CHILD CARE : CZECH PRESIDENCY EXPLAINS ITSELF.

Substantial differences of opinion are already noticeable on the issue of the Barcelona child care targets on the eve of the scheduled 4-5 February meeting in Prague of the EU's ministers for family affairs.

The Czech Presidency wasted no time to react to the European Parliament's critical vote, on 3 February, on Prague's vision. In a statement, the Presidency reiterated that in its opinion "family policy does not fall under the exclusive competence of the EU and is an area where the member states exercise their sovereign authority". Accordingly, "No member state should be criticised for a lack of effort [to increase the number of collective child care facilities]".

By adopting their resolution, on 3 February, MEPs expressed their "fears" regarding the Czech proposal, which considers early child care a "fully fledged alternative to a...