“...

demographic revival requires the development of a climate in society open to

family needs and receptive to motherhood, and the creation
of conditions for a better balance between work and family life.” [1]

Statements like this are a clear example of the increasing sensitivity and
concern of EU institutions, for the family. The socio – economic difficulties
and challenges, especially the economic and demographic ones of recent
decades are causing a rediscovery of the family, as well as the social
function it fulfils which are essential for individuals and for society.

But this is not enough. The problems of the European family have been
increasing in recent years, to the point of creating a desolate panorama.
Europe is plunged in an unprecedented demographic winter and has
become an elderly continent, with a large birth deficit, fewer marriages and
more of them broken, homes emptying.

This is causing tangible effects, both economically and socially.

Economically, there is an increase in public expenditure on account of the
ageing population, on pensions and health costs. Added to the effects
of the collapse of public revenues by the birth deficit, this expenditure may
lead to the reduction / elimination of social benefits and finally the
bankruptcy of the welfare state.

As to the non –economic effects, a society is forcefully emerging, broken

by family collapse, with households ever more empty, with increasing
individualism and loss of the values and norms that enable
social cohesion.
[1] EU Commission communication “Dealing with the effect of ageing on the population of the European Union” (COM

2009 18/04)
In this context and in response to this situation we endorse the proposals
from the European Parliament: "The future EU strategy must recognize the
important role of family as a key social institution for the survival, protection
and development of the child”[2] and the proposal from the European
Commission to "encourage member countries to incorporate the family
dimension in their economic and social policies" [3].

Indeed, the family should benefit from the greatest protection possible in
order to facilitate effectively fulfilling its role. Hence, society, and also
particular public authorities, based on the conviction that the good of the
family is an essential and indispensable value of the civil community, need
to have the political disposition to protect the family with political measures,
economic measures, social measures, legal measures, etc. This will
thereby help to strengthen the unity and stability of families, enabling them
to fulfil their specific roles.

It is therefore necessary to reorient the family policies which are

developing the various administrations of the EU States, that they may also
focus on the family as a social group, in order to facilitate the fulfilment of
its tasks. A family policy that specifically addresses the family group as an
emotional, educational, economic and social means, should not legislate
solely in terms of individuals but in terms of people living in a family.
A family policy limited exclusively to sectoral policies, or limited to
comprehensive plans for family members as individuals will always be
incomplete.

[2] Report "Towards an EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child" (A6-0520/2007). (P. 24)

[3] “Commission Opinion on The family and demographic change“ (SOC 245 - EESC 55/2007)
In view of this, the Institute for Family Policy (IPF) has prepared this in-
depth study on the evolution of the family in Europe, which it presents
annually in the European Parliament.

This report has been drawn up by a multi-disciplinary team of experts in

the fields of demography, psychology, medicine, and combining
professional and family life, etc., which sets out and analyses the most
significant areas, based on information provided by various international
organisations.

As a result of this analysis, the Institute for Family Policies (IPF)

proposes a set of social, economic and cultural measures, among others,
that it considers vital for the gradual implementation in European policy of
a genuinely “family-oriented” approach.

Eduardo Hertfelder de Aldecoa

President of the International Federation
Institute of Family Policies (IPF)
November 2009
 Europe (EU-27) has reached 500 million people…
The 27 EU nations reached 500 million
(500,482,231)because of an increase of over 3.2
500,5
500 million people during 2008-2009.
492,9

484,5
480,3 …growth has been slow…
475,5
Millions of inhabitants

475 468,9 In 29 years since 1980, the EU population grew by

462,6 nearly 43.4 million people, representing growth of
457,0 9.5% (0.33% anually).

450 In the 10 years since 1999, the population increased

19.4 million: an increased of 3.8%.

UE27 Population (1 January)

425 EU enlarged
1980 1984 1989 1994 1998 2002 2006 2009 population
Source: Institute for Family Policies (IPF) drawn from EUROSAT and National data
1st January 2009
103.364.111 EU15 Population
inhabitants 397.118.120
(21%) inhabitants
(79%)
…of which 400 million are from the
EU15 countries
While the largest 15 EU contries number 397,000,000, the
population of the enlargement countries has reached 103 EU15 Population
million. EU enlarged population

Source: Institute for Family Policies

(IPF) drawn from EUROSTAT data
 90.000.000
Germany’s 82 million citizens,
82.062.249 Germany France
make it the most populated
United Kingdom Italy
country in the EU-27…
Number of inhabitants

70.000.000
64.105.125
61.612.255 Germany’s 82 million citizens make it the most
60.090.430
populated contry in the EU, accounting for 16.4% of
the European total. France follows with 64 million, the
50.000.000 United Kingdom has 61 million, and Italy 60 million.

These 4 nations alone have 267,800,000 inhabitants,

representing 53.5% of the total EU population.
30.000.000

Source: Institute for Family Policies (IPF) drawn from EUROSTAT data

1.500.000
1.340.341
Estonia Cyprus
1.200.000 Luxembourg Malta
…while Malta with 412,614 has the

Number of inhabitants
smallest population in the EU. 900.000
801.622

Malta with 412,614 has the smallest population in the

600.000
EU-27. Next smallest is Luxembourg (491,702), then 491.702
412.614
Cyprus (801,622) and Estonia (1,340,341)
300.000

Source: Institute for Family

Policies (IPF) drawn from
EUROSTAT data
The population increase is due almost entirely to the EU-15 countries, they
account for the 98% of the total growth…
The 15 pre-accession countries contributed
98% of the total population increase: 42.5
million between 1980-2009…
Population growth 42.549.742
(1980-2009) France (10,3 million), Spain (9,4 million), UK (5,3 million),
(98%)
Germany (3,8 million) and Italy (3,7 million) are the EU contries
with the greatest population growth, contributing 75% of the total
increase.
…on the other hand the countries that have
enlarged the EU since 2004 have had
stagnant population since 1980 (growing by
872.413
800,000).
(2%)
Poland has grown by 2.8 million, and to a lesser extent Slovakia,
EU15 Population growth Slovenia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic and Malta, but the rest
Enlarged EU population growth (1980-2009) of the 12 EU 2004-07 accession countries (Lithuania,Latvia,
Source: Institute for Family Policies (IPF) drawn from EUROSTAT data Estonia, Romania, Hungary and Bulgaria) experienced a
population fall during 1980 - 2009.

Their 103.3 million inhabitants represent one fifth of the EU-27..

…in particular, France (103 million) and Spain (9.4 million) constitute 45%
of the EU-27 population growth.
 Immigration is the basis of population increase in the 27 countries…
…8 of every 10 new people were immigrants
1,846
1,846 1,612 78% of EU population growth
1,401
EU27 Increase trough Inmigration between 1999-2008 is the result of
2
Millions of inhabitants

EU27 Natural Increase

immigration…
1,146
Between 1999 and 2008, the population increased
by 20.5 million. 15,900,000 of these were
0,633 0,658 immigrants.
1 0,555

0,643 …and which has continued in 2008,

0,601
0,421
0,283 0,314
0,420 0,550 with an increase of 69%.
0,342
Likewise, 69% of the EU-27 population growth in
0 2008 (1.4 million inhabitants) was due to
1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 immigration.

Source: Institute for Family Policies (IPF) drawn from EUROSTAT data

Natural increase is 12 times lower than even the USA.

 In 8 of 10 countries in the EU with growing populations, the basis of this is
immigration.
Growth by origin (1999-2008)
Italy had a fall in its native population
7
Inmigration (-0,14 million) but 23 times more
6 Natural growth
immigrants (+3,28 million).

5 Germany, likewise with immigration

(1,19 million) its natural decrease (-1,22
4 million).
Millions of inhabitants

3
Spain has immigration 9 times greater
2 than its internal birth increase.

1
Poland, Romania and Bulgaria are
0 losing citizens by emigration.

-1 Lithuania, Latvia, Romania and

Bulgaria have falling populations and
d

a
I re d

E s ia

B u ia
P o en

ia

ry

G e ar ia
G r rg

kia

S lo l t a
Po l

ly
ai n

S w rk

Au s

y
e

Cy d
De nd

S lo ce

ia

hu c
um
m

mb a
ga

tv i
n
l an

an
nc

l an
pru

li
i

n
I ta
an
a

a
ou

t on
st r
do

low immigration.
ub
lla

ee

Ma
ed
la

-2
va

ve
Sp

ma
rt u

ng
nm
l gi

La

rm
F ra

lg
F in
i ng

Ho

ep
Be

Hu
Ro
Li t
hR
xe
dK

Lu

ec
ite

Cz
Un

Source: Institute for Family Policies (IPF) drawn from EUROSTAT data

Only France, Holland, Finland and Slovakia have internal rates of increase
higher than their immigration figures.
The immigrant population has reached 29 million...

...representing 5.8% of the

2007 28.913.543
466.214.986
(5,8%)
population of Europe…
(94,2%)
The 28,913,543 immigrants account for 5.8% of the
total population of the EU27.

EU27 Rest of the population

30.000.000
EU27 Immigrant Population 28.913.543
Source: Institute for Family Policies (IPF) drawn from EUROSTAT data EU27 Immigrant Population
25.000.000

Nº Immigrants
…and it has nearly doubled (94%)

%
94
20.000.000
in the last 10 years (1999-2007).
14.900.541
15.000.000
The immigrant population has almost doubled in the
past 10 years, from 14.9 million in 1999 to nearly 29
million in 2007, representing growth of 94%. 10.000.000
1997 2007

Source: Institute for Family

Policies (IPF) drawn from
EUROSTAT data
 Germany (7.2 million) and Spain (4.6 million) are the EU countries with the
hightest number of immigrants..
8.000.000
7.255.949 Germany
…Followed by France (3.5
Spain million) and the UK (3.4
6.000.000
France million)…
Nº Inmigrants

4.606.474 United Kingdom

4.000.000 These four countries alone (Germany, Spain,
3.510.000 3.425.000
France & the UK) have 66% of the total of
2.000.000 immigrants in the EU.

Source: Institute for Family Policies (IPF) 2007

drawn from EUROSTAT data
800%
755%

Spain Ireland Italy Cyprus

...And Spain is the country which 600%

% Immigration growth
has grown the most…
400%
Immigration has grown the most in Spain over the last 10 295%
years, from barely 538,900 in 1997 to over 4.6 million in 232%
2007: a growth of the 754% 200% 158%

…representing 10.2% of its present 0%

population. 1997-2007 period
Source: Institute for Family Policies (IPF)
drawn from EUROSTAT data
 Europe is growing older: The population over 65 years already exceeds to
the population under 14 years.

There are already 6.5 million more aged over 65 (85

19% 19 , 5% million) than those under 14 (78.5 million).

18 , 4 %
In the past 15 years (1993-2008) we
17, 0 %
have lost 10.5 million young
17% people…
% Total Population

17, 3 %
16 , 4 %

The EU under – 14 population has fallen from 89

16 , 4 %
15, 6 % million in 1993 to just 78.4 million in 2008.
15, 7%
15% 14 , 7%
…there is an increase of 16.5 million
13 , 7%
Over 65s (EU25) elderly people.
Under 14s (EU25) Over – 65s have risen from 68.3 million in 1993 to
84.9 million in 2008: an increase of 16.5 million
13% elderly people.
1990 1995 2000 2004 2008
Source: Institute for Family Policies (IPF) drawn from EUROSTAT data

There are now 22 million over- 80s, representing 4.4% of the EU population.
 Of the EU-27, Bulgaria (13,4%) and Germany (13,7%) have the lowest
percentage of young people: only 1 in 8
13,9%
13,9% Bulgaria
13,80% Bulgaria (13,4%), Germany (13,7%), Latvia
Germany
13,70% (13,8%), Slovenia (13,9%) and Italy (14,1%) are
Lithuania
% of total population

the EU-27 countries with the lowest percentage of

13,6% Slovenia
young people.
13,4% In these countries, only 1 out every 8 inhabitants is
13,3% under 14.

13,0%
2008
22,5%
Source: Institute for Family Policies (IPF) drawn from EUROSTAT data
Ireland France
20,6% Denmark Luxerbourg
… by contrast, Ireland has the

% of total population
20,0%
higher percentage of young in the 18,50% 18,40% 18,2%
UE-27: one in every five people.
17,5%
Besides Ireland (20,6%), France (18,5%), Denmark
(18,4%) and Luxembourg (18,2%) are the EU-27
countries with the highest percentage of young. In these 15,0%
countries, 1 in 5 people are under 14. 2008
Source: Institute for Family Policies (IPF)
drawn from EUROSTAT data
 Italy and Germany are the countries with the largest elderly populations: 1
in 5 people is over 65.
21% Italy and Germany (20,1%), Greece (18,7%),
Italy Germany Sweden (17,5%) and Portugal (17,4%) are the EU-
20,1% 20,1% 27 countries with the largest elderly populations. In
Greece Sweden
% of total population

these countries, 1 in 5 people is over 65.

19% Portugal, followed by Spain, is ageing faster in the

18,70%
EU-27: its over -65 percentage has grown from
11.2% in 1980 to 17.4% in 2008.
17,50%

17%
2008
Source: Institute for Family Policies (IPF) drawn from EUROSTAT data 14%

Ireland Slovakia 13,5%

On the other hand, the EU country Ciprus Poland

% of total population
12,50%
with the lowest proportion of elderly 12,00%
12%
is Ireland: 1 in almost 10.
Ireland (10,9%), Slovakia (12,0%), Cyprus (12,5%) and 10,9%
Poland (13,5%) are the EU-27 countries with the lowest
proportion of elderly. In these countries, 1 in 10 people are
10%
over 65 years.
2008
Source: Institute for Family
Policies (IPF) drawn from
EUROSTAT data
 The birth deficit, and the increase in elderly, have caused the average EU-
27 citizen’s age to increase…
41
…it has reached 40.3
years…
40,3
The birth deficit, and the increase in
Average age of EU27 inhabitants

40 39,7 elderly, have caused the average EU

citizen’s age to increase from 37.3 in 1993,
39,4
to 40.3 in 2008.
38,9
39
38,5 … with an increase of 3
38,1 years in the last 15 years..
38 37,7
The average age in the EU27 has
37,3 increased from 37.3 in 1993 to 40.3 in
2008, meaning an increment of 3 years in
37 the last 15 years.
93

95

97

99

01

03

05

08
19

19

19

19

20

20

20

20
Source: Institute for Family Policies (IPF) drawn from EUROSTAT data

…and this is likely to rise further in the years to come.

 Italy and Germany have the highest average age 42.5…
EU27 Population average age (2008)
Italy (42.5), Germany (42.4), Greece (41.3) and
It aly 42,5
Bulgaria (41.1) are the EU27 countries with an
Germany 42,4
Greece 41,3 average age above European media of 41
Bulgaria 41,1 years.
UE15 40,7
Slovenia 40,6
Aust ria
Port ugal
40,5
40,5
…By contrast, Ireland is the
Sweden
Finland
40,5
40,4
youngest country with lowest
UE27
Spain
40,3
40,2
average 35.1…
Belgium 40,2
After Ireland, Cyprus (37) and Slovakia (35.1)
Hungary 40,1
Lat via 40,0 have the lowest average age.
Rep.Checa 39,9
Est onia 39,7
Denmark 39,5
Unit ed Kingdom 39,2 …the EU15 countries have a
39,2
France
Holand 39,2
slightly higher average age (4
M alt a
Lit huania
39,1
39,0
moths more) than for all
Romania
Poland
38,6
38,3
EU27.
Luxemburg 38,3
Slovakia 37,5
Ciprus 37,0
Ireland 35,1

33 35 37 39 41 43
Source: Institute for Family Policies (IPF) drawn from EUROSTAT data
The pyramid of age / population is being inverted…

EU-25 1980 EU-27 2008

4 ,0 % -4 ,0 %

Source: Institute for Family Policies (IPF) drawn from EUROSTAT data
Source: Institute for Family Policies (IPF) drawn from EUROSTAT data

… causing an unprecedented demographic winter

If this continues…

… by 2050…

… the consequences of the unprecedented

demographic winter…

…will be catastrophic…
 By 2050, the European population (EU27) will have fallen by 27.3 million
inhabitants...
499.389.380 In 2010 the EU27 population will begin to fall
500.000.000
from 499 million to 472 million in 2050
496.408.451
494.784.171 representing a decrease of 27.3 million
inhabitants.
Number of inhabitnats

486.991.917 …descending to 472 million

485.000.000
inhabitants…

Population forecast EU-27 472.050.235 -500.000

470.000.000
Variacion 2010-2050
2010 2020 2030 2040 2050
Source: Institute for Family Policies (IPF) drawn from EUROSTAT data -2.500.000

Number of inhabitnats
…Germany will suffer the largest -4.500.000
-4.427.133 -4.208.825
fall in population. Germany
-6.500.000 Italy
The EU-27 countries with the largest falls in population
Poland
will be: Germany (7.5 million), Italy (7.3 -7.502.494 -7.308.135
million), Poland (4.4 million) and Romania (4.2 million) -8.500.000 Romania

Source: Institute for Family

Policies (IPF) drawn from
EUROSTAT data
 Over 65s(EU2 7)
One in 3 inhabitants will be over 65
29,90 %
30%
Und er 15s (EU27) years…
2 8,10 %

The European population over 65 will reach 135

% EU population over 65 and under 14

25% 2 4,50% million people, accounting for 29.9% of the

population.
2 0,60%
19,5%
The EU countries with the largest proportions of
20% elderly will be Spain (35.7%) and Italy (35.5%)
17,3%
17,0%

15,6% …only 1 in 8 people will be under 15

15% 13 ,7% 15,7%
14 ,80%
14,00%
Only 1 in 8 people will be under 15 (13.4% of t
13,40% 13,4 0%
hepopulation of the 27 countries, or less than
10%
60 million.
1990 2 000 2 008 2 020 2 030 2 040 2 050
Spain and Bulgaria will be the two countries with the
Source: Institute for Family Policies (IPF) drawn from EUROSTAT data
smallest ratios of under -15s: 1 in 10 people.

…The pyramid of age/

population will be completel EU-27 2050
y inverted…
The pyramid of age/
population will be completely inverted, as the over–
65s become the base.

…By 2060, the average EU age

will be 46.7.

,8 ,6 ,4 ,2 ,0
,0 ,2 ,4 ,6 ,8
 There are 774.000 fewer babies born annually than 26 years ago...
In 2007 the figure barely reached
6.159.013 5.3 million births…
Birth rate (EU27) In 2008, 774.000 fewer babies were born in the
6.000.000
EU27 than in 1982, which represents a decrease of
5.936.592 5.822.462 12.5%.
Number of Births

Between 1990 and 1995 there was a dramatic

decrease in the number of children born, the figure
falling by 691.562 in the EU27.
5.500.000
5.384.190
… there has been a slight increase
during the last three years (2005-
2008)
5.130.900 5.122.949 5.13 2 .0 0 0
5.000.000 Mientras en el periodo 1995-2005 los nacimientos
1982 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2008 permanecieron estancados, en los últimos 3 años
(2005-2008) se han incrementado en más de
Source: Institute for Family Policies (IPF) drawn from EUROSTAT data
252.000 nacimientos.
During 2007 – 2008, there was an increase of
145,000 births
.
…although the population increased by 37 million during 1982-2008…
 …Which indicates a very low birth rate (1,38) in Europe (EU27)…

2,1
2,1
The birth rate (1.38) is a very long
2,01
2,05 2,06
2,09 way off the level required for
1,91 2,03
population renewal (2.1) …
Birth Rate

1,87
1,8 In 2007 the EU27 birth rate was 1.38
1,8
children/female, which far below the Population
Renewal (2.1 children/femaile).

1,5
1,47
1,38
… and the USA birth rate (2.09)
EU-27
1,32 … and the USA birth rate (2.09) which is almost at
Renewal Level 1,28
United States (USA)
the level of population renewal.
1,2
1983 1987 1993 1997 2001 2007 … with a sligth increment due to
immigration
Source: Institute for Family Policies (IPF) drawn from EUROSTAT data and national data In the period 1997-2007, and due to the explosion of
immigration (doubled), there has been a slight
increase of fertility rates of the EU27.

...Far below the expectations of European citizens (2.3 children)… (*)

(*) Report of the High Level Group on the future of social

policy in an enlarged European Union. (2004).
 1,35
1,34 Birth rates in some countries
2007
are at critical level...
1,31
Birth Rate

1,3 1,3
Slovakia (1,25), Romania (1,3), Poland (1,31),
Portugal (1,34) and Italy (1,35), etc, barely reach
1.3
1,25
1,25
…Slovakia has the lowest EU
birth rate (1.25)…
1,2
Portugal Poland . Romania Slovakia

Source: Institute for Family Policies (IPF) drawn from EUROSTAT data 2,05
2,01 2007
2 1,98
...Others are recovering from the Ireland France
birth crisis… 1,95 Sweden Denmark

Birth Rate
Ireland (2,01), France (1,98), Sweden (1,88),
1,9 1,88
Denmark (1,84) and United Kingdom (1,84) shave
the highest birth rate among the 27 EU countries, 1,85 1,84
recovering from the birth crisis.
1,8
…Ireland has the highest EU birth
1,75
rate. .
Source: Institute for Family Policies
(IPF) drawn from EUROSTAT data
 People start families later in life: at almost 30 (UE25).
30
29,7
Average age at materninty has
29,3
increased by 2.6 years.
29 28,9
Age

Age at maternity has increased by 2.6 years in

the EU25 in recent years, going from 27.1 in
28,4 1980 to almost 30 (29.7) in 2007.
28,2

28

27,6
Slovenia (4,26), Czech Republic (4,25) and
Hungary (4,06) are the EU 27 countries where
Age of mother at birth of first
child (EU25) age at maternity has increased the most over the
27,1
period (1980-2007).
27
1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2003 2007

Source: Institute for Family Policies (IPF) drawn from EUROSTAT data and national data

Italy (31.37) is the EU country where women have their first child later in
life.
At 31.37 on average, Italian women are, along with Spaniards (30.88) and Irish women (30.62), having their first child
latest among the 27 EU countries.
 In Europe (EU-27) there is one abortion every 25 seconds…

1.800.000
…there are more than one million,
1.608.455 two hundred thousand abortions
a year…
In 2007 1.234.312 pregnancies were ended in
Nº of Abortions

1.353.769
1.400.000
1.232.789
1.234.312 abortion. Each day, 3.381 children are prevented from
being born in Europe (EU27): that is, there are 141
abortions every hour.

1.000.000
927.977 …Equal to the combined
867.377 899.623
populations of Luxembourg and
759.924
European Union 27 (EU27) Malta…
European Union 15 (EU15)
600.000 Each year in Europe, abortion figures are the
1995 2000 2005 2007 equivalent of the populations of Luxembourg and
Malta combined, or the entire population of Slovenia
Source: Institute for Family Policies (IPF) drawn from EUROSTAT data and national data
or Cyprus.

1.234.312
…1 in every 5 pregnancies (19%) is (19% )
2007 5.238.924
(81% )
ended by abortion.
Of the 6.461.939 pregnancies in 2007 in the EU27,
1.223.015 were ended by abortion, equal 19% of Births
pregnancies.
Abortions

Source: Institute for Family Policies

(IPF) drawn from EUROSTAT data
and national data
 Since 1990, there have been 28 million abortions in the EU…

30.000.000
28.022.500 As many as the population of
25.561.135
Malta, Luxembourg, Cyprus,
25.000.000 Estonia, Slovenia, Latvia,
Acumulated number of abortions (EU27)

Lithuania, Ireland, Finland and

20.000.000 19.089.436 Slovakia.

15.000.000
More than half have occurred in
11.834.803
Romania, France and the United
10.000.000
Kingdom.
5.000.000 Romania (7.087.840), France (3.740.496)
2.468.236 and United Kingdom (3.522.422) accounted
for 51% of abortions in the EU-27 since 1990.
0
1990 1995 2000 2005 2007

Source: Institute for Family Policies (IPF) drawn from EUROSTAT data and national data

…which means that abortion is the main cause of death in Europe.

 United Kingdom, France, Romania and Italy are the EU27 countries with
the highest abortion rate…
250.000
219.336 United Kingdom The United Kingdom (219,336 abortions), France
209.699 France
Romania (*)
(209,699), Romania (150,246), Italy (126,562),
Nº of Abortions (2007)

200.000
Italy Germany (116,871) and Spain (112,138)
150.246 have the highest annual abortion rates in the
150.000
126.562 EU.
100.000
Alone, those 6 countries account for 934,852
abortions: 75.7% of abortions in
50.000
the 27 EU member states.

0
Source: Institute for Family Policies (IPF) drawn from EUROSTAT data and national data
Increment on abortion figures (1997-2007)
70.000
…Spain is the EU27 country with the 62.560 Spain
United Kingdom
60.000
greatest increase in the number of France
Holand
50.000
abortions…

Nº of Abortions
40.000
Whereas in many EU countries (usually those of the 2004
30.000 27.481
– 07 enlargement) the number of abortions fell during
1997 – 2007, the Spanish rise was spectacular, from 20.000
49,578 in 1997 to 112,138 in 2007 (i.e. 62,000).
10.000 7.939
5.917
The decline in Germany &
Italy, and the stagnation in France, is remarkable. 0

Source: Institute for Family Policies

(IPF) drawn from EUROSTAT data
and national data
Every 3 minutes a teenage girl has an abortion in Europe…
2007 The under -20 abortion figures exceed the 2007 figure
14% of 174,789: every day 479 teenage girls aborted in the
86% EU. Which means an abortions took place every 3
minutes.
…representing 1 in 7 of all
abortions.
The nearly 175,000 abortions in 2007, accounting for
the 14.1% of all abortions, representing 1 in 7.
Nº teenage abortions

Rest of abortions
Source: Institute for Family Policies (IPF) drawn
2007
from EUROSTAT data and national data
60.000
United Kingdom
50.000 48.150
France

The United Kingdom has the Romania

Nº of teenage abortions
40.000
31.779 Spain
highest EU teenage abortion rate.
30.000 Germany

United Kingdom (48,150 abortions) is the EU27

country where more teenage girls have abortions. 20.000 17.272
15.307 14.989
10.000
Followed by France (31,779), Romania (17,272),
Spain (15,307) and Germany (14,989).
0

Source: Institute for Family Policies

(IPF) drawn from EUROSTAT data
and national data
 Dramatic fall in marriage rate in Europe…
...725.000 fewer marriages than 1980…
3.094.093
2.966.412 There are 1 in 4 fewer
2.900.000
marriages than in 1980.…
2.865.662
Over 28 years (1980-2008), the number of
marriages in the EU27 has decreased by more
Nº of Marriages

2.600.000 than 725,142 marriages,

2.504.093
2.402.052
2.504.692

2.368.951
…equivalent a 23,4% ...
2.300.000

Number of marriages (EU27)

...and is causing a critical
2.000.000 marriage rate (4.87).
1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2008
This has changed a marriage rate of 6.75 in 1980
Source: Institute for Family Policies (IPF) drawn from EUROSTAT data and national data to a critical one in 2007 (4.87).

...In spite of a population increase of 42.6 million (1980-2008).

 The marriage rate has fallen in 9 out 10 countries, among the 27 EU
countries…
Evolution of Marriage rate 1983-2008 ( %) Only Denmark and Sweden increased their marriage rate
-46% Po rt ugal
over the last 25 years since 1983.
-43% A ust ria
-37% Greece ..In some countries the fall has
-36%
-28%
U nit ed King dom
B elgium
been dramatic…
-28% Luxembourg
-28% Germany
E.g. Bulgaria (-51%), Slovenia (-49%) or Estonia(-47%)
-23% It aly the fall in marriage rate has been around 50%, for every
-22% France 2 marriges in 1983 there is only 1 now.
-17% Sp ain
-16% Holland …as well as in countries with a
-7% Ireland
-4%
F inland large number of marriages.
Sweden 26%
D enmark 28% 600.000
-49% Slovenia
-47% Est onia
500.000

Nº of Marriages
-44% Hungary Nº of Marriages (1990)
-40% Lat via
400.000 Nº of Marriages (2007)
-36% C yprus
-35% C zech R epublic
300.000
-34% Slovakia
-28% M alt a
200.000
-25% Lit huania
-19% Po land
100.000
-4%
R omania
-51% B ulgaria
0

-60% -50% -40% -30% -20% -10% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% Germ any UK France Italy Poland Spain

Source: Institute for Family Policies (IPF) drawn Source: Institute for Family Policies
from EUROSTAT data and national data (IPF) drawn from EUROSTAT data
and National data
Germany (368,000), United Kingdom (270,000) and France (266,000) are
the countries where there is a higher number of marriages …

4 0 0 .0 0 0
3 6 8 .3 2 9
2007
3 50 . 0 0 0

3 0 0 .0 0 0
2 70 . 0 0 3
Nº of Marriages

2 6 6 . 50 0 2 4 8 . 70 2
2 4 9 .8 4 7
2 50 . 0 0 0

2 0 3 .6 9 7
2 0 0 .0 0 0 18 9 .2 4 0

150 . 0 0 0

10 0 . 0 0 0
73 .6 2 7
57. 74 0 4 6 .3 2 9 4 0 .8 0 0 3 5.9 9 6
57.157 4 5.50 0 2 9 . 4 9 7 2 7. 4 3 7
50 . 0 0 0 3 6 .576 2 9 .6 4 0 2 7. 8 9 8 2 3 .0 6 5
2 2 . 54 4 7.0 2 2 1. 9 6 9
0

Source: Institute for Family Policies (IPF) drawn from EUROSTAT data and national data

…they represented 38% of all marriages in the EU-27 in 2007.

 There are over one million divorces…
…equivalent to one marital breakdown every 30 seconds

1.100.000
1.030.911
There are 358,000 more
981.992
divorces than in 1980...
Marital breakdown has increased by 357,994 in
27 years (1980-2007), an increase of 55%.
Number of divorces

900.000

805.136 815.532
877.538
...In spite of the fact that the
776.291 number of marriages entered
700.000
into has decreased over this
672.917 period.
Number of divorces (EU-27)
In 27 years (1980-2007), the number of
500.000
marriages in the EU27 decreased by 675,075
1980 1985 1990 1994 2000 2004 2007
marriages.
Source: Institute for Family Policies (IPF) drawn from EUROSTAT data and national data

Over 10.3 million marital breakdowns in 10 years (1997-2007) in the EU27

that have affected over 17 million children.
 ...and Spain is the EU country where family breakdown has increased the
most… ...268% in just 10 years (1997-2007)

210.000
194.408
In the EU, family breakdown has increased by
187.000
165.555 170.050 far the most in Spain in the last ten years: more
Number of divorces

160.000 169.425 than tripling from 34,147 divorces in 1997 to

154.786 144.257 125,721 in 2007.
154.628
165.824 134.477
114.005 125.721
110.000

147.214
Germany

United 200.000
60.000
38.973 Kingdom 187.000
33.104 France
23.191
Spain
150.000 144.257
10.000 134.477

Number of divorces
1990 1995 2000 2007 125.721

Source: Institute for Family Policies (IPF) drawn from EUROSTAT data and national data 100.000

… 4 countries 58% of divorces 50.000

Germany, United Kingdom, France and Spain are the

EU27 countries with the highest number of divorces. 0
2007
The number of divorces in these countries is over 591,500 Germany United Kingdom France Spain
and account for 58% of total.
Source: Institute for Family Policies
(IPF) drawn from EUROSTAT data
and national data
 For each two marriages entered into in Europe, one breaks down…

In 2007 2,400,000 marriages were

3.094.093 2.966.412 celebrated in Europe, and 1 million broke
down, meaning 1 in 2.3 marriages in Europe
2.900.000
fails.
2.865.662
2.600.000
The difference between
2.419.018
2.300.000 2.504.692 2.504.093 marriages entered into and
2.000.000
marital breakdown has
2,421,716

been halved…
(ratio 5:1)

1,388,107

(ratio 2,4:1)
1.700.000 Nº Divorces EU-27
Nº Marriages EU-27 In 1980 the difference between marriages
1.400.000
entered into and marriages which broke
1.100.000
down was 2,421,716.
877.538 1.030.911
805.136 776.291 815.532 In 2007 the difference is only 1,388,000.
800.000

500.000
672.917 The ratio has gone from almost 5:1 in
1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2007 1980 ( for every 4.6 marriages entered into,
one broke down)… to a ratio of 2:1 in 2007
Source: Institute for Family Policies (IPF) drawn from EUROSTAT data and national data ( for every 2.3 marriages entered into, one
breaks down).
Belgium, Hungary and Spain are the EU27 countries with the highest
rate of marital breakdown: for every three marriages entered into, two
end in divorce…
400.000 1,0
Nº of Marriages (2007)

Nº Marital Breakdown (2007) 0,9

350.000
Rate of Marital Breakdown (2007)
0,8
300.000

UE 27
0,66 0,7
0,620,62
250.000 0,57
0,56 0,55 0,55 0,6
0,54 0,54 0,53
0,51
0,49 0,49 0,48
200.000
0,45 0,44 0,44 0,44
0,5
0,43
0,38 0,4
150.000
0,28 0,27 0,3
0,22
100.000
0,19 0,19
0,16 0,2
50.000
0,1

0 0,0
m
lic
rg

kia
um

ia
ria

nia
nd

nia
y
ia

ia
ia

ark
ain

en

d
d

ce
us
ary

ly
ce
ga

an

lan

lan

lan
do

an
str

ton
ton
ou

Ita
ub

ee
lga

lla

ed
an

pr
va

ve

ma
lgi

rtu

nm
Sp

ng

rm
ing

hu

Fin

Ire
Po
Au

mb

ep

Cy

Gr
Ho

Sw
Fr

Slo
Le
Es

Slo
Be

Bu
Hu

Po

Ro
Ge

De
Lit
hR

dK
xe
Lu

ec

ite

Source: Institute for Family Policies (IPF) drawn from EUROSTAT data and national data
Cz

Un

…and the divorce rate is above the EU27 average in 3 in 4 countries (75%).
At 43%, the unmarried population of Europe has almost equalled the
married (45%).

33,4 million 33,5 million

19,5 million 26,2 million
(7%) 195 million (7%)
(4%) 1995 (5%) 204 million
(41%) 2007
(43%)

230 million 215 million

(48%) (45%)

Single Married Divorced Widower Single Married Divorced Widower

Source: Institute for Family Policies (IPF) drawn from EUROSTAT data and national data

Married Europeans have declined from 230 million, or (48%) in 1995 to 215
million (45%) in 2007, divorced and unmarried have increased from 19.5 million
(4%) and 195 million (41%) in 1995 to 26.2 million (5%) and 204 million (43%) respectively, in
2007.
 Fewer people are marrying for the first time…
…there are 2 million marriages…
3.094.093
2.966.412 8 in 10 marriages (79%) are for
3.000.000
the first time, while in 1980 was
2.865.662 86%
2.700.000 2.661.231

2.496.042

2.400.000 2.424.823 2.504.692 2.504.093 2.419.018 In 1980, 86% of those going to the altar in the
EU did so for the first time; in 2007 it was only
79%. Thus, 1 in 5 marriages is now a remarriage.
2.100.000 2.050.969
2.088.796
1.912.605

1.800.000 Nº Marriages EU-27

Nº First time marriages 1.912.605
(79%) 2007
1.500.000
1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2007

Source: Institute for Family Policies (IPF) drawn from EUROSTAT data, UNECE and national data

…so 1 in 5 marriages is remarriage 506.413

(21%)
First time marriages Remarriages
 One out of every 3 children (36.5 %) is born outside marriage in the EU27..
…this affects nearly 2 million children every year.

36,5% Of 5,384,190 births in the EU in

38% 2008, some 1,970,940 children (36.5%) are born
out of wedlock.
31,9%
33%
In some countries, more children
27,4%
are born outside marriage than
28%
Porcentage (%)

within it.
22,1% There are more births
23% without marriage than within, in Estonia (59.1%),
Slovenia (54.7%), Sweden (54.6%), France (51.3%)
18,1%
and Bulgaria (51.1%).
18%

12,6% France with 420,000 births, is the

13% country with the highest number of
8,8% Extramarital births (EU-27) births outside marriage.
8%
The highest number of births outside marriage is in
1980 1984 1990 1995 2000 2004 2008
France (428,000), followed by the United
Source: Institute for Family Policies (IPF) drawn from EUROSTAT data, UNECE and national data Kingdom (360,802), representing 40% of
the EU total.
 The size of European households is decreasing …
...Only 2.4 members per household
2.82 Nº members household
1.5 persons per household have been
Nº Members household

2.8
“lost” since 1980.
2.68
2.61 In barely 25 years (1980-2005), the average size of
households has decreased by “losing” 1.5 persons.
2.5
It has gone from almost 3 persons (2.82) to 2.4
2.4
2.4 members per household.

2.3
1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 3,25 3,2 Malta
Source: In-house from EUROSTAT and European Environment Agency data
3,1 Cyprus
Romania
3 2,9 2,9 Spain
...And in some countries it

Nº Members household
Sweden
Finland
hardly reaches 2 members. 2,75
Denmark
Germany
Germany (2.1), Denmark (2.1), Finland (2.1), and 2,5
UE27: 2,4
Sweden (2.2) are the countries with the lowest
number of members per household.
2,25 2,2
By contrast, Malta (3.2), Cyprus (3.1), Romania 2,1
2,1 2,1
(2.9) and Spain (2.9) are the countries with the
2
highest number of members per household. Nº Members Household (2005)
. Source: In-house from EUROSTAT and
European Environment Agency data
European households are becoming more solitary...
...1 out of every 4 households in Europe has a single dweller…

Single
24,9%
14,8% Single with
27.7% of European
dependent children

28% 2 adults households have only 1

27,7% person.
2 adultos with
dependent children

4,3% 3 or more adults (with

and without children)

Source: In-house drawn from EUROSTAT and European Environment Agency data

…and now more than 55 million Europeans live alone.

Households have fewer children...

…2 out of 3 households have no children…

4% 67% of European households

13%
have no children and only 33% of
households have a
16% child/children.
67%

Of the households with children,

50% of them have only 1 child.
0 children 1 child 2 children + 2 children
Source: In-house drawn from EUROSTAT and European Environment Agency data

…And only 17% of households have 2 or more children

 Some effects of the prevailing situation

Increased health Increased state

care costs pensions
Higher costs

Aging of the population

11

Breakdown of social Empty homes

security benefits Selfishness

Breakdown of the 22 33 Broken down society

welfare state
Birth deficit Family
breakdown

Aging society, with no children, empty homes, broken families and no values
Although there is growing awareness of the problems faced by families
and proposals to incorporate the family perspective in the EU…

The Charter of Fundamental Rights legitimises European Union involvement in the debate on family policies
(article 33) …
…”although it is clear that, for reasons of subsidiarity and efectiveness, the definition and implementation of family
policies is the competence of Member States”.

The Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee recommends that the European
Union…
…”encourage Membe States to include the family area in their economic and social polices”
(Opinion on “The family and demographic growtha” (SOC 245 – CESE 55/2007)

The European Parliament report on the Commission Communication states:

“Future EU strategy must recognize the important role of the family as a key social institution for the
survival, protection and development of children.”
Report 'Towards an EU strategy for children's rights' (Page 24). (A6-0520/2007).

EU Commission Communication states

'The strategy which is carried out to improve the situation must include the following points:
• Promote demographic renewal in Europe creating better conditions for families.' ).
“Dealing with the effect of the ageing population of the European Union”(COM 2009 180/4), (Page 7

The Communication of the European Commission on points that…

... “At the Barcelona European Council of 2002, Member States made a clear commitment to increase childcare
facilities, which between here and 2010 should be available for at least 90% of children aged 3-6 and 33% of children
under 3. Now the time has come to create these childcare services”. (Page 8).
“The demographic future of Europe: from challenge to opportunity” (COM 2006)
 … both the EU Commission and Parliament favour supporting the
family, maternity and balance between family & working life, as a
response to the demographic winter…

The Communication of the European Commission points out that:

“Support policies for Member States of the European Union must have three key points”:
• Compensation for direct and indirect costs associated with the family.
• Parent help services in the form of education and care for young children, care and supervision for older
children and, increasingly, services for depedent people in an ageing society..
• Organisation of working and employment conditions and access to services at a local level.

“Promoting solidarity between generations” (COM 2007)

The Report of the European Parliament ask that:

..”States ensure a high level of protection of maternity and fight discrimination against pregnant women in the
workforce”.
“Equality between men and women in the EU ” (A6-0290/2007),

The Report of the European Parliament deals

“Authorities - national, regional, local must increase their financial contribution for creating / running high
- quality child care services at prices parents can afford'.
Report on 'Balance between professional, family and private life'. (A5-0092/2004). (Page 9).
 … both the EU Commission and Parliament favour supporting the
family, maternity and balance between family & working life, as a
response to the demographic winter…

The EU Commision communication on points out that::

“The demographic revival requires the development of a climate in society open to family needs and
receptive to motherhood, and the creation of conditions for a better balance between work and family life.
In countries where it is difficult to reconcile work with family, female employment rates tend to be low, mothers often
leave the labour market and birth rates are lower because people feel they cannot cope with motherhood

Policies should promote gender reconciliation and equality, entail conditions for better
parenting and promote high – quality child care. Such proposals should become a priority’.
“Dealing with the effect of ageing on the population of the European Union” (COM 2009 18/04) (page 7)
This concern for the family should concretize in:

... Appropriate institutions for the Family

... Adequate budgetary provision

... Plans, measures and laws to address and

resolve family problems..

All this, at both EU & national level

a) Family Agencies
However, there is no organisation which is in charge of Family Policy...

Although there are 5 Vice-presidencies and 21 Committees

within the European Commission, none of them covers the
Family...
EUROPEAN COMMISSION ... Family matters being dealt with by the Committee on
Presidency Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities…

...Nor does it have a Family

Committee on Employment, Social Affairs Observatory...
and Equal Opportunities
The Observatory on Family Policies was created in 1989
and closed in 2004, when it was replaced by the
Observatory on Demography and the Social Situation

...Or a Green Paper on the Family.

Committee Team:
Of the 126 Green Papers written since 1984, none has
- 47 Portafolio Activities been on the Family (*).
- 33 Non-Portfolio activities
- 0 Family Activities

(*)Only the Green Paper "Confronting

demographic change: a new solidarity between
generations" of 2005 reflects indirectly some
aspects of the family (birth, youth, etc.
 Differing levels of family matters awareness by Governments…

Department of Family, Elderly, Department of the Family and

Department of Social and Women’s and Youth Affairs Department of Health, the Social Cohesion
Family Affairs Family and Youth
Ireland Germany
Austria Luxemburgo

State Deparment for Department of children, schools Ministry of Labour, Family Ministry for Children and Department of Labour, Family
Family Policies and families and Social Affairs Family Affairs and Social Affairs
Belgium United Kingdom Slovenia Latvia Slovakia

Ministro sin cartera para Juventud y

Ministry of Health, Social and Family Familia (Adjunto al Ministerio de
Ministry of Labour, Family and Ministry of Labour,Social, Salud, Bienestar y Deporte)
Relations,,Family, Solidarity and Affairs
Equality of Opportunity Hungary Holland
Romania City
France

…although half of European nations have a Ministry for the Family.

b) Social Security Benefits
 Europe allocates less and less money to the family…
2.4%
Family aid has not only fallen
2.3%
from 2.3% to 2.1% of GDP in the
2.2%
2.2% last 10 years …
2.2%

The European Union has changed from allocating 2.6%

Percentage GDP

2.1%
of GDP to family matters in 1996, to just 2.1% in 2006.
2.1%

2.0%

Family expenditure as a percentage of total socal spending (%)

8,5% 8,5%
Family expenditure 8,5%

1.8%
1996 1998 2000 2003 2006

Source: Institute for Family Policies (IPF) drawn from EUROSTAT data, UNECE and national data 8,3%
(1990-99 UE15, 2000-2004 UE25, 2005-06 UE27) 8,3%
8,3%

…the EU has reduced its

8,2%
proportion for social expenditure…
8,1%
For every 13 euros the European Union spends on social
expenditure, only 1 is directed to the family. 8,0%

In some countries the proportion (of social % Gastos Familia UE sobre G.Sociales

expenditure) is very small, such as Poland (4.4%) and 7,9%

1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006
Italy (4.5%).

...And barely € 1 per day per person Source: Institute for Family
Policies (IPF) drawn from
EUROSTAT data,
(439 € per person / year).
…and futhermore with huge differences between countries…

Whilst some countries target

families as a priority for assistance,
providing levels far higher than the
European average…
Denmark, Luxembourg, Germany, Sweden,
Austria and Finland set aside above 3% of GDP
for the family, 40% more than the European
average (2.1% of GDP).
Denmark (3.7% GDP) and Luxembourg (3.4%
GDP) are the EU27 countries that offer most
assistance to families.

…other countries do not prioritise

families for assistance.

Poland sets aside just the 0.8% del GDP for the
family, Lithuania, Bulgaria and Malta the 1.1%, etc.
From the EU-15, Spain, Portugal and Italy, are the
countries that offer least assitance to families, setting
aside just 1.2% of the GDP, which is far below the
European average (2.1% GDP).

Source: Institute for Family Policies (IPF) drawn from EUROSTAT data,
 … this leads to significant “discrimination” in family matters.
Family social security benefits: value in Euros/person/year (2006)
Luxembourg
Denmark 1.353
2.158
The difference between
Sweden 933 countries are significant
Ireland 865
Finland 864
(from 23€ to 2,158€ euros)…
Austria 811
Germany 796
France 649
Whilst Luxembourg provides more than 2,100
Belgium 535 euros / person in family benefits each year,
Netherlands 451 and Denmark €1,300, Romania and Bulgaria
United Kingdom 449 spend around €25 per person per year.
Cyprus 317
Italy 248
Greece
Poland, Latvia, Slovakia and Lithuania
231
Slovenia 223
provide under €100 every year.
Spain 212
Hungary 192 Portugal and Spain, are the EU15 countries,
Portugal 151 which offer the lowest assistance to the family.
Czech Republic 136
Malta 124
Estonia 120
Lithuania 76
Slovakia

Latvia
74
63
…This is creating 1st & 2nd–
Poland 51 class countries.
Bulgaria 27
Romania 23

0 500 1.000 1.500 2.000 2.500

Source: Institute for Family Policies (IPF) drawn from EUROSTAT data,
Child benefits are the main measure of family support…

…on average, these are 120

euros/month…
In 3 out of 4 member states, they are
provided universally.

80% of the first 15 EU member states give

them to all families, yet only 2 in 3 of the 2004
& 2007 enlargement countries do so

…with average extended cut-

off age of 22 years.
Although the average cut-off age for benefits is
17.3, most countries offer extension for children
who are studying or unemployed. The average
extended cut-off age is 21.9.
Holland, Finland, Italy, Spain, Denmark,
Francce and Bulgaria do not offer extended
cut-off age for child benefit.

Source: Institute for Family Policies (IPF) drawn from MISSOC data and national data

…but with large differences between countries.

 The benefit differences are so great it would be worth living in such
countries as Luxembourg, Ireland, Austria and Germany…
Families with 2 children (2008)
A family with 2 children without income – related restrictions, would receive 471
euros / month in Luxembourg; in Ireland € 332 / month; in Germany 328; in
Austria 293, etc. By contrast, in Latvia the same family would receive 25 euros /
month; €29 / month in Poland (with strict income – related restrictions), and €33 /
month in Greece

Families with 3 children (2008)

A quarter of families in the
European Union do not
receive child benefit directly

The income – related restrictions prevent a great

number of families in Italy, Portugal, Slovenia,
the Czech Republic, Spain, Poland and
Bulgaria receiving those benefits.
Source: Institute for Family Policies (IPF) drawn from MISSOC data

A family with three children, without income – related restrictions, would receive
833 euros / month in Luxembourg, 535 / month in Ireland, 510 / month in
Austria, 498 in Germany, etc.

The same family would receive 59 euros each month in Bulgaria, 44 / month in
Poland (with strict income – related restrictions in both cases), 43 in Latvia.
Source: Institute for
…than in Latvia, Poland or Spain. Family Policies (IPF)
drawn from MISSOC data
 In 2008, child benefits were increased by 5.3% on average...
This was specially due to Bulgaria (nearly doubled),
Slovakia and the Czech Republic (which
increased theirs more than 25%).
100%
Bulgaria most increased benefits in the
Variation Benefits per Child % 2007-2008 First Child
EU, 94% for a first child and 75% for
80% Second Child
second one.

60% Slovakia (33%), Czech Republic (28% for

a 1st child and 20% for a 2nd),
Romania (18% ~ 1st; 21% ~ 2nd) have
40% increased benefits 20%.

20% On the contrary, Finland, Greece,

5,3% Luxembourg, United Kingdom, Swden,
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland
0%
have not increased their benefits
l ta

y
l

d
S l o ia

G re d
a in

F in a
m

G e a rk
S l o r ia

a
ia

P o ia

L i t h ia
Cy y

n ce
ry

e ce
s

go
R o li c

ga

Sw m
a

en
Ita l

lan
lan

lan
i
la n

ani
an
p ru
i
n
va k

to n
ve n

l g iu

v
Ma

s tr

nga

gdo
lga

b
ma

bur
r tu

Sp

Lat
nm

ed
F ra
Ir e

Po
pu

Ho
rm

u
Au

Es
Be
Bu

Belgium and Malta have increased for the

Kin
Hu
De

em
Re

-20%
Lux

i te d
e ch

first child and have decreased for the

Un
Cz

Source: Institute for Family Policies (IPF) drawn from MISSOC data second one..
-40%

… Although there has been no increase in benefits for 1st and 2nd child in
one third of European countries (9) this year.
c) Balance between family and profesional life
 The average duration of maternity leave is 25.3 weeks…
Although Sweden (75.7 weeks), Bulgaria
(58.6), United Kingdom (52) and Denmark
100 Licences in Europe: Weeks per born child (50) are the countries with the longest
Extra-licence maternity leave in the EU-27, and have an
Licence average of more than a year (59 weeks)…
80 … a two thirds majority (19 countries) failed to
meet the average amount of maternity leave.

60 There are large differences in

Weeks

flexibility…
40 Although 2 out of 3 countries (18 countries)
contemplate the extension of the license, only
few countries -8- permit significant extension
20 in special cases:large families, multiple
births,etc.

0 …and in the benefits offered

In some countries 100% of salary is covered
whilst in others the amount is lower, and
there are even countries with periods that are
Source::In-house from EUROSTAT and MISSOC data not remunerated.

…Although there is a very marked difference both in time of duration,

possibility of extention, and in amount of pay or benefits received.
The flexibility of working hours is still very inadequate…
100%

90%

In 66% of cases, the

80%
employer imposes the
70%
schedule, leaving no
60% choice to 2 out of 3
50% employee.
40%

30% Only four countries (Sweden,

Holland, Denmark and Finland)
20% does the employee have the
option of choice about half of the
10%
day.
0%

l
l ta

n ia
d

d
ly
d

m
a rk

ia

a in

ia

r ia
m

kia

ia
ia

S l o li c
y
o

ar y
e

ce

s
ga
ia
en

l an
l an

l an

la n
an
c
ur g

Ita

p ru
to n

n
l g iu

do

an
to n

Ma
s tr

ub

l ga
n

ma
ee

r tu
va

Sp
nm
ed

ve

ng
F ra

rm
Ir e

Po
Ho

F in

i ng

hu

Cy
mb
Au

Es

ep

Le

Gr
Be

Sl o

Po

Bu
Sw

Ro

Hu
De

Ge

Lit
dK

hR
xe
Lu
i te

Fully set by employee

ec
Un

Cz

The employee can adjust hours w ithin certain limits

The employee can choose from several preset schedules
Source: Institute for Family Policies (IPF) drawn from EUROSTAT data
Completely set by the company

…even though it fundamentally needs to be reconciled with family life.

There is a link between social expenditure on the family and the rate of
child poverty
30% 4,2%

Rate of Under-18s Poverty Risk Family Spending % GDP

25%
25% 24% 3,5%
23% 23%

21%
20%
20% 19% 19% 2,8%

17%
16%
15%
15% 14% 14%
2,1%

12%
11%
10%
10% 1,4%

5% 0,7%

0% 0,0%
ly

ce

ria
m

y
e

en
nd
l

g
15
n

k
d
nd

m
ga

an
ec

ar
ur
Ita

ai

an
do

iu

an

st
la
EU

ed
la
rtu
Sp

bo

m
m
re

lg

nl
Au
Ire
ng

ol

Fr

Sw

en
er
G
Po

Be

m
Fi
H
Ki

D
xe
d

Lu
te
ni
U

Source: Institute for Family Policies (IPF) drawn from EUROSTAT data

The higher the level of family benefits, the lower the likelihood of child
poverty
Most countries make no provision for the problems of family conflict,
crisis or breakdown…

…in spite of the fact that the Council of Europe has been urging for this be
put in place for many years

COUNCIL OF EUROPE. RECOMMENDATION OF 2 SEPTEMBER 1974

“This organisation recommends that Member States establish Family Guidance Centres to offer
comprehensive assistance to families, and that these centres should be State funded even where
they are privately run”.

COUNCIL OF EUROPE. RECOMMENDATION OF 27 JUNE 1980

Recommends that Member State governments:

• Recognise the importance of organisations dedicated to family guidance in order to improve

emotional, individual and family harmony, and

• Promote the development of such organisations through adequate funding.

• Study the possibility of using the media, particularly radio and television, to reinforce family
culture and education.
AIM:

To instigate the development in Europe of

“family-oriented” government policies and
to implement genuine, effective,
comprehensive and universal Family
Policies... ...
Built around the following Axes:

• Giving the Family status as a policy priority

• Making the “Family-oriented” approach an integral part of all

measures put in place by the European Union

• Recognise and promote family rights in all areas, particularly

• Right of parents to reconcile work and family life.

• Right of parents to have the number of children they want.
• Right of parents to choose the type of education their children
. receive.
• Right of children to live in a stable home
… with the following strategies…

• Promoting demographic renewal in Europe by creating better

conditions for families.

• Promoting convergence between national family policies to avoid

differences between countries

• Pushing for equality of opportunity for all European families, to

avoid discrimination based on number of children, income levels,
income distribution, etc.
Following action plans that…
ƒ …Promote the Family as an institution,
ƒ Encourage a universal concept of the Family and also a culture
and environment that allows the Family to manage its day-to-day existence,
ƒ Help parents to have the children they want,
ƒ Include, in a genuinely constructive and humane fashion, the different
areas of professional, family and personal development,
ƒ Provide assistance during cases of family crisis,
ƒ Recognise the fundamental right of parents to educate their children,
ƒ Promote the active participation of parents and family associations
ƒ And, through specific measures, take account of families with
particular needs.
I. …which promote the Family as an institution…

1. By creating the Commission for the Family to promote the Family as a policy
priority in European Union countries, and to ensure that all European legislation considers
the Family as a social base with rights and roles that must be respected and promoted.

2. By urging EU member states to set up a Ministry for the Family with

sufficient organisational and budgetary capacity to develop Family promotion and
protection measures in Europe.

3. By drafting a Green Paper on the Family in Europe which analyses the

problems faced by the Family along with their causes and consequence, and sets out
solutions and alternatives.

4. By promoting a European Agreement on the Family between political parties,

social agents and family institutions.

5. A council of ministers dealing with the family should meet once/year, as per the Report
of the European Parliament about protecting families and children.
II …which promotes a Family-oriented culture, disseminating a
universal concept of the Family and encouraging an environment
which favours it...

6. By re-establishing the Family Policy Observatory, with social involvement, to analyse the
situation and development of the Family in Europe and to advise on, manage and oversee
policy measures affecting it, and to ensure that public policy measures are drawn up to take
account of the Family.

7. By running campaigns to increase awareness within society and to promote an

environment and culture that favours the Family, placing value on childhood and maternity.

8. By incorporating into European Directives on communication media the criteria of

respect for and promotion of the Family, in addition to the creation of Independent
Audiovisual Councils one of whose objectives is the protection of minors and the Family.
III …which assist families in the management of their day-to-day
existence, helping parents to have the children they want...

9. By promoting the establishment of gradual convergence between family protection

measures in different European countries, so that:

• 2.5% GDP: In 5 years time, all countries are setting aside a minimum of 2.5% of GDP for
social spending on the family.

• Making assistance universal: In 5 years time, all countries are promoting universal
family assistance practices or at least, as the first step towards achieving this, are
establishing limits (per capita) which include 90% of families.

• 125€ /month: all member states should increase support for underage children to
125 € / month within 5 years

• Making benefits tax-exempt: Countries establish tax convergence objectives for tax
exemption on family benefits.

• Benefits linked to annual inflation rate: Countries put in place measures ensuring that
family benefits increase in line with inflation.
III …which assist families in the management of their day-to-day
existence, helping parents to have the children they want......

10. By adopting measures of support for pregnancy and maternity

• General direct support of 1,125 euros (= 125 euros/month, over 9

months) for pregnant women, to be paid over the last 22 weeks of pregnanc
y.

• Reducing by 50% the VAT payable on a series of essential infant products (baby
hygiene items such as nappies, soap, moisturising creams, wet wipes, feeding products
such as formula milk, containers and feeding bottles, cereal and food preparations and
baby furniture items such as cots, chairs and prams, baby carriers, car seats etc.).

• Setting up Care Centres for Pregnant Women to help for all mothers, married or
single, with their pregnancies, with particular attention for immigrant mothers.

• Specific support programme for pregnant teens to confront the particular pro
blems pregnancy can cause these particularly defenceless groups in society.
III …which assist families in the management of their day-to-day
existence, helping parents to have the children they want......

10. By urging governments to adopt a more equal distribution of benefits aimed at the
Family – currently accounting for 8% of total social benefits – gradually increasing their
amount.

11. By increasing tax convergence in Europe to make it Family-oriented

III …which assist families in the management of their day-to-day
existence, helping parents to have the children they want......

13. Urge that member states and regional & local authorities define and implemente
housing policies that particularly consider families

• 50% cut in VAT on new family dwellings

• 50% cut in individual taxes (judicial document taxes, tax on family inheritances,
council taxes, etc.) for all families, and exemption for large families.

• Specific housing policy for young families and those with children.

• Special tax discounts for families which rent, especially for large families or
those with dependent relatives

• Agreement among local & regional administrations to make housing cheaper.

IV ... Which include, in a genuinely constructive and humane fashion,
the different areas of professional, family and personal
development…
14. In all European Union countries, promoting and encouraging maternity leave of 23
weeks with 100% salary, and paternity leave of 6 weeks with the same conditions as
maternity leave.

15. Ensuring parents’ right to choose.

• Promoting extension of benefits for fathers/mothers who request
extended leave to look after their children.
• Enlarging the network of nurseries for the 0-3 age group.

16. By insisting on universal assistance for families caring for elderly relatives in their
home.

17. Promoting the adoption of rational working days by companies to allow

professional and family life to be combined.

18. Development of a guide of information and awareness of good practices about

balance between family & working life (following Report of the Eurpean Parliament on
reconciling professional, family and private lives (A5-0092/2004).
V... That help overcome family crises...

19. By insisting on preventive measures to assist in cases of family crisis (following

Council of Europe recommendations) to reduce instances of family breakdown in Europe.

• Updating and modernisation of Council of Europe recommendations (1974-

1980).

• Promoting Family Guidance Centres, both public and private.

• Urging EU countries to draw up a Law for Preventive Measures and Family

Mediation.

• Carrying out studies, analyses and surveys to discover the causes of family
breakdown and introducing measures whose aim is to reduce and/or alleviate
their negative consequences.
VI …Which recognise the right of parents to educate their children...

20. By recognising Education as a Fundamental Family Right (not as a public service)

• Making the education costs met by families (text books, schools etc.) income tax-
deductible.

• Increasing the number of parent representatives on School Councils.

• Promoting the right of parents to choose their children’s education, promoting

directives on the school-cheque, and assisting States that implement it (up to 25% of
the cost).

VII …and promoting the active involvement of families and family

associations...
21. By creating Internet Portal “InfoFamilias” with information on services for European
families.
© IPF, Institute for Family Policies, 2009

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material contained may be reproduced for non-profit purposes, and
for public dissemination, provided that its source is quoted.

Published by IPF, Institute for Family Policies

c/ Génova, 7 – 3º izda. 28004 Madrid
Tel. + 34 911022888
email: ipf@ipfe.org
website: www.ipfe.org

Report Director: Mariano Martínez-Aedo

© IPF 2009. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED