NOE’s international presence is more important than ever, as it is the only way we can ensure that our views are considered when decisions affecting European families are being made. We spoke to Kinga Joó, NOE’s expert on international relations and former vice president, about this process. In her role as vice president of the European Federation of Large Families (ELFAC), she discusses the representation of large families, the European roles of NOE and ELFAC, and the future.

Which international family organisations does the National Association of Large Families collaborate with?

NOE is a member of several such organisations, and is therefore represented on the governing bodies of the European Federation of Large Families (ELFAC), the European Federation of Parents and Caregivers (FEFAF) and COFACE, the European Family Organisation. 
ELFAC’s leadership is a truly European team, covering nearly the entire continent, from the Polish president to the Spanish secretary-general and my Italian vice-president colleague, as well as representatives from Greek, Romanian, Latvian, German and Portuguese organisations. Since its founding, NOE has been a key player in the Federation — it even provided the president, László Márki, from 2014 to 2018 — and regularly hosts the organisation's European congresses in Hungary. The most recent congress took place in Keszthely in 2021. 
Another important body is the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), a 329-member EU institution where representatives of employers, employees, and civil society organisations collaborate to influence EU policies. 

Which of these organisations do you represent the interests of Hungarian large families in?

I was elected vice president of the European Federation of Large Families in 2024, and I have now held this position for two years. In October of this year, I also began a renewed term on the European Economic and Social Committee. As part of the twelve-member Hungarian delegation, I represent two organisations — NOE and the National Cooperation Fund — at the recommendation of the Hungarian government. I would like to continue advocating for the interests of families and family-friendly perspectives in EU documents and decision-making processes. I will have a particularly good opportunity to do so in the coming years, as I was also elected to the Bureau of the 'Employment and Social Affairs, EU Citizenship' (SOC) Committee — one of the six specialised committees — at the first plenary session.

What challenges and opportunities do you encounter in your work at international forums?

From 2014 to 2022, I served on the NOE Executive Board, first as vice president and then as an advisor responsible for international relations. Throughout this period, I have worked to ensure that the values and resources that large families represent for society are recognised in European forums. This perspective is still not widely accepted in many countries or on the international stage. I often have to explain why families are important socio-economic actors and why it is necessary to incorporate family-friendly considerations into decision-making processes.
While youth, women’s rights and senior citizens’ organisations are naturally included in EU consultations and stakeholder dialogues, family organisations are often overlooked. A striking example of this is the EESC itself: under the new mandate, only the governments of Hungary and France have delegated representatives from family organisations, and I am the sole representative of large families' interests on the body. While this is certainly a challenge, it also presents a significant opportunity. I am striving to build coalitions and partnerships with members who share my values regarding family, such as intergenerational solidarity and a family-friendly approach in the workplace.
It is also important to emphasise that an international presence is necessary because decisions made at the European Union level directly impact families. If we do not speak up, others will decide on issues affecting families over our heads.

What is the significance of NOE's role among European family organisations?

NOE is an internationally recognised organisation that has won several awards since its foundation. Notably, it received the European Citizen’s Prize from the European Parliament in 2018, which brought widespread recognition to its community-building work.
In May 2024, we were granted a special honour when, at the invitation of the United Nations, NOE represented Hungary at a forum for family organisations in New York, held to mark the 30^(th) anniversary of the International Year of the Family. I was able to present my study on 'Families and Climate Change' there, as well as present NOE’s international award to the UN’s family affairs liaison officer.
This solid international reputation strengthens NOE’s leading role among family organisations. Many smaller or newly established organisations for large families look to us as a model, and we strive to support them. We regularly host foreign visitors on study tours. Most recently, representatives from a Polish organisation for large families participated in a job shadowing programme with us as part of their Erasmus+ programme.

Which specific family policy measures have you influenced in recent years?

I would like to highlight two of them. The first is the European Care Strategy, which sets new targets for early childhood care, such as daycare centres and preschools, and also makes recommendations in the area of long-term care. On behalf of NOE, I have emphasised that cultural and social backgrounds, as well as family support systems, vary greatly from country to country. Therefore, the utilisation rate of care services, especially daycare, differs from country to country.
We believe that systems which best serve families offer genuine choice, accepting and supporting every form of care, whether provided within the family by parents or grandparents, or in an institutional setting.
Another important topic was the examination of flexible working conditions. At the request of the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU in 2024, I wrote an expert opinion for the European Economic and Social Committee. The main findings of this opinion were also included in the Council’s conclusions. In it, I outlined recommendations to help families realise their plans to have children, such as measures to strengthen work-life balance. I emphasised the importance of reducing the unequal distribution of unpaid 'invisible work' within the family during the transposition of the Work-Life Balance Directive. Furthermore, efforts should be made to encourage greater involvement by men and to support higher rates of women’s participation in the paid labour market.
In my work, I always strive to incorporate the views of the NOE president and executive board, ensuring that the issues I advocate for align with the everyday experiences and needs of our member families.

Which specific examples demonstrate that cross-border cooperation promotes a family-friendly approach?

One example is the establishment of the European Network of Family-Friendly Municipalities, one of ELFAC's most significant achievements. The network currently operates in ten countries and brings together 162 municipalities. Seven of these are from Hungary. The network aims to enable family-friendly municipalities to learn from one another, implement joint projects and apply for European grants together. A successful joint application example is the 'Better Future Festival', which is held as part of sister-city cooperation and brings together young people and local government representatives from family-friendly cities in different countries.
Building on the success of the network, efforts to organise the European Network of Family-Friendly Companies were launched this year. Although the operational framework is still being developed, many interested companies have already joined the preparatory work. Our goal is for this corporate network to promote a family-friendly approach in the workplace too.
During the European Parliament elections, ELFAC issued a statement endorsed by several candidates. In September, we presented our work on behalf of large families to the European Parliament’s Intergroup on Demography, using specific examples to highlight instances of discrimination faced by members of large families.

What is your view on the current situation and future of families in Europe?

Europe’s demographic indicators clearly show that families face many challenges. While 4.5 million children were born in the European Union in 2011, this figure fell below 4 million by 2022. According to preliminary data for 2024, it is now just around 3.5 million. The trend is clear: organisations such as NOE, which promote the value of having children and raising large families, are becoming increasingly important.
I also see the future taking shape through concrete measures. Significant funds are being allocated from the new EU financial framework to support housing. In the process of developing access to and options for affordable housing (such as rental programmes), we will ensure that the needs of those planning to have children, those preparing to expand their families, and multigenerational and large families are not overlooked. The EU’s upcoming strategy on sustainable tourism is also noteworthy. It will be interesting to see how family-friendly considerations, such as sibling and children's discounts and accommodation for large families, are incorporated, and how tourism can truly become accessible to all families.

What message does NOE have for families and policymakers?

I believe that families are society's immune system. Just as our bodies become stronger when we nurture them, society becomes stronger when we support families. This is why families must not be excluded from European funding and their needs must not be overlooked when shaping sectoral policies.

Ildikó Kovács