B4-0471, 0475, 0477, 0478 and 0481/94

Resolution on protection of families and family units at the close of the International Year of the Family

The European Parliament,

-having regard to the conclusions on demographic trends, changing structures in society and changed demands on social protection systems of the informal meeting of European Union ministers responsible for family policy held in Berlin on 15 September 1994,

-having regard to the report currently being prepared by the Commission on demographic changes in the Union,

-having regard to its resolution of 9 June 1983 on family policy in the European Community,

-having regard to the Council resolution of 29 September 1989 on combating social exclusion,

-having regard to the Commission proposal on the new Poverty 4 Programme and to Parliament's resolution thereon of 27 October 1994,

-having regard to its resolution of 11 June 1986 on violence against women,

A.whereas the Year of the Family proclaimed by the UNO and the European Union is drawing to a close,

B.whereas, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, the prime responsibility for an efficient family policy lies with the Member States,

C.whereas there are more than 50 million EU citizens living below the poverty line; whereas they are therefore marginalized and excluded,

D.whereas the Union has more than 17 million registered unemployed people; whereas the number of homeless people is estimated to be over 3 million,

E.whereas the process of social exclusion is spreading; whereas the reason for this expansion derives in part from structural changes in society which must be evaluated and fully acknowledged,

F.whereas difficulty of access to the labour market is a particularly decisive factor in this process of exclusion; whereas inflexible working patterns and organization militate against access to the labour market for women in particular;

G.whereas unemployment and poverty are major contributory factors to family dysfunctions such as domestic violence against women and abusive behaviour towards children;

H.whereas, in order to honour the guarantees contained in the EC Treaty of freedom of movement and to implement the European internal market, it is necessary to take account, at European level, of those aspects of family and social law which might constrain freedom of establishment,

I.whereas families and family structure have changed in Europe and whereas in recent years living together has become more widespread, with the result that many young people are cohabiting before they start a family, often living together unmarried but with children,

J.whereas it is in the interest of the state and the institutions to support the family in its tasks and to create an environment conducive to families in which people can achieve their desire to live with children,

K.convinced that the efforts by families in terms of child-raising and caring for elderly people and incapacitated family members are immense,

L.convinced that by assuming responsibility for the raising of children and through the protection and security it affords its members, the family relieves society of a considerable burden and creates the best basis for living together in society,

M.whereas in several Member States, discussions on the family have already led to changes in family law, tax laws, adoption laws and inheritance laws,

N.whereas, in its interpretation of the right to a family life as laid down in the European Convention on Human Rights, the European Court of Human Rights has on various occasions ruled that different interpretations of the family are possible,

1.Is convinced of the need to meet demands for equal opportunities for women in relation to access to the labour market by providing sufficient child-care facilities, improved opportunities for training, continuing education, life-long learning and effective social protection, all crucial factors for family units to function properly;

2.Deplores the non-implementation of the directives on part-time work and parental leave, as these are essential legislative ingredients for the improved integration of work and family life;

3.Further regrets the absence of a directive on childcare to implement the Council recommendation on childcare and urges that, when this recommendation is reviewed in 1995, a proposal for a directive should be submitted; calls on the Commission to take into account the recommendations made in its resolution of 19 April 1991 on childcare and equality of opportunity;

4.Considers that policy measures aimed specifically at single-parent families must focus on solutions which release the parent caring for children from the pressures of economic hardship; minimum wage rates and social security provision should ensure that the income is adequate for the needs of the household;

5.Considers that a comprehensive approach to family policy would include a commitment to fair and flexible work methods and patterns, without any reduction in employment rights or status, thus permitting optimum combination of work and family life;

6.Welcomes the fact that the Member States have launched an exchange of views and experience, and hopes that it will also tackle specific issues in the broad spectrum of family policy;

7.Calls for a positive, constructive policy and initiative which takes account of the needs of the family to become an integral part of all Community measures;

8.Calls for better account to be taken in social security systems of unpaid work by one parent in raising children or caring for relatives;

9.Proposes that the Commission should also draw up an action programme with the following priorities:

-continuing research in medicine, sociology, psychology and educational theory to enable both governments and their parliaments and society, too, to understand all aspects of family life today,

-arranging conferences involving the two sides of industry and relevant organizations with a view to launching practical initiatives aimed at achieving a better balance between economic and social life and family life and a better reconciliation of the demands of the family and of work;

10.Underlines the need to adapt family law to the changes that have occurred in the function and structure of the modern family, at both national and European level;

11.Affirms once more that the right to family life includes the right of migrant workers to reunite their families;

12.Urges the Commission to present proposals to eliminate the restrictive provisions in the common agricultural policy legislation where 'legal spouses' are concerned;

13.Urges the Commission to pay equal attention to all forms of established cohabitation with regard to the fight against poverty, support of handicapped people, employment initiatives and the development of human resources;

14.Urges the Commission to have special regard for the interests of the child as the most vulnerable of family members and to promote and support the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child across all areas of its work;

15.Deplores the freeze on funding for the fourth poverty action programme;

16.Takes the view that Member States should adopt measures such as fiscal neutrality and compensatory social security benefits to support individuals who opt for full or partial interruption of their working lives for family reasons;

17.Considers that services should be created and encouraged which would support families under pressure and which would help to provide a stable environment for households with children; urges the Commission to take steps to assist families in a position of insecurity or marginalization particularly with regard to housing, to ensure that all persons may enjoy decent living conditions;

18.Renews its call on the Commission to submit a resolution to the Council on career mobility and equal opportunities for women and men;

19.Urges that the pending directives on parental leave and part-time work be adopted and implemented;

20.Calls upon the Commission to investigate the possibility of an EU-wide campaign for zero tolerance of domestic violence and a European-wide campaign against all forms of child abuse;

21.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission.