Targets on childcare provision for 33 per cent of under-threes and 90per cent of three- to six-year-olds by 2010 were set at a EuropeanCouncil meeting in Barcelona in 2002.
Commenting on the Commission's findings, Vladimir Spidla, commissionerfor Employment, Social Affairs, said current provision was 'inadequate'and added, 'We are far from reaching our targets on childcare facilitiesand need to step up our efforts. Adequate and accessible childcare iscrucial to allow parents to work, to strengthen gender equality and toreinforce social inclusion.'
He said that the EU would provide EUR500m in funding up until 2013 tohelp develop childcare facilities.
The report gave comparable data on the use of formal childcare in the EUmember states.
It said that figures show that demand for childcare is not being met inthe majority of EU countries, preventing parents, especially women, fromworking. It highlighted in particular the shortage of provision forchildren under three.
The report said, 'In conclusion, the cost of childcare facilities,principally for the under-threes, remains a major obstacle to theirtake-up by parents in more than half of the member states. It is themain factor cited by women who have been compelled to restrict theirparticipation in the labour market through lack of childcarefacilities.'
FURTHER INFORMATION
'Implementation of the Barcelona objectives concerning childcarefacilities for pre-school-age children' is athttp://ec.europa.eu/social/BlobServlet?docId=604&langId=en.
