Brussels, 6th of November 2025

Between the 4th and the 6th of November 2025, FAFCE held its bi-annual Board Meeting in Brussels, Belgium. FAFCE Members from all over Europe gathered to exchange on their respective activities and on the work of the Federation at the European and UN level.

The Board Meeting started on the 4th of November with a meeting with Members of the European Parliament in Brussels. 

It was hosted by MEP Paolo Inselvini (Italy, ECR) who welcomed FAFCE Board Members by saying that their presence is a “concrete sign of hope: even in difficult times, the family continues to generate life, community, and responsibility.” He highlighted the importance of the cooperation with FAFCE, especially on demographic issues and reminded that “every family carries immense social value: it is the place where we learn to love, recognise the other, and grow in truth; where we learn responsibility, solidarity, and freedom.The family is not a private matter – it is the foundation of society.”

FAFCE President Vincenzo Bassi stressed that “there is no sustainable development without intergenerational balance, therefore we should respond to the demographic crisis by prioritizing intergenerational solidarity, which starts in the family.” He brought attention to the epidemic of loneliness and urged that by recognising that family networks that can help combat it “we must work together to ensure that our future is not one of isolation and despair but one that fosters a culture of life, dignity, and shared responsibility.”

Alfred Trendl, past-president of KFÖ highlighted that families need a strong voice in society and politics and reminded that parents have the right to educate their children freely.

Angelika Mitterrutzner, representing the Catholic Family Association from South Tyrol shared their commitment to advocate for the interests of SouthTyrolean families in politics and public life, while also to provide families with a wide range of services.

Cornel Barbut, from the Romanian Catholic Family Association Vladimir Ghika spoke about projects that have a positive impact on families and social life, particularly the European Art Contest organised by FAFCE in the past. This project was a beautiful example of building bridges and creating a new language of communication: the dialogue through art.

The presentations were followed by an exchange between FAFCE Members and the Members of the European Parliament, who addressed challenges that families are facing around Europe, such as relationship and attachment crisis, increasing divorce rates, lack of recognition of the value of family and its contribution to the GDP, as well as  the harmful impact of online pornography on children. Francois-Xavier Bellamy (EPP, France), Tomislav Sokol (EPP, Croatia) and Margarita de la Pisa (PfE, Spain) also participated in the insightful discussion and assured of their commitment to raising awareness on these issues and advocating for family matters at the heart of EU institutions. 

As concluded by MEP Paolo Inselvini “the family is not a burden, but a hope. Not a memory of the past, but a promise for the future.” therefore 

The conference was followed by a Holy Mass presided by HE Mgr Bernardito Auza, Apostolic Nuncio to the European Union at the Chapel of the European Parliament.

In the next days FAFCE Board Members presented their activities from the last semester and reflected on the strategic priorities for the next months. The resolution focused on : “Subsidiarity, not centralization” was adopted. FAFCE reminded that “a strong cohesion policy will be key to address demographic imbalances and related territorial disparities” and “asked the Commission to consider appropriate ways to provide tailored support for regions to successfully manage the demographic, green, digital and industrial challenges” while recalling “the essential role of families and family networks, who positively contribute  towards social cohesion in Europe”.

The works were closed on the 6th of November with the Holy Mass and lunch. 

The Observer Member Asociación Católica de Propagandistas (ACdP) was accepted as Full Member. 

The next FAFCE Board Meeting will take place between the 5-7th of May 2026 in Süd Tirol (Italy).