FAMILY OBSERVER 2/2000

Employment & social affairs European Commission ■izhizifizi. show that nowadays young mentally committed to an people are staying much longer inclusive and cohesive society. with their parents. Last but not least, a recent study on several In fact over the last ten years, EU Member States has shown some important social challenges that problems related to the have emerged. The European family environment in which population is ageing. Across children are raised, may be one Europe, women have a new role of the main causes, together with to play in the economic and youth unemployment, of the social life. The combination of increase in delinquency and increasing education and higher crime rates observed changing attitudes means that among youngsters. employment rates of women are converging to those of men. In January 2000, I was en­Between 1988 and 1998, they These are some aspects showing Economic, technological, and trusted with the challenging rose from 45 percent of the that the role of the family re­societal developments have been working­age population to 51 mains particularly important for task of chairing the co­ordi­remarkable over the last few nation team of the European percent whereas those of men the future of our society. I am decades. Today, more than ever declined from 74 percent to 71 confident that the new political Observatory on Family before, it is generally accepted Matters. Established to moni­percent.