Expert webinar: Towards a child union

This experts seminar (12th May 2020) is part of a research, project that FEPS carries out with Reggio Children (IT), Pablo Iglesias Foundation (ES), Institute for Social Democracy (HU) and Progresiva (SL), to analyse how Europe could better organise early childhood education for it to be a real tool addressing children’s inequality.

Kate Pickett, Professor of Epidemiology in the Department of Health Sciences at the University of York, co-founder of The Equality Trust and author of “The Spirit Level: Why More Equal Societies Almost Always Do Better”, will participate in the seminar.

The EU Child Guarantee is on its way but progressives need to make sure that it is useful to build more resilient welfare systems, with improved access and better integration with other welfare provision. It is imperative for the European Union to take action and urge all member states to ensure adequate access to quality ECEC along with social welfare policies aiming at reducing inequalities among children.

This research project aims at delineating the mainlines of the ‘Child Union’ intended as a European programme to fight children’s inequalities through access to opportunities for children, above all, ECEC and social safety nets.

Case studies from Spain, Slovenia and Italy will illustrate key aspects of ECEC implementation: quality, access and coordination.

Names of CONFIRMED SPEAKERS:

László Andor, FEPS Secretary General and former European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion

Christian Morabito, International expert for Save the Children and the European Commission

Yuri Belfali, Head of the Early Childhood and Schools Division, OECD

Luz Martínez Seijo Spokeswoman of the Socialist Group, Spanish Congress Committee on Education

Urban Boljka, Research fellow at the Social Protection Institute of the Republic of Slovenia

Cristian Fabbi, IBE UNESCO Senior Fellow in Early Childhood Care and Education, President of the Reggio Emilia municipal preschools

Mónika Kepe-Holmberg, Deputy Head of Unit, European Commission, DG EAC

Margarita Leon, Senior Research fellow, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Michel Vandenbroeck, Researcher and Associate Professor, University of Ghent

MEP Agnes Jongerious, S&D Group, Head of the Dutch Delegation and Chair of PES Social Europe Network

Kate Pickett, Professor of Epidemiology in the Department of Health Sciences at the University of York, co-founder of The Equality Trust and author of “The Spirit Level: Why More Equal Societies Almost Always Do Better”

Check the programme