Brussels, 25/10/2011 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament is taking into account the difficult situation experienced by single mothers. During the plenary session on Tuesday 25 October, MEPs adopted the report by Barbara Matera (EPP, Italy) on single mothers and their complicated situation in Europe. Single mothers account for between 5-9% of the population according to the country in question and have a tendency to be in the most precarious situations.
“This report aims at identifying measures for vulnerable women such as single mothers by, for example, giving priority to childcare centres, temporary housing or forms of part-time work for a better balance between work and family life.” The report therefore calls on member states not to leave out these groups of women, emphasising employment, the risk of poverty and social exclusion, as well as the balance between the status of mother and worker. Matera calls for a better evaluation of this situation in order to put into place tax regimes and legislation to help single mothers, as well as to promote training and the exchange of good practices. She therefore launches a number of initiatives such as indirect aid in the purchase of food, tax breaks, healthcare assistance, workplace nurseries and more flexible employment systems such as teleworking. Although it is not yet known whether the report will be followed by a legislative process, the European commissioner responsible for equal opportunities, Viviane Reding, provided assurances that even though this subject was being debated for the first time in plenary, she was sure that it would not be the last...(MD/transl.fl)