Within the framework of its project co-funded by the European Commission on a family approach of citizenship, COFACE organised a Final conference on June 4th, 2008 in the premises of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) in Brussels.

Programme

9.45  Welcome.

Opening speeches:
Yves Roland-Gosselin, President of COFACE.
Staffan Nilsson, President of Group III, EESC.
Pierre Mairesse, Director for Youth, Sport and Relations with the Citizen, DG EAC, European Commission.

10.30  Break.

11.00  First session: Families, citizenship and equality between women and men

Reports:
- “Reconciliation work/family: is equality between men and women reconcilable with the recognition of parental work?” Patrick Govers, Ligue des Familles, Belgium.
- “The role of men in the family” Spiridoula Stasinopoulou, Family and Childcare Centre, (KMOP) Greece.
- “Families and European Union: A place for families in a Citizen’s Europe?” Collette Pénaud and Françoise Gillard, UDAF-Indre-et-Loire, France.

What does the EU do? What should it do?
Reactions:
Belinda Pyke, Director for Equality between women and men, action against discrimination, Civil Society, DG EMPL, European Commission.
Anna Zaborska, Chairwoman of the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality, European Parliament.
Discussion.

12.30  Lunch.

2.00  Second session: Human rights and citizens in the European Union

Reports:
- “Migrant families and their integration” Anne Alitolppa-Niitamo, Väestöliitto (The Family Federation of Finland, Finland.
- “Rumanian Families and Women in Spain: rights and opportunities as new EU citizens” Mariana Isla, Salud y Familia, Spain.
- “Citizen Forum on violence between partners” Julia Laot, Femmes Prévoyantes Socialistes, Belgium.

What does the EU do? What should it do?
Reactions:
Vicente Nieto, DG JLS, European Commission.
Maria Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou, Member of the European Parliament.
Discussion.

3.15  Break

3.45  Third session: Citizenship and dependence: which way to integration?

Reports:
- “Families with dependent members” María Chicharro Ortega, Unión de Centros de Acción Rural (UNCEAR), Spain.
- “Integration of disabled persons and their family” Anna-Maria Comito, Unione Famiglie Handicappati (UFHA), Italy.

What does the EU do? What should it do?
Reactions:
Roland Bladh, DG EMPL, European Commission.
Gunta Anča, Member of Group III, EESC.
Discussion

4.45  Closing speech by Yves Roland-Gosselin, President of COFACE.

5.15  End of the conference.