Vienna Conference Follow-up
Following the 22nd EUFASA conference held in Vienna, from March
27-28 2006, the Austrian Chair wrote a letter to all the Ministers of
Foreign Affairs(MFAs) of the European Union , of Switzerland, Norway
and Iceland bringing to their attention the recommendations agreed by
the delegates of 22 countries in their closing session.
In order to promote family friendly policies within MFAs, EUFASA
endorses the following recommendations:
1. For spouse or family associations to be given formal
recognition by MFAs
2. The creation of the post of Family Officer (FO) within MFAs
3. To work for the removal of barriers preventing spouses from taking
up paid employment when they go on a posting.
4. To implement a good quality and appropriate education policy for
the children of globally mobile officials
5. To provide appropriate language training up to confidence level for
accompanying spouses or partners
6. To provide briefing on security matters for spouses before they go
on a posting
7. In the event of evacuation the policy on the repatriation of
families should be explicit and clearly defined. Children of globally
mobile staff should be entitled to remain in the same education system
as they were in prior to evacuation, even though this may be in a
different medium from their national school system. This would ensure
that they receive continuity of education and that their education
would not suffer adverse effects.
8. Spouses and children should have adequate Accident Rehabilitation
and Compensation insurance to cover costs incurred in accidents that
take place on postings.
We ask that the recommendations detailed above are given serious
consideration and we welcome constructive feedback.
The letter was written on behalf of EUFASA by Jacqueline Hengl , CDA (
Austrian Foreign Affairs Spouse Association) EUFASA coordinator for
the period of July 1st 2005 to July 1st 2006.
We publish in this section the formal answers of the Ministers of
Foreign Affairs received by EUFASA:
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