Large Families in Europe

Raul SanchezSecretary General, European Large Families Confederation (ELFAC)

Director, Observatory on Family Policies, International University of Catalonia

6th European Large Families ConferenceRich in children - Rich in what? - Tartu (Estonia), 20-21 July 2012

Fertility

Fertility

Fertility

Fertility

Fertility

Fertility

Fertility

Fertility

Fertility

Some facts

- Difficulties to get a house- Delay of the age of marriage- Contraception: babies as a commodity- Incorporation of the women to labour market- Instability of labour market: unemployment- Globalization: relocation of work places – geographical

separation of the members of the family- Extension of the time for studies- Democratization: new values into the families- Consumer society: process of individualization - Absence of family time- Less communication into the family

Social model

Social model

Social model

Social model

Family Policies

Short term electoral effects

The effects of family policies are visible only in mid or long term.

Family policies are expensive.

Politicians need results before the next elections.

Reasons to suport large familes

1. Exercise of a fundamental right: to have the number desired of children, with equal opportunities without discrimination.

Examples: Cost of water / Housing, car / 2 couples with or without children, same income.

2. Solidarity compensation from the rest of the society knowing that the children are benefits for everybody in the present as much as in the future.

- Savings in social expenditure. Family is the first NGO in the world (informal social protection / working at home / education / social cohesion)

- Investment, not an expenditure, for the future; to ensure the welfare system (pensions, human capital, etc).

- Families don’t need charity, only a fair compensation from the rest of the society.

3. Equal comparison and not inequality with other families and countries of the European Union.

Large family card

Promoted by:

- Municipalities (Italy, Portugal…)

- Regional governments (Austria, Germany…)

- National government (Spain)

- Companies (France)

- Associations (Belgium)

Large family card

Types of benefits:

- Public sector (transportation, education, etc).

- Private or corporate sector (railway, cars, shops, etc).

- Social sector (services, etc).

Large family card

Users:

- Limited by income

- Categories of large families

- Universal (limit of age)

Large family card

Case: Bergamo and Roma

- Bergamo: for all large families.

- Roma: for families with 2 children under 40.000 euros / year – 3 children under 50.000 euros – over 65 years old under 15.000 euros

- Free.

Large family card

Case: France

- Given by the railway company.

- To large families: 3 children or more under 18 years old.

- Benefits: reductions in railway company (30-75 %) / museums / companies.

- 18 euros / year.

Large family card

Case: Spain

- National, regional and local laws regulating benefits

- Card is only to identify

- Public card (given by regions, free) and private card (given by association, 40 euros / year).

- Families with 3 children or more under 21 years old (or 25 if they are students).

Large family card

Case: Spain:

Public benefits

- National: Public transportation: 20% - 50% / University: 50% - free / Priority in schools and housing / Reduction in taxes (income, car, housing) / energy

- Regional and local: water / local taxes / school of music / sport and leisure

Private benefits (association)

- Family + plan: more than 150 companies: banking, cars, cinemas, clothing, supermarket, etc.

Large family card

An urgent need:

The European Large Family Card

Large family card