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 professional career". They believe that this will lead to a return to the traditional division of labour between men and women. In their resolution, MEPs called on the member states to meet their commitments under the Barcelona objectives. These include the introduction by 2010 of child care provisions for 90% of the children between age three and the mandatory school age, and for at least 33% of the children aged three or less.

In a rare move from the EU's Presidency, Prague compiled and published a statement entitled Twelve points on Czech Presidency's effort to open discussion on Barcelona objectives', on 4 February. In the document, the Presidency explains that after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, "the preference of families changed rapidly and the number of children in day care decreased, as a result of the declining demand, to 0.5% to 2% of children". According to Prague, "Creating a costly collective care system without interest from parents would be completely useless.aThe member states would have to search for coercive mechanisms to place children into day care at the expense of the freedom of the families". In so many words, the Presidency says that "In no case [it] intendsato return women from their employment to the household.aHowever, it wishes to take into consideration...