Childcare facilities for pre-school-age children: EU report

Childcare services in EU countries are failing to respond to the needs of parents, despite some progress, according to a report published on 3 October 2008 by the European Commission. The report finds that most countries have missed the targets for childcare provision – for 90% of children between three and school age and 33% of children under three – that EU leaders set themselves at Barcelona in 2002. The 'Barcelona targets' are an integral part of the EU's strategy for growth and jobs and aim to help young parents – and in particular women – into work. The Commission report forms part of a broader package of measures by the Commission to improve work-life balance for Europeans. (pdf report)

The link address is: http://ec.europa.eu/social/BlobServlet?docId=604&langId=en