08.07.2024 nr 10.1-13/656-1
Signe Riisalo
Sotsiaalkaitseminister
Sotsiaalministeerium
Koopia: Haridus- ja Teadusministeerium
Austatud minister
Edastame Teile Euroopa Komisjoni voliniku Helena Dalli 05.07.2024 kirja nr Ares(2024)
4879586 (Implementation of the Council Recommendation on early childhood education and
care: Barcelona targets for 2030).
Lugupidamisega
Aivo Orav
Esinduse juht
Lisad:
1. Voliniku kiri 2 lk
2. Küsimustiku vorm
3. Computation of Barcelona Targets 2030 per Member State
Tiiu Noobel +32 2227 4337
[email protected]
Rue Guimard 11/13 1040 Brussels Tel: +32 2 227 39 10
[email protected] https://eu.mfa.ee
Ref. Ares(2024)4879586 - 05/07/2024
QUESTIONNAIRE FOR REPORTING ON THE ECEC
RECOMMENDATION1:
This questionnaire aims to facilitate reporting by Member States on how they followed up on the
commitment in Art. 23 of the Council Recommendation of 8 December 2022 on early childhood
education and care: the Barcelona targets for 2030. The Recommendation aims to increase
participation in accessible, affordable, and high-quality early childhood education and care
(ECEC). Where appropriate, reference can be made to reports submitted under existing reporting
mechanisms, such as the Open Method of Coordination, the European Semester and other
relevant Union programming and reporting mechanisms.
The Recommendation on Early Childhood Education and Care: Barcelona Targets 2030
complements other policy initiatives related to early childhood education and care, notably the
2019 Council Recommendation on High-Quality Early Childhood Education and Care Systems
and the 2021 Council Recommendation establishing a European Child Guarantee, and builds
upon their follow-up work.
The information collected will feed into the Annual report on gender equality and into the
Commission reporting on the Recommendation to be delivered at the end of 2027 (Art. 25 of the
Recommendation). When reporting on the implementation, we will use information from
Eurostat, the Eurydice Country Reports and Eurydice Key Data Reports. The reference data set
for the new Barcelona target is available at EU-SILC: Online data code: ilc_caindform25. For
ease of reference, we attach the computation of the targets per Member State in accordance with
Article 3 of the Recommendation in the Annex.
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EUR-Lex - 32022H1220(01) - EN - EUR-Lex (europa.eu)
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ECEC SYSTEM
1. Could you describe what ECEC system your country has in place and what age group it
covers (e.g. integrated system/split system)?
To answer this question, we have information from the Eurydice country reports 2 and the
Eurydice Key data report3. In case, your Member State would like to add more information,
please share it here:
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
2. What challenges is your country facing at the moment in the area of ECEC? What do you
think are the main challenges for the coming years?
In your answer, you might want to refer to information submitted by your MS in the following
sources:
• Child Guarantee National Action Plans
• Recovery and resilience plans
And/or double check the information in the “Challenges” section in the “Key contextual data”
chapter of the Seepro Country Reports (seepro.eu). In case, your Member States would like to add
more information, please share it here:
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
CHILDREN AT RISK OF POVERTY OR SOCIAL EXCLUSION
3. What is, if any, the participation gap in ECEC between children at risk of poverty or
social exclusion and the overall population of children for the age range 0 to 3 and 3 to
mandatory school age? If yes, what measures has your country taken to address it?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
2
Early Childhood Education and Care (europa.eu)
3
The Eurydice Key Data report will be published by the end of 2024 and will describe the ECEC systems of all European
countries in detail, and will provide maps and tables showing aggregated as well as national data
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INTENSITY OF PARTICIPATION
4. Are there ECEC services or complementary services available before and after regular
working hours and for what age group? Were they introduced in relation to the adoption
of the recommendation? Do you plan to introduce them?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_________________
CHILDREN FROM DISADVANTAGED BACKGROUNDS
5. Did your country introduce targeted measures to enable and increase participation in
ECEC of children from disadvantaged backgrounds? To answer this question, we will
use the information in the Child Guarantee national reports. If relevant, please provide
additional information on inclusive measures as for:
(i) children at risk of poverty or social exclusion;
(ii) Children with a migrant background;
(iii) Children with insufficient knowledge of the language of schooling;
(iv) Children with disabilities;
(v) Children with specific needs or with special educational needs.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
6. Did your country introduce support training programmes for ECEC staff designed to
support them in offering high quality ECEC for these groups? If yes, please describe
what kind of programmes were introduced. To answer this question we will use the
information in the Seepro Country Reports (seepro.eu), which include a Workforce
profile with this information. If you wish, you can complement it.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
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QUALITY
7. Have you introduced national or regional Quality Frameworks in line with the Council
Recommendation on High Quality Early Childhood Education and Care Systems in
relation to the Recommendation?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
8. What are in your country the
– minimum staff-child ratios and group sizes; to answer this question, we will use the
Eurydice and Seepro national reports. If you consider it relevant you can
complement this information with additional input.
– support measures for the professionalisation of all ECEC staff; to answer this
question, we will use the Eurydice and Seepro national reports. If you consider it
relevant, you can complement this information with additional input.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
TERRITORIAL DISTRIBUTION
9. Did your country take measures in relation to the Recommendation in order to ensure a
homogenous territorial distribution of ECEC services? (art. 9) Please, specify how.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
AFFORDABILITY
10. Has your country taken, or plan to take, measures in relation to the Recommendation
aimed at ensuring that the ECEC services are affordable for all children? (art. 10)
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
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ACCESSIBILITY
11. Has your country taken, or plan to take, measures in relation to the Recommendation to
remove obstacles to ensure equal access to ECEC for all children in a non-discriminatory
manner? (such as those listed in art. 11 of the Rec).
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
COMPLEMENTARY SERVICES AND OUT OF SCHOOL CARE
12. Has your country taken, or plan to take, measures in relation to the Recommendation to
complementary services and out of school care? (such as those listed in art.13). How is
this organized (via schools, privately, fee controlled, inclusiveness)? If so, for what age
groups? Is this subsidised in any way?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
AWARENESS OF RIGHTS
13. Has your country taken, or plan to take, measures in relation to the Recommendation to
promote parents’ awareness of their rights, e.g. entitlement to a place in ECEC,
proactively inform parents about possibilities, benefits and costs of ECEC and financial
support available?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
STAFF WORKING CONDITIONS AND SKILLS
14. Have you taken, or do you plan to take, measures in relation to the Recommendation to
improve working conditions and skills of ECEC staff (art. 17)?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
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TACKLING THE GENDER CARE GAP
15. Have you taken, or do you plan to take, measures in relation to the Recommendation
combating gender stereotypes and encouraging equal sharing of care responsibilities; and
to promote availability and gender-equal uptake of family-friendly work arrangements
and family leaves by both parents? (art. 19)
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
GOVERNANCE AND DATA COLLECTION
16. Have you taken, or do you plan to take, measures in relation to the Recommendation to
improve governance and data collection on ECEC services? In particular, improvements
to the relevant data in EU-SILC and UOE data collection? (art. 20 and 21)
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
17. Have you started collecting data on uptake of work-life balance measures included in the
Directive 2019/1158, in particular parental and paternity leaves?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
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Ref. Ares(2024)4879586 - 05/07/2024
Annex: Computation of Barcelona Targets 2030 per Member State
TARGETS ON EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE
“Art. 3. (a) It is recommended that Member States provide high-quality ECEC services in line with
national competences, levels of parental leave take-up and patterns of ECEC provision, ensuring that
by 2030 at least 45 % of children below the age of three participate in ECEC according to EU SILC
data.
Notwithstanding the first subparagraph, it is recommended that Member States that have not yet
reached the target set in 2002 of a 33 % participation rate in ECEC for this age group increase
participation, by 2030, by at least a specific percentage in relation to their current participation rate as
set out in points (i) and (ii) of this point. The current participation rate shall be calculated as the
average participation rate in ECEC of children below the age of three achieved in the years 2017-
2021 according to EU-SILC data. It is recommended that Member States increase ECEC
participation in relation to their respective current participation rates as follows:
(i) by at least 90 % for Member States whose participation rate is lower than 20 %; or
(ii) by at least 45 %, or until at least reaching a participation rate of 45 %, for Member States
whose participation rate is between 20 % and 33 %.”
Children in formal childcare or education, age 0-2, percentage years 2017-2022 –
average 2017-2022 and participation target for 2030
TIME 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 average TARGET
GEO (Labels) 2017-2021 2030
European Union - 27 34.2 34.4 35.0 32.9 37.9
countries (from 2020)
Belgium 53.2 54.4 55.5 b 54.6 51.7 53.9 -
Bulgaria 9.4 16.2 19.6 15.0 18.7 15.8 30.0
Czechia 6.5 9.1 6.3 4.8 4.9 6.3 12.0
Denmark 71.7 63.2 66.1 67.7 69.1 67.6 -
Germany 30.3 29.8 31.4 16.4 b 31.4 27.9 40.4
Estonia 27.0 28.3 31.8 26.7 25.7 27.9 40.5
Ireland 23.5 30.9 32.0 19.4 b 15.1 24.2 35.1
Greece 20.5 40.9 32.4 21.5 32.3 29.5 42.8
Spain 45.8 50.5 57.3 45.5 55.3 50.9 -
France 50.5 50.0 50.7 57.2 b 57.1 53.1 -
Croatia 15.9 17.8 15.6 20.4 33.3 20.6 29.9
Italy 28.6 25.7 26.3 : 33.4 28.5 41.3
Cyprus 25.7 30.0 29.3 18.5 27.4 26.2 38.0
Latvia 26.7 24.6 25.6 24.2 29.2 26.1 37.8
Lithuania 20.3 20.8 26.6 16.2 21.4 21.1 30.5
Luxembourg 60.9 60.5 60.0 63.1 b 61.9 61.3 -
Hungary 13.8 16.5 16.9 10.5 13.8 14.3 27.2
Malta 36.7 32.1 38.3 29.7 24.0 32.2 45.0
Netherlands 61.6 56.8 64.8 67.6 74.1 65.0 -
Austria 18.2 20.0 22.7 21.1 28.6 22.1 32.1
Poland 11.6 10.8 10.1 11.1 17.2 12.2 23.1
Portugal 42.5 46.9 48.5 43.5 43.3 44.9 45.0
Romania 15.9 13.2 14.1 6.8 9.5 11.9 22.6
Slovenia 44.8 46.3 46.9 44.3 47.5 46.0 -
Slovakia 0.5 1.2 6.1 4.4 2.3 2.9 5.5
Finland 30.3 36.0 34.7 35.8 39.0 35.2 45.0
Sweden 52.6 49.3 53.1 54.1 55.8 53.0 -
Special value : not available
Available flags: b break in time series
Data extracted on 28/05/2024 09:32:45 from [ESTAT]
Source: Online data code: ilc_caindform25
Ref. Ares(2024)4879586 - 05/07/2024
HELENA DALLI Rue de la Loi, 200
MEMBER OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION B-1049 Brussels
EQUALITY Tel. +32 2 295 02 00
[email protected]
Brussels, 05 July 2024
Subject: Implementation of the Council Recommendation on early childhood education
and care: Barcelona targets for 2030
Dear Minister Riisalo,
The Council Recommendation on early childhood education and care was adopted on 8
December 2022. It invites Member States to share with the Commission within 18 months of its
adoption, the set of measures taken or planned to implement it, building where relevant on
existing national strategies or plans and taking into account national, regional and local
circumstances.
To facilitate the reporting and support the consistency of the exercise, my services have prepared
guiding questions (see Annex). Our analysis of the existing data situation showed that we already
have data available (from ESTAT or academic sources) in relation to many provisions of the
Recommendation. In order to alleviate the administrative burden on Member States, we have
therefore indicated in the relevant questions which data we intend to use to assess them, while
giving Member States the possibility to share any other data they consider relevant.
I would kindly invite you to share with my services (
[email protected]) by 30 September
2024 information on any aspect of the Recommendation which is not already covered by existing
data collections, following the attached guidance. The Commission will use the information as a
baseline for the required reporting at the end of 2027. It will also feed into the Annual report on
Gender Equality in the EU and other Commission reporting.
Ms Signe RIISALO
Minister of Social Protection
Estonia
My services remain at your disposal to further assist you in addressing implementation
challenges via mutual learning, technical support, and policy expertise. For any additional
information, please reach out to
[email protected] or contact Katja Lenzing
[email protected], Deputy Head of Unit on Gender Equality in DG Justice and
Consumers.
Yours sincerely,
(e-signed)
Helena Dalli
Enclosures:
- Questionnaire for the implementation of the Council Recommendation on early childhood
education and care: Barcelona targets 2030
- Annex on the computation of the Barcelona targets 2030 per Member State
Electronically signed on 05/07/2024 14:51 (UTC+02) in accordance with Article 11 of Commission Decision (EU) 2021/2121
Tiiu Noobel
From:
[email protected]
Sent: reede, 5. juuli 2024 16:41
To: Esindus EL juures üldaadress; Aivo Orav
Subject: Implementation of the Council Recommendation on early childhood education and
care: Barcelona targets for 2030
Attachments: EE_Transmission letter.pdf; EE_letter.pdf; 240528 Questionnaire_clean - for ARES.pdf;
Annex.pdf
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