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Use of childcare in the EU Member States and progress towards the Barcelona targets

Short Statistical Report No. 1

by Melinda Mills, Patrick Präg, Flavia Tsang, Katia Begall, James Derbyshire, Laura Kohle, Celine Miani, Stijn Hoorens

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This report provides a current analysis of Member States' progress towards meeting the 'Barcelona targets'. It initially examines the progress towards reaching the Barcelona targets by comparing and then extending the results presented in 2008. However, it also extends the previous 2008 analysis in a number of ways, namely it examines: the impact of parenthood on employment, public spending on childcare and the cost, affordability and quality of childcare. The report also summarises the extent to which the Barcelona targets have been met by Member States by the agreed deadline of 2010. Where possible, data were examined for 27 EU Member States and where available, EFTA countries Norway and Iceland, the cost, affordability and quality of childcare.

Table of Contents

  • Chapter One

    Introduction

  • Chapter Two

    Progress towards meeting the Barcelona targets

  • Chapter Three

    Parenthood and employment

  • Chapter Four

    Availability, affordability and quality of childcare

  • Chapter Five

    Public spending on childcare

  • Chapter Six

    Informal childcare

  • Chapter Seven

    Conclusion and policy recommendations

  • Appendix A

    Mandatory school age

  • Appendix B

    Availability and affordability of care arrangements and mothers' labour force participation

  • Appendix C

    Formal child care use by income quintiles

  • Appendix D

    Development of informal childcare over time, 2005 to 2010

Research conducted by

This research was commissioned by the European Commission Directorate General for Justice and Fundamental Rights. The study was jointly undertaken by RAND Europe and the University of Groningen.

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