Final conference April 2011
The 3 years EEA-project in Portugal is ending in April 2011, and held its final conference in Lisbon in March. The project was approved in august 2008 with a budget of 7 million NOK. The partners in Portugal have been the Catholic University in Lisbon, The Ministry of Social Affairs, the Association for Numerous Families and the Association of Portuguese Municipalities and Provinces. In addition, there are 2 Portuguese municipalities and 2 private enterprises, the municipality of Leiria north of Lisbon and the private enterprise InCentea and the municipality of Faro in Algarve with the private enterprise Rolear.
The Norwegian partners have been KS - the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities - and the 2 municipalities Kristiansand and Tvedestrand with the private enterprises National Oilwell and Teamtec.
Project focus
The project focus on “conciliation” initiatives that make it possible to combine private, family and professional life – a precondition for high employment and sustainable demography.
Demography is assuming increasing significance in all European countries as reduced population growth combined with increased ageing continue to transform the age pyramid at an accelerating rate. The effects of this marked transition towards a much older population are set to be felt through to the middle of the century. Whether the subject is social protection, employment, health, migration or structural policy, the demographic variable is an essential factor in analysing problems and developing appropriate policy responses – and a key factor behind social and economic cohesion.
At the same time, Norway has one of the highest birth rates in Europe, 1.96, implying that each woman has an average of almost 2 children. The birth rate has been increasing gradually and is believed to be partly due to the positive framework for conciliating work and family life, e.g. kindergartens, mothers leave, fathers leave, working hours etc. as well as financial benefits for families with children. In addition, the professional activity of Norwegian women is high. According to statistics from 2002, 77.7% of women aged 25 to 66 have paid work outside home – although many of them only part time.
Project activities
The project partners have taken part in 4 study tour, 2 to each countries, and 2 conferences in Lisbon.
For more information on the project activities click here, where you will find programmes and reports.
