Strasbourg, the 6th November 2026 

 

The principle of subsidiarity implies a proper distribution of powers between the European Union and Member States. Family policies are the responsibility of national communities, which best understand needs, traditions, and priorities. The Union must respect the capacity for the State to have a family policy through the tools at its disposal—starting with funds for social and territorial cohesion—by supporting family well-being, removing obstacles to family formation and childbearing, and recognising the essential contribution of families to demographic renewal and social cohesion. rewarding birth rates and family stability. It must not, however, impose uniform cultural or anthropological models. 

Family policies are within the competence and responsibility of national states in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity.  This should be fully respected by the Union in its legislation and when formulating policies

Whilst referring to pluralism, a Catholic-inspired perspective, as any other, is a legitimate voice within a pluralistic democratic society. Freedom of conscience, religious freedom, parental rights, civil-society participation and subsidiarity are central to this understanding;

Considering that pluralism is not only a diversity of opinions, it is also acknowledging the legitimacy of families, family networks, associations and other intermediate communities in the public sphere.

Recalling FAFCE’s 2021 Resolution on “The Family is the Democratic and Demographic Future of Europe”

 Our Federation : 

  1. Expresses the wish that democratic institutions adopt a bottom-up approach, favouring the examples of families and family networks while respecting subsidiarity; 
  2. Stresses that Christians contribute to pluralism by maintaining a distinct viewpoint rather than simply conforming to a prevailing consensus;  
  3. Recalls Art. 2 of the Treaty on European Union, “the Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. These values are common to the Member States in a society in which pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality between women and men prevail”;  
  4. Recalls Art. 2 of Protocol N°1 of the European Convention on Human Rights: “No person shall be denied the right to education. In the exercise of any functions which it assumes in relation to education and to teaching, the State shall respect the right of parents to ensure such education and teaching in conformity with their own religious and philosophical convictions”;
  5. Asks the European Union, Council of Europe and Member States to recognise the role of families and to invest in them, in order to equip them to be engines of participatory democracy and guarantors of pluralism; 
  6. Encourages the European Commission and the Council of Europe to bear in mind the need to support a pluralist Europe, where participation in the public sphere without discrimination is encouraged and protected;  
  7. Calls upon European institutions to ensure that civil society organisations, including faith-inspired and family associations, have fair and transparent opportunities to participate in public consultations and to apply for public funding. 

Conclusion:  

FAFCE calls upon the European Union and the Council of Europe to remain committed to a Europe of communion, as desired by the Fathers of Europe: De Gasperi, Schuman, and Adenauer, commemorated by the Holy Father on 25th May 2026, for whom diversity was a resource. Without communion, unity is lost. And when unity dissolves, dispersion, conflict, and nationalisms emerge.

At the same time, we must effectively uphold the right of parents to ensure education in line with their religious and philosophical convictions. Respecting this right is not a constraint – it is a foundation of pluralism and democratic legitimacy.