnant workers and the provision of maternity leave11. Similarly, one of the first results of 
the  European  social  dialogue  was  the  introduction  of  a  parental  leave  entitlement12.  The 
importance of achieving this balance — essential for the economic independence of women 
and equality between  men  and women —  is now reflected by the Commission’s “Roadmap 
for  equality  between  women  and  men  2006–2010”13  and  the  European  Pact  for  Gender 
Equality14 approved by the Member States at the European Council on 23–24 March 2006. 

2.4. 

The  Lisbon  Strategy,  the  driving  force  for  balancing  professional,  family  and 
private life 

With  a  view  to  raising  female  participation  in  employment,  the  balancing  of  professional, 
family and private life is an integral part of the Lisbon Strategy. This is expressed particularly 
in  the  childcare  targets  adopted  by  the  European  Council  in  2002.  It  is  also  reflected  in  the 
integrated guidelines for employment and growth adopted in 2005, which include an approach 
geared  to  the  life-cycle,  meaning  that  employment  policies  should  better  reflect  changing 
family  life  conditions  throughout  a  person’s  lifetime.  Finally,  the  Open  Method  of 
Coordination in the fields of social protection and social inclusion developed under the Lisbon 
Strategy  devotes  special  attention  to  improving  the  situation  of  poor  children  and  their 
families, the modernisation of pension schemes to take more account of new forms of work 
and  career  breaks,  and  long-term  care  for  dependent  people.  The  equal  opportunities 

8 

9 

10 
11 

12 

13 
14 

Communication  from  the  Commission  —  Free  movement  of  workers:  achieving  the  full  benefits  and 
potential - COM(2002) 694. 
Council  Directive  2003/86/EC  on  the  right  to  family  reunification.  Council  Directive  2004/38/EC  on 
the  right  of  citizens  of  the  Union  and  their  family  members  to  move  and  reside  freely  within  the 
territory of the Member States. 
Towards an EU strategy on the rights of the child - COM(2006) 367. 
Council  Directive  92/85/EEC  of  19 October  1992  on  the  introduction  of  measures  to  encourage 
improvements  in  the  safety  and  health  at  work  of  pregnant  workers  and  workers  who  have  recently 
given  birth  or  are  breastfeeding  (10th  individual  Directive  within  the  meaning  of  Article  16(1)  of 
Directive 89/391/EEC). 
Council Directive 96/34/EC of 3 June 1996 on the framework agreement on parental leave concluded 
by UNICE, CEEP and the ETUC. 
SEC(2006) 275, 1.3.2006. 
Presidency conclusions, 7775/1/06/ REV 1. 

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perspective thus nurtures the development of the Lisbon Strategy, as will be emphasised by 
several initiatives to be launched in 2007 and 2008: 

•  In  parallel  to  this  Communication,  the  Commission  will  launch  a  second  phase  of 
consultation  of  the  social  partners,  asking  for  their  opinions  on  the  content  of  possible 
legislative and non-legislative proposals designed to help achieve a better balance. 

•  A  series  of  measures  will  be  implemented  throughout  2007  in  order  to  comply  with  the 
mandate  from  the  European  Council,  which  on  several  occasions  has  called  on  the 
European  Union  and  its  Member  States  to  place  special  emphasis  on  tackling  child 
poverty.  

•  The Commission will give thought to the quality of services for elderly dependent people 
and protection against ill-treatment, as well as measures which could be taken at European 
level,  in  cooperation  with  the  Member  States,  to  speed  up  the  development  and 
modernisation of infrastructures and services needed to contend with demographic ageing. 

•  The  ongoing  consultation  intended  to  shed  more  light  on  social  reality  on  European 
societies15  will  provide  new  information  which  can  help  shape  the  approach  of  the 
responses  which Community policies will be able to provide  to requirements in terms of 
equal opportunities and access for all generations to care services.  

Every two years, on the basis of the national reports produced in connection with the Lisbon 
Strategy,  the  European  Commission’s  Annual  Progress  Report  will  devote  a  chapter  on  the 
Union’s state of preparedness in the face of demographic challenges16.  

3. 

EUROPEAN ALLIANCE FOR FAMILIES 

The European Alliance for Families, launched by the Spring European Council, will first of 
all take the form of a platform for exchanges and knowledge concerning pro-family policies 
and  best  practices  in  the  Member  States,  with  a  view  to  meeting  the  challenges  of 
demographic change. In order to establish this platform the Commission, starting in 2007, will 
develop tools to facilitate the systematic exchange of best practices and research (section 3.1). 

Through  the  European  Alliance  for  Families,  the  Commission  intends  to  foster  extensive 
cooperation and partnership between all stakeholders in order to achieve a better balancing of 
professional, family and private life. Going beyond the initiatives taken by the social partners 
at European Union level, the Commission is calling on Member States to develop partnerships 
with a view to facilitating the balancing of professional, family and private life, making use of 
new resources made available by the Structural Funds (section 3.2). 

At the third European Demographic Forum scheduled for 2010, the Commission will report 
on what the European Alliance for Families has achieved. 

15 
16 

Social Reality Stocktaking - COM(2007) 63. 
See COM(2006) 571. 

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3.1. 

A platform for the systematic exchange of best practices and research 

Given the wide variety of family policies, the European Union offers an excellent forum for 
the exchange of best practices in the field of public policy and for an in-depth examination of 
their impacts. In this connection the Commission will establish: 

(a) 

A high-level group of government experts on demographic issues 

In parallel to this Communication, the Commission is setting up the high-level group 
of government experts on demographic issues envisaged by the Communication on 
the demographic future of Europe. The group’s task is to advise the Commission on 
the  preparation  of  reports  and  of  the  Demographic  Forum  (to  be  held  every  two 
years) and to assist with analyses and exchanges of experience as described below.  

(b) 

European, national, regional and local forums and networks 

Every  two  years,  a  European  Demographic  Forum  will  be  organised  by  the 
Commission  to  take  stock  of  the  demographic  situation  and  implementation  of  the 
orientations proposed by the Communication on the demographic future of Europe. 
The  first  forum  was  held  in  October  2006,  and  the  next  is  scheduled  for  autumn 
2008. Forums will be encouraged and supported at national, regional or local levels. 
The  “Regions  for  economic  change”  initiative17  makes  explicit  provision  for  the 
possibility of actively supporting measures in this field at regional and local levels.  

(c) 

An observatory of best practices 

The Commission will invite the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living 
and Working Conditions to set up an observatory of best family policy practices. The 
information collected by the observatory will provide basic material for the European 
and decentralised forums.  

(d) 

Research tools 

The  7th  Framework  Programme  for  Research  and  Technological  Development 
makes  it  possible  to  continue  to  support  research  on  questions  relating  to 
demography and families by providing funding for specific activities in this field and 
horizontal funding to take account of all the effects of demographic change on social 
structures.  This  Framework  Programme,  as  well  as  the  Competitiveness  and 
Innovation Framework Programme, can also help families by mobilising information 
and communication technologies for enhancing  the autonomy and  quality of life of 
older people. 

The  Commission  will  also  cooperate  on  the  development  of  the  OECD’s  family 
database and will work on family policy analysis tools with a view to making them 
available to the Member States so that they can assess the efficiency of their policies 
in  the  light  of  the  overall  goals  (families  having  their  desired  number  of  children, 
gender  equality  and,  more  broadly,  equal  opportunities  and  social  inclusion, 
especially for children). A Eurobarometer survey on family situations and needs will 
be carried out in 2008.  

17 

Communication from the Commission Regions for economic change - COM (2006) 675, 8.11.2006. 

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3.2. 

Utilisation of the European Structural Funds 

As demonstrated by the experience of the EQUAL programme18 and the conference 
organised by the European Commission in January 2007 on initiatives by regions to 
meet  the  demographic  challenge,  a  large  number  of  existing  pilot  experiments  can 
inspire  the  implementation  of  new  national  or  local  activities  to  support  equal 
opportunities  and  the  balancing  of  professional  and  family  life.  The  Community 
strategic  guidelines  on  cohesion  2007–201319  recommend  such  innovations,  to  the 
extent  that  they  aim  at  adaptation  to  demographic  change20.  The  Commission 
therefore calls on the Member States to ensure that the operational programmes they 
have  submitted  can  support  such  activities.  To  this  end,  it  will  prepare  a  practical 
guide for local and regional stakeholders with assistance from the above-mentioned 
group  of  government  experts,  in  order  to  help  Member  States  to  implement  in 
practice  the  measures  they  have  decided  on  in  order  to  foster  the  balancing  of 
professional,  family  and  private  life  and  improve  the  quality  of  life.  Such 
decentralised  activities  will  be  the  subject  of  a  debate  at  the  next  European 
Demographic Forum. 

4. 

CONCLUSIONS 

National  family  policies  will  strengthen  solidarity  between  generations  by 
encouraging  a  better  response  to  the  needs  of  families  as  regards  childcare  and 
dependency  care  and  a  more  balanced  distribution  of  family  and  domestic 
responsibilities. The anticipated outcome is a better quality of life for all, as well as a 
situation  which  is  more  conducive  to  the  fulfilment  of  family  plans.  The  new 
orientations  for  family  policies  will  also  contribute  to  growth  and  employment, 
notably by facilitating female labour force participation. 

Through  the  emphasis  placed  on  equality  between  men  and  women  and  equal 
opportunities more generally, the Lisbon Strategy constitutes a suitable framework of 
support  for  the  development  of  national  family  policies.  However,  the  main 
responsibilities  lie  with  the  Member  States.  Through  the  European  Alliance  for 
Families,  whose  exchange  arrangements  and  research  project  are  wholeheartedly 
encouraged by the Commission, this modernisation is becoming an issue of common 
interest. 

18 

19 
20 

Reports on activities financed by the European Social Fund relating to the balancing of professional life 
and  family  life  in  order  to  promote  gender  equality,  particularly  in  the  context  of  the  transnational 
programme EQUAL, can be consulted on the European Commission’s website. 
Proposal for a Council Decision on Community strategic guidelines on cohesion - COM(2006) 386. 
Regulation (EC) No 1081/2006 of 5 July 2006 on the European Social Fund includes the objective of 
“tackling the relevant dimensions and consequences of demographic changes n the active population of 
the Community”. 

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ANNEX - MAIN EUROPEAN DATA ON FAMILIES AND FAMILY POLICIES 

The family as a support network .............................................................................................. 11 

Mean actual and ideal number of children, by country. Women aged 40 to 54 ...................... 12 

Frequency of care and housework by sex, age and country groups (%) .................................. 13 

Difference of employment rate for women with and without children.................................... 14 

Provision of childcare in European countries in 2005 ............................................................. 15 

Social protection benefits targeted at family support in the EU .............................................. 16 

Preferences for family measures .............................................................................................. 17 

At-risk-of-poverty rates by household type, 2005 ................................................................... 18 

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The family as a support network 

From whom 
do you get 
support in 
the 
following 
situations? 

Your 
partner 

Family 
member 

Work 
colleague 

If you needed help 
around the house when 
ill 

If you needed advice 
about a serious 
personal or family 
member 

If you were feeling a bit 
depressed and wanting 
someone to talk to 

If you needed to 
urgently raise an 
important sum of 
money to face an 
emergency 

No 
partner 

Partner 

Total 

No 
partner 

Partner 

Total 

No 
partner 

Partner 

Total 

No 
partner 

Partner 

Total 

6% 

70% 

45% 

6% 

60% 

38% 

8% 

57% 

37% 

3% 

22% 

14% 

69% 

25% 

43% 

58% 

28% 

40% 

41% 

21% 

29% 

64% 

49% 

55% 

1% 

1% 

1% 

1% 

1% 

1% 

2% 

2% 

2% 

1% 

1% 

1% 

Friend 

11% 

1% 

5% 

25% 

7% 

7% 

37% 

15% 

24% 

9% 

4% 

6% 

Neighbour 

4% 

1% 

2% 

2% 

0% 

0% 

3% 

1% 

2% 

1% 

0% 

1% 

Someone 
else 

4% 

1% 

2% 

3% 

2% 

2% 

3% 

2% 

2% 

7% 

10% 

9% 

Nobody 

4% 

1% 

2% 

3% 

1% 

1% 

5% 

3% 

3% 

12% 

9% 

10% 

NA 

1% 

0% 

1% 

1% 

1% 

1% 

1% 

1% 

1% 

4% 

4% 

4% 

Source: Eurobarometer 273 "European social reality" reconducted in November December 2006 in EU-27. 

Note: As regards the variable on the family situation in the columns, a respondent has a partner if he or she is married, 
remarried or unmarried but currently living with a partner. 

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Mean actual and ideal number of children, by country. Women aged 40 to 54 

Source:"Childbearing preferences and family size issues in Europe" by M.R. Testa, results of the 2006 Euro Barometer on 
fertility and ageing. 

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Frequency of care by sex, age and country groups (%) 

Q37a: How often: caring for and educating 
children 
Once or 
several times 
a month 

Less 
often/never 

Every day 

Q37c: How often: caring for elderly/disabled 
people 
Once or 
several times 
a month 

Less 
often/never 

Every day 

Women 
aged 18–34 
Women 
aged 35–64 
Women 
aged 65+ 
Men aged 
18–34 
Men aged 
35–64 
Men aged 
65+ 

Women 
aged 18–34 
Women 
aged 35–64 
Women 
aged 65+ 
Men aged 
18–34 
Men aged 
35–64 
Men aged 
65+ 

42 

49 

6 

17 

32 

5 

52 

48 

9 

28 

35 

9 

EU15 

53 

40 

84 

77 

54 

88 

NMS-10 

44 

35 

75 

62 

45 

78 

4 

10 

5 

2 

5 

6 

6 

12 

6 

3 

6 

6 

4 

10 

10 

7 

14 

7 

5 

17 

16 

9 

20 

13 

9 

16 

6 

8 

11 

5 

14 

16 

5 

14 

16 

5 

88 

75 

88 

90 

84 

89 

80 

72 

89 

83 

79 

90 

Q37a, b, c: How often are you involved in any of the following activities outside your paid work: a) Caring for and educating 
Children; c) Caring for elderly/disabled relatives? 
Note: the modalities ‘less often’ and ‘never’ are aggregated together. 
Source: EQLS, 2003; row percentages. 

EN 

13 

   EN 

 
 
 
Difference of employment rate for women with and without children* 

2005 

EU25 

14.2 

EU15 

13.2 

EU10 

19.5 

BE 

CZ 

DK 

DE 

EE 

EL 

ES 

FR 

IE 

IT 

CY 

LV 

LT 

LU 

HU 

MT 

NL 

AT 

PL 

PT 

SI 

2.1 

39.2 

3.4 

26.5 

30.0 

3.5 

7.5 

10.2 

18.2 

6.8 

3.4 

18.0 

2.8 

7.0 

35.3 

17.2 

9.4 

14.4 

11.1 

-3.8 

-1.5 

SK 

34.5 

Fl 

17.5 

UK 

21.2 

* Difference in employment rates for women with children under 6 and women without children (age group 20-50). 
Source: EU Labour Force Survey – Spring data, LU 2003, 2004 and 2005: Annual average data. Data not available for SE. 

EN 

14 

   EN 

 
 
 
Provision of childcare in European countries in 2005 

Children cared for (by formal arrangements other than by the family) up to 30 hours / 30 hours 
or more per usual week as a proportion of all children of same age group 

Country 

0 – 2 years 

3 years – mandatory 
school age 

Mandatory school 
age – 12 years 

1 – 29h. 

30h. or + 

1 – 29h. 

30h. or + 

1 – 29h. 

30h. or + 

Admission 
age to 
mandatory 
school 
(pre-primary 
included) 

EU Member States 
BE 
Belgium 
Bulgaria 
BG 
Czech Republic  CZ 
DK 
Denmark 
DE 
Germany 
EE 
Estonia 
IE 
Ireland 
EL 
Greece 
ES 
Spain 
FR 
France 
IT 
Italy 
CY 
Cyprus 
LV 
Latvia 
LT 
Lithuania 
LU 
Luxembourg 
HU 
Hungary 
MT 
Malta 
NL 
Netherlands 
AT 
Austria 
PL 
Poland 
PT 
Portugal 
RO 
Romania 
SI 
Slovenia 
SK 
Slovakia 
FI 
Finland 
Sweden 
SE 
United Kingdom  UK 
EFTA 
countries 
Iceland 
Norway 

IS 
NO 

23% 
. 
2% 
13% 
8% 
3% 
14% 
3% 
25% 
16% 
9% 
7% 
2% 
2% 
14% 
2% 
5% 
36% 
4% 
0% 
3% 
. 
2% 
0% 
8% 
22% 
24% 

19% 
. 
0% 
60% 
8% 
9% 
6% 
4% 
14% 
16% 
16% 
12% 
16% 
9% 
8% 
5% 
0% 
4% 
0% 
2% 
26% 
. 
22% 
3% 
19% 
31% 
6% 

7% 
11% 

30% 
22% 

49% 
. 
30% 
15% 
61% 
9% 
64% 
27% 
54% 
56% 
21% 
42% 
6% 
11% 
51% 
30% 
32% 
82% 
53% 
8% 
9% 
. 
10% 
10% 
25% 
35% 
72% 

21% 
28% 

48% 
. 
40% 
79% 
26% 
69% 
14% 
34% 
40% 
39% 
70% 
43% 
60% 
46% 
12% 
49% 
23% 
7% 
16% 
22% 
55% 
. 
67% 
57% 
51% 
52% 
28% 

76% 
52% 

43% 
. 
53% 
34% 
69% 
57% 
64% 
54% 
53% 
48% 
13% 
54% 
27% 
66% 
74% 
30% 
19% 
89% 
66% 
58% 
30% 
. 
41% 
39% 
82% 
1% 
10% 

54% 
. 
45% 
65% 
29% 
40% 
35% 
45% 
46% 
52% 
87% 
46% 
69% 
31% 
23% 
70% 
79% 
11% 
32% 
38% 
69% 
. 
55% 
44% 
18% 
95% 
90% 

22% 
83% 

77% 
17% 

6 
7 
6 
7 
6 
7 
6 
6 
6 
6 
6 
6 
5 
7 
4 
5 
5 
5 
6 
6 
6 
7 
6 
6 
7 
7 
5 

6 
6 

Source: Eurostat, EU-SILC 2005 data. 
Notes: 
1) Formal arrangements refer to the EU-SILC survey reply categories 1-4 (pre-school or equivalent, compulsory education, 
centre-based services outside school hours, a collective crèche or another day-care centre, including family day-care 
organised/controlled by a public or private structure). 
2) Only care for more than 1 hour a week is considered. 
3) Some children do not use child care since parent is taking parental leave for a younger child. 
4) Child age is calculated at the interview date, except for IE and FI where age is calculated at 31/12/2004. 
5) Some countries, like BE, did not collect data for children being 12 years at the interview date. 
6) CY, LV, PT, SK: No information collected for children born between 31/12/2004 and the interview date. 
7) FR: Care performed by 'assistantes maternelles' directly paid by the parents, without organised structure between them, is 
not included in the table. 
8) IE: For the age groups '0 - 2 years' and '3 years - mandatory school age', the care '1-29h.' is overestimated and the care 
'30h. or +' underestimated due to measurement error. 
9) SK: Measurement error for the age group 'mandatory school age school - 12 years' leading to high proportion of children 
without school hours. 

EN 

15 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Social protection benefits targeted at family support in the EU 

Share population 
between 0-19 

2004 
Support intensity 
corrected for the share of 
the young * 

EU-25 

EU-15 

BE 

CZ 

DK 

DE 

EE 

IE 

EL 

ES 

FR 

IT 

CY 

LV 

LT 

LU 

HU 

MT 

NL 

AT 

PL 

PT 

SI 

SK 

FI 

SE 

UK 

22.54% 

22.20% 

23.17% 

21.73% 

24.32% 

20.48% 

23.92% 

28.38% 

20.21% 

20.11% 

25.06% 

19.19% 

27.75% 

23.42% 

25.71% 

24.49% 

22.20% 

25.33% 

24.53% 

22.24% 

25.36% 

21.62% 

21.05% 

25.50% 

23.75% 

23.98% 

24.75% 

9.32 

9.46 

8.63 

7.36 

16.04 

14.65 

7.11 

8.81 

8.41 

3.48 

9.98 

5.73 

7.21 

5.55 

4.28 

15.52 

11.26 

3.95 

5.30 

13.49 

3.55 

5.55 

9.50 

7.06 

12.63 

12.51 

6.87 

Total 
Fertility 
Rate 

Total 
family 
support 

Support 
in cash 

Support 
in kind 

1.51 

2.1 e 

1.5  e 

0.6 e 

: 

2.1 e 

1.5  e 

0.6 e 

1.68 

2  

1.6   

0.4  

1.23 

1.6 p 

1.4  p 

0.2 p 

1.78 

3.9  

1.6   

2.3  

1.37 

1.47 

1.99 

1.31 

3 p 

2.2  p 

0.7 p 

1.7  

2.5  

1.7  

1.6   

2.3   

1.2   

0.1  

0.3  

0.5  

1.33 

0.7 p 

0.4  p 

0.3 p 

1.92 

2.5 p 

2  p 

0.5 p 

1.33 

1.1 p 

0.7  p 

0.5 p 

1.49 

2  

1.9   

0.1  

1.24 

1.3 p 

1  p 

0.2 p 

1.26 

1.1 p 

0.7  p 

0.4 p 

1.70 

3.8 p 

3.3  p 

0.6 p 

1.28 

2.5  

1.9   

1.37 

1  

0.9   

0.6  

0.1  

1.73 

1.3 p 

0.7  p 

0.5 p 

1.42 

3  

2.5   

0.5  

1.23 

0.9 p 

0.9  p 

:  

1.40 

1.2 p 

0.8  p 

0.5 p 

1.25 

2 p 

1.4  p 

0.6 p 

1.24 

1.8 p 

1.6  p 

0.1 p 

1.80 

1.75 

3  

1.6   

1.3  

3 p 

1.6  p 

1.5 p 

1.77 

1.7 e 

1.3  e 

0.4 e 

Source: Eurostat, ESSPROS. 
* 
** 

The support in % of GDP divided by the share of young (0-19) in the population. 
e means estimated value, p means provisional value and : means no data available. 

EN 

16 

   EN 

 
 
 
Preferences for family support measures 

Country 

AT 

BE 

CZ 

EE 

FI 

DE 

HU 

IT 

LT 

NL 

PL 

RO 

SI 

CY 

1st place 
More and better working 
part-time opportunities 
More and better working 
part-time opportunities 
An allowance at the birth 
of child 
A substantial decrease in 
the costs of education 

% 

90.5 

2nd place 
Lower wage and income 
taxes 

85.2 

Flexible working hours 

90.5 

96.0 

Lower wage and income 
taxes 
A substantial rise in child 
allowance 

Lower wage and income 
taxes 

80.5 

87.8 

94.5 

79.5 

Flexible working hours 

82.6 

More and better working 
part-time opportunities 

89.9 

Flexible working hours 

89.3 

A substantial decrease in 
the costs of education 
A substantial rise in child 
allowance 
Financial support for 
parents taking care of their 
children 

93.7 

89.2 

95.7 

78.9 

Flexible working hours 

72.0 

% 

3rd place 

88.8 

Flexible working hours 

Lower wage and income 
taxes 
Improved parental leave 
arrangements 
Improved parental leave 
arrangements 
Financial support for 
parents taking care of 
their children 
Better day-care facilities 
for children under 3 years 
old 
A substantial rise in child 
allowance 
Lower wage and income 
taxes 

Improved parental leave 
arrangements 

Improved parental leave 
arrangements 

% 

88.3 

80.2 

86.8 

91.0 

79.3 

88.5 

92.3 

88.9 

94.7 

71.2 

91.1 

An allowance at the birth of 
child 

92.2 

Improved parental leave 
arrangements 

Improved parental leave 
arrangements 
Better day-care facilities for 
children under 3 years old 
Improved parental leave 
arrangements 

97.9 

Better housing for families 

97.4 

97.8 

Improved parental leave 
arrangements 

93.7 

Flexible working hours 

97.3 

91.5 

Better housing for families 

94.9 

More and better working 
part-time opportunities 

An allowance at the birth 
of child 

More and better working 
part-time opportunities 
Child allowance 
dependent on family 
income 
Lower wage and income 
taxes 

89.2 

95.9 

92.5 

98.2 

Better housing for families 

97.8 

Lower wage and income 
taxes 

95.9 

Respondents up to 50 years old ("very in favour" and "somewhat in favour"). 
The Demographic Future of Europe – Facts, Figures, Policies: Results of the Population Policy Acceptance 
Study (PPAS)- Survey with interviews of 34 000 Europeans in 14 countries from 1999 to 2003 – Federal 
Institute for population research and Robert Bosch Foundation 2006. 

EN 

17 

   EN 

 
At-risk-of-poverty rates by household type, 2005  

Single 
parent with 
dependent 
children 

Two adults 
with one 
dependent 
child 

Two adults 
with two 
dependent 
children 

Two adults 
with three or 
more 
dependent 
children 

Three or 
more adults 
with 
dependent 
children 

EU25 
EU15 
NMS10 
BE 
BG 
CZ 
DK 
DE 
EE 
IE 
GR 
ES 
FR 
IT 
CY 
LV 
LT 
LU 
HU 
MT 
NL 
AT 
PL 
PT 
RO 
SI 
SK 
FI 
SE 
UK 
IS 
NO 

33s 
32s 
38s 
36 
: 
41 
21 
30 
40 
45 
43 
37 
26 
35 
35 
31 
48 
32 
27p 
51 
26 
27 
40 
34 
27 
22p 
32 
20 
18 
38p 
14 
19 

12s 
11s 
15s 
9 
: 
9 
4 
10 
13 
12 
14 
14 
8 
15 
9 
14 
15 
13 
15p 
13 
9 
9 
17 
17 
11 
9p 
13 
7 
4 
11p 
8 
4 

14s 
13s 
19s 
10 
: 
11 
5 
7 
12 
13 
18 
23 
9 
22 
9 
18 
18 
17 
15p 
15 
10 
11 
23 
25 
16 
10p 
17 
5 
4 
13p 
8 
5 

26s 
25s 
36s 
21 
: 
25 
14 
13 
25 
26 
33 
36 
20 
35 
14 
39 
44 
20 
26p 
35 
20 
20 
45 
39 
44 
17p 
24 
12 
9 
29p 
10 
10 

14s 
14s 
17s 
17 
: 
9 
5 
7 
13 
11 
28 
18 
15 
21 
8 
13 
14 
14 
11p 
10 
6 
9 
23 
15 
23 
6p 
13 
8 
12 
13p 
5 
4 

Source: Eurostat SILC(2005) Income data 2004; except for UK, income year 2005 and for IE moving income 
reference period (2004-2005); RO National HBS 2005, income data 2005. 
Notes: Risk-of-poverty defined as income below 60% of the median income. 
: = Not available. 
p = Provisional value. 
s = Eurostat estimation. 

EN 

18 

   EN