PES Newsletter n° 18 – Special: child care campaign

We care for child care: the PES child care campaign is really taking off!
Following its launch at PES Congress in Porto – and a successful event in the European Parliament in Strasbourg – the PES child care campaign has many more activities all over Europe.

It’s an election issue!

Child care is on the agenda in forthcoming parliamentary elections in France and Ireland. In France Ségoléne Royal promises a national childc are service bringing together, and improving access to, a raft of existing services for children and families. In Ireland Labour Party Leader Pat Rabbitte promises one year’s pre-school child care for all children.
Improving child care was also a big issue for the Dutch Labour Party during last year’s elections in The Netherlands.

And a hot topic

In Germany where the SPD is supporting an increase in child care in the face of opposition from some conservatives, such as the CSU Secretary General who said that child care was contrary to the conservative vision of the family! 

European Commission promises action

Thanks to a declaration by Socialist Employment, Social Affairs and Labour Ministers and a question from the Socialist group in the European Parliament, European Commissioner Vladimir Spidla has promised a report on implementing EU child care targets and a change of rules to allow EU funds to be used for child care.

Socialists in the Committee of the Regions mobilize for child care

The PES Childcare campaign’s first European-wide conference is being hosted and organized on 8 May by the Socialist Group in the Committee of the Regions in Brussels. Speakers include Commissioner Spidla, the Mayor of Bonn Baerbel Dieckmann, Swedish Social Democrat spokesperson for social affairs Ylva Johansson, Anna Serafini the President of the Italian Parliamentary committee on childhood and Alex Bodry Leader of the Luxembourg Socialist Workers Party and a former child care manager.   

Socialists in European Parliament say child care for all

Not only in the European Parliamentary debate on child care requested by the Socialist Group, and in an event to mark the 5th anniversary of EU child care targets, but also on postcards to be distributed to citizens visiting the Parliament in Brussels and Strasbourg during open days in early May. 

What’s happening in your corner of Europe?

PES child care Campaign meetings are planned across Europe from Sofia to Vilnius and from Valletta to Berlin. (Bulgaria). Additional events later in the year are due to take place in Toledo (Spain), Athens (Greece), Bologna (Italy) and Bonn (Germany). The first major meeting has already taken place in Sofia.
See below for dates – contact for more information.  

Activists campaign for child care

PES activists have also rallied to the cause of the PES child care campaign. In a first-ever PES activists week of action around Easter events were held in Poznan (Poland), Detmold (Germany), Lisbon (Portugal), Budapest (Hungary) and London (UK). 

European Young Socialists for child care

At their Congress in Warsaw ECOSY – the Young European Socialists – agreed a resolution on child care “to ensure a better tomorrow”

Sign Up

Please sign the child care book urging all European Governments to increase investment in child care.
The PES child care book has been to several national party congresses including those in Hungary, Sweden and Czech Republic. Next party congress for the child care book: Italy. 

You’ve read about the campaign – now watch the movie!

Have you seen the PES child care campaign movie? This and other campaign material can be downloaded here

Coming soon

For more information – or if you want to organize a child care campaign meeting – contact