EUROPE/SPAIN - Family Policy Institute demands European political priority for the family, a White Paper on the Family in Europe, a European Family Watchdog and a European Family Alliance

Madrid (Agenzia Fides) - Representatives of the International Alliance of Family Policy Institutes (IPF) from 8 countries of Europe and Latin America and IPF delegates to the EU and the UNO met in Madrid 2, 3 and 4 February to discuss IPF action at the European and world level. According to IPF president Eduardo Hertfelder it emerged that IPF "acts as an international entity affecting international bodies". President of IPF Europe Lola Velarde said “the family must become a political priority in Europe, incorporating ‘Family Vision’ in all EU policies and programmes promoting convergence in national family policies, avoiding discrimination among countries and calling for equal opportunities for all European families".
The participants agreed on the need to urge nations to work on various fronts: a White Paper on the Family in Europe which identifies Family problems, the causes and consequences, and proposes solutions and alternatives; establish a European Family Watchdog with social participation to watch the situation and development of Families in Europe and provide updated information on developments in the different countries. A proposal by the German Minister for the Family Ursula von der Leyen to form a European Family Alliance was welcomed and support by Lola Velarde who said. “We will launch an awareness building campaign throughout Europe contacting European governments to support the initiative". The IPF also announced a 1st Report on the Development of the Family in Latin America.
In its 2006 Report on the Family in Spain IPF noted a falling birth rate and most babies born to non Spanish mothers; rising number of abortions, an average of one every 5.7 minutes and 252 a day; less marriages, mostly civil unions, more break ups, more births outside of marriage and mothers ever older. The report also noted that Spain assigns only 0.52 per cent of the GNP to family assistance compared to the EU average of 2.2 per cent. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 6/2/2007; righe 31, parole 417)