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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

11.12.2025 - Article

The Education, Family, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth Unit at the Permanent Representation to the European Union is responsible for socio-political issues relating to education, family, senior citizens, gender equality, children, youth and civic engagement.

Currently, the main focus is on education, equality, combating discrimination, and child and youth policy.

I. Education Policy

In the field of education and training, the unit monitors and supports the activities of the Union, particularly with regard to the following priorities:

• Strategic cooperation and information exchange between Member States with a view to realizing the European Education Area, further development until 2030

• Promotion of European cooperation in education, in particular through the EU program for education, training, youth and sport Erasmus+, new program generation from 2028

• Cooperation in the European Higher Education Area, European University Degree (European Universities Initiative)

• Intergovernmental cooperation (Bologna Process, cooperation with third countries and international organizations)

• Digital Action Plan for Education, open educational resources

• Promotion of the mobility of researchers, teachers and learners

II. Equality Policy

In the area of equality and anti-discrimination, the unit monitors and supports the activities of the European Union, particularly with regard to the following priorities:

• EU Strategy for Gender Equality 2020-2025 (and beyond 2026-2030) for a „Union of Equality“ with the central pillars: protection against gender-based violence and discrimination, economic equality for women and men, work-life balance, health, political participation, intersectionality/consideration of various forms of discrimination such as age, disability, ethnic origin, sexual orientation

• Protection of women from violence, including domestic violence and cyber violence, prevention, protection and support of victims, including through the implementation of the EU Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence

• Equal pay/pay transparency for greater pay equity for women and men, including through the implementation of the EU Pay Transparency Directive (stronger rights and more information for employees, such as access to salaries, obligations for companies, etc.) Eliminating gender pay gaps).

• Women in leadership positions, including through the implementation of the EU directive of the same name, which requires large, publicly listed companies to increase the proportion of women on supervisory and management boards by the end of 2026 to achieve greater gender equality at the leadership level.

• Equality for LGBTIQ people to prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity and to strengthen the fundamental rights and public acceptance of LGBTIQ people and rainbow families, and to protect them from hate.

III. Children and Youth Policy

In the area of youth, the unit monitors and supports the Union's measures, particularly with regard to the following priorities:

• The European Youth Strategy 2019-2027 as a contribution to enabling young people to better navigate and develop in changing societies and to play an active role in shaping their lives; reducing youth poverty and promoting social inclusion.

• The Erasmus+ program for young people and youth workers, to acquire key skills for young people's personal development and their social and political participation, greater participation in democratic life and the labor market, inclusion of young people with fewer opportunities, greater social inclusion, promotion of intercultural exchange, qualitative development of youth work, and further development of the professional skills of youth workers, networking of organizations, and support for the development of a knowledge- and research-based youth policy.

• The European Solidarity Corps (ESC) to promote cross-border and local activities to foster community cohesion. Supporting voluntary engagement for European citizenship as a sign of a united and social Europe.

• European Child Guarantee, in particular strengthening children's rights (including protection of children from violence, abuse, and poverty, and mental health).