News
PES child care campaign ends with presentation to European Commissioner
The PES presented the results of its year-long child care campaign to European Commissioner Vladimir Spidla – and urged him to make the strongest possible proposals in his communication on meeting EU child care targets which is due to be published next year.
Closing the child care campaign - almost a year on the road!
The PES child care campaign 'Put children First' was closed at PES Council in Sofia on 22 November 2007. The campaign ran throughout 2007 and led to new commitments on child care services from Governments, PES Member Parties and the European Commission.
Child care helps regions deliver growth and jobs
‘Promoting Investments in Universal high quality child care in Europe’ was the title of a well-attended seminar hosted by the PES Group in the Committee of the Regions. Zita Gurmai, President of PES Women, said that both the public and private sector had a role to play in providing child care.
Child care in the UK
“We will be offering free universal education to every child – from nursery school at three” was the promise of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown to Labour Party Conference. Now, 7.000 extended schools will provide two-thirds of a million more child care places.
New book – ‘Putting children first’
The PES Group in the Committee of the Regions has published an excellent new book ‘Putting children first: implementing the Barcelona targets at local, regional and national levels’.
Spanish Government invests in education for the under 3s
The Spanish Government has agreed to invest €100 million next year into child care facilities for children aged 0-3.
Child care must be highlighted in EU reform guidelines say European Socialists
At a meeting of the PES Lisbon Network socialist and social democratic politicians agreed that a joint submission by the PES and Socialist Group in the EP on new guidelines for the Lisbon Strategy should include “the development of child care facilities, in order at least to meet the Barcelona targets.”
Child care in Slovenia – State of art
Slovenia is the only former socialist country which did not seriously dismantle its system of support for equal opportunities of working parents. However, after the conservative government took power in 2004, it started to look for the arguments to privatize public child care. Women in SD party are now discussing the future child care policy that should be offered at the forthcoming national elections.
Zapatero promises universal child care for children under 3
The Socialist Prime Minister of Spain, José Luis Zapatero, has promised universal education for children aged 0 to 3 years. The proposal is due to be officially approved by the Government’s Council of Ministers before the summer break.
