In a press release issued on Friday, 20 December, Coface Families Europe, which represents the interests of families at European level, and AGE, which works for European citizens aged 50 and over, stated that they were dismayed that the European Parliament had not adopted their joint proposal to create an intergroup on 'demographic change and solidarity between generations' (see EUROPE 12394/13).
The organisations stated that the intention behind their proposal was “to support the European Parliament in addressing Europe’s demographic challenges in a progressive, pluralistic and inclusive way”, adding that they will continue to work with the European Parliament as an interest group.
“We want to work closely with MEPs to drive the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights through a mix of actions (...) driven by the needs of the wide diversity of families of today”, said Annemie Drieskens, president of Coface Families Europe.
Ebbe Johansen, the president of AGE, was “concerned about the fact that the corresponding Intergroup on Youth Issues has not been established either”.
The two organisations have also stated that do not want to work with the intergroup on ‘demographic challenges, family-work balance and youth transitions’, set up by the EPP, ECR and ID groups, which, they say, is proposing “actions based on a traditional vision of the family, which do not correspond with our joint vision for the construction of inclusive European societies”. (Original version in French by Agathe Cherki, intern)