1. Family Policy in Hungary as our National and Presidency Priority
Family Policy Department
Ministry of State responsible for Social, Family and Youth Affairs
MISSOC Meeting
20/05/2011

2. Demographic challenge
European context
Hungarian trends
political, economic and social interest

3. Families in focus changes in family formation
change of the family’s status
reconciliation of work and family life

4. Hungary low fertility rates postponement of childbirth
strong desire to have children

5. National Priority
strengthening of families
a stable and calculable, long-term family policy and family supporting system
separation of family policy from a social policy aiming to support the most vulnerable groups of the society
to provide the citizens with the opportunity of a free choice among different ways of living

6. Goals of the Family Policy
the Government is focusing on families with children who are active
to give assistance to parents – first of all mothers – to reconcile their family and care tasks and their work
to strengthen men in their fatherhood and encourage fathers to be present more in their families
To support not only the birth but also the upbringing of children

7. Demographic Round-table
Family allocations and supports
Reconciliation of work and family life
Social security
Housing
Roles, equal chances and cooperation of men and women, family supporting services
Chances of children
Relations and difficulties of couples and decisions on having children and education to family life and marriage
Media and common talk on family issues

8. New Family Policy Measures
the transformation of the taxation system in Hungary
family related leave
changes in the field of childcare institutions
Hungarian best practices in the field of employment
to encourage companies to use family-friendly measures

9. Fundamental Laws of Hungary
We hold that the family and the nation constitute the principal framework of our coexistence, and that our fundamental cohesive values are fidelity, faith and love.
Hungary shall encourage the commitment to have children.
The protection of families shall be regulated by a cardinal Act.

10. Fundamental Laws of Hungary
Parents shall be obliged to look after their children. This obligation shall include the provision of schooling for their children.
Adult children shall be obliged to look after their parents if they are in need.
Hungary shall adopt special measures to protect young people and parents in the workplace.
Hungary shall strive to provide every person with decent housing and access to public services.

11. European context

12. Hungarian Presidency a broader approach to demographic change
to focus on family policy measures with a special emphasis to the reconciliation of work and family life
to raise public awareness

13. Conference on Demographic Change
Europe for Families, Families for Europe – Population Issues and Policies Awareness Week (28/03/ /04/2011)
Conference on Demographic Change
Informal Meeting of Ministers responsible for Demography and Family Policy Issues

14. Trio Declaration with Poland
Child well-being – Declaration on fighting child poverty (3rd September 2010.)
Gender equality – Declaration on Equality between Women and Men (26th March 2010.)
Declaration by the Trio Presidency and Poland on the impacts of reconciliation of work and family life on Demographic Dynamics

15. Trio Declaration with Poland
developing programmes in the Member States to provide better support for families in line with European policies and strategies;
promoting flexicurity measures that can lead to a significant increase in the number of jobs while benefiting workers with families;
meeting and maintaining the objectives defined in Barcelona in 2002 for providing accessible, affordable and quality childcare services;
providing accessible, affordable and quality care services for the elderly and other adult dependants;

16. Trio Declaration with Poland
promoting better sharing of responsibilities between women and men in the household;
adapting schedules and working hours in the public sector, including schools, public transport, post offices and other public services, and encourage the private sector to make to necessary steps towards this aim;
promoting consultation and involvement of young people, including youth organizations and networks of young people in decision-making, and reinforce the participation of all stakeholders active in the promotion of the rights of the child; supporting families in the provision of care within households;
increasing efforts in order to improve cooperation and the exchange of good practices among Member States;

17. Trio Declaration with Poland
In 2014 – the twentieth anniversary of the United Nation’s International Year of the Family – launching a European Year of Families in recognition of the importance of families in our societies;
taking into account the family perspective when designing programmes and legislation at EU level.

18. The best is yet to come
Council Conclusions on the Reconciliation of Work And Family Life in the Context of Demographic Change
European Year of Families (2014) – Presidency proposal

19. Thanl you for the attention. kornelia.bagi@nefmi.gov.hu