Spanish and Norwegian project partners
The 3 year EEA-project in Spain ended in April 2011 and was approved in June 2008 with a budget of 10 million NOK. The Spanish partners have been the Institute of Women, Instituto de la Mujer, and the Spanish Federation for Municipalities and Provinces. The Norwegian partners have been the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities, and the county municipality of Vest Agder, the municipality of Bærum and the five municipalities in the Lindesnes region Audnedal, Lindesnes, Mandal, Marnardal og Åseral. The Spanish pilot municipalities have been Coruña, Alcalá de Henares, Aranda de Duero, Barbate, Eivissa (Ibiza), Icod de los Vinos, Jaén, Puente Genil, Valls and Vilagarcia de Arousa.
Final project conference and project focus
The final project conference was held in Madrid in February 2011, presenting and discussing the results of the project, including the Best Practices from the Spanish and Norwegian municipalities.
The project as well as the best practices focus on the balance between private, professional and family life. This is a key challenge for many European countries – and a precondition for achieving high employment rate combined with a sustainable demographic growth.
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, after school services, mothers leave, fathers leave, flexible 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 activities include three conferences in Madrid, study tours to Spain and Norway and the elaboration of the a Best Practice Guide. For general information on the project, the Best Practice Guide as well as programmes and presentations from conferences and study tour: click here
You may also visit the projects homepage - Spanish and English:
http://www.balancequilibrio.net/
