Welcome

Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth

ARCHIV - 20.06.2018, Sachsen, ---: Man Holding a Baby in his arm. The Swiss global healthcare Company Novartis presses ahead with a for Swiss conditions generous regulation concerning paternity leave. © ZB

21.10.2025 - Article

Education, Family, Seniors, Women and Youth

The Department for Education, Family, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth is the division in the Permanent Representation to the European Union responsible for socio-political issues such as education, family, senior citizens, gender equality, youth and civic engagement policy.

Currently, the focus is on gender equality issues, anti-discrimination and youth policy.

I. Education policy

In the field of education and training, the unit follows the activities of the European Union in particular with regard to the following key issues:

Strategic cooperation and exchange of information between Member States in education and training in view of making the European Education Area become reality
Promoting the mobility of learners and of educational staff as well as European cooperation in education and training, especially through Erasmus+, the Union programme for education, training, youth and sport
Cooperation within the European Higher Education Area, e.g. through the European University initiative
European initiatives in digital education
Follow-up to the Council Recommendation on Vocational Education and Training
Promoting transparency and comparability of qualifications

II. Equality policy

In the area of equality and anti-discrimination, the unit follows and monitors the activities of the Union, in particular with regard to the following priorities: