This Common Reference Framework for safe an inclusive activities is intended to provide a structured set of principles, standards, guidelines, and processes that provide a shared understanding and consistent approach for achieving goals, solving problems, or managing activities across the organisation. It acts as a blueprint or foundation for how COFACE operates in all its activities and how it works with key external organisations.
COFACE Core Values
COFACE – FAMILIES EUROPE is a network promoting the well-being, health and security of families and their members in a changing society. And serves as a trusted entity for family mainstreaming and for the voice/needs of families in the EU and beyond.
COFACE Families Europe is rooted in a set of six core values:
COFACE key activities
We advocate for families of all types without discrimination, bringing their voice to the table of European Union decision-making, ensuring that EU policies and legislation work in the general interest.
Furthermore, we support transnational exchanges between COFACE members (civil society organisations representing and supporting families) in the form of expert meetings, trainings, campaigns, conferences, webinars and more.
COFACE members are regularly updated and partners via the Families Corner newsletter, and interact with our social media communities.
Act NOW for families of today
COFACE Families Europe together with its members is very active in addressing the social challenges faced by families of today and advocating for policies to support their well-being. Here are ten specific actions (also available in Easy-to-Read language) which we would like to see integrated in the programme of the European Union from 2024 to 2029.
HIGHLIGHTED COFACE NEWS
Latest articles
Single parent families take centre stage in new COFACE working group
30+ participants from 15 European countries came together online on 15th September 2026 to strengthen cooperation, share experiences and put single-parent families higher on the European policy agenda.
NextGen Parenting: a new podcast empowering parents in the digital age
We are pleased to highlight the work of COFACE member Step by Step, which is involved in a new podcast series, NextGen Parenting. It is part of a new European initiative funded by the Erasmus+ programme and developed in partnership with organisations from different countries across Europe.
This initiative is designed to empower parents and educators to better navigate the digital world, fight gender stereotypes, and address different forms of violence in the digital age.
IGLYO launches European survey on LGBTQI young people’s experiences at school
A new survey from IGLYO is inviting young people across Europe to share their experiences and help shape safer and more inclusive education systems.
Explore more of COFACE work
COFACE develops different types of publications
including position papers, studies based on feedback from families, briefs on family and EU policies, meeting reports.
Our latest publications include a list of economic principles to help build an economy that cares.
You and the EU
The European Union develops different actions and laws to ensure family and child well-being.
And we at COFACE try to shape these actions based on our core values. These actions include:
- key guidelines and laws for national governments to strengthen their social and family policies;
- different long-term action plans to support governments;
- funding mechanisms to boost NGOs and families.
European Family Lab
Family supports & resilience in challenging times
Family supports are an essential part of making social rights a reality, and civil society has grown over decades to create a wide range of supports to families and children to ensure health and well-being.
Now, more than ever, it is important to connect professionals in real time through transnational exchanges in order to tackle the social impacts of different transitions (digital, green, energy, health) on families and children.
We believe the European Family Lab is the place to connect them, serving as an innovation incubator for ideas and cross-country knowledge transfer to help family professionals deliver the best possible supports for Europeans. We are building the Lab virtual room by virtual room, with a newly launched Education&Training programme for upskilling of professionals and families: the L.I.N.K. Programme.
COMING UP with COFACE
Events
COFACE Webinar: The European Parliament, families and communication – connecting the dots
COFACE Webinar: The European Parliament, families and communication - connecting the dots
This webinar will examine how Artificial Intelligence is reshaping care responsibilities, gender equality and women’s participation in the labour market, entrepreneurship and community life.
COFACE working group on migration
COFACE working group on migration
COFACE Families Europe is hosting an online working group meeting on migration and families. It will take place on Wednesday 7th October from 9.30-12.30 CET. Save the date!
European Observatory on Family Policy: Thematic Webinar
European Observatory on Family Policy: Thematic Webinar
The European Observatory on Family Policy is organising an interactive webinar to showcase the Finnish Family Centre model, a European good practice in providing integrated, holistic support for families. Find out more here.