The Spanish Federation of Large Families (FEFN) has urged the Government to reinforce support measures for families and children and to increase investment in this area in order to move Spain out of the bottom ranks in Europe regarding family policies.
A study by the FEFN, carried out in collaboration with the University of Vigo and supported by the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs, and the 2030 Agenda, analyzes various economic and social protection measures aimed at improving support for families. The report once again highlights Spain’s low investment in family policies compared to neighboring countries.
The research conducted by the Spanish university stresses the need to increase public spending, which stood at 1.87% of GDP in 2021—far below Germany’s 3.46%, Austria’s 3.44%, France’s 3.38%, or Sweden’s 3.32%. These countries have strongly committed to public policies supporting families and have achieved better results in addressing the so-called “demographic winter.”
Among other measures, the FEFN calls for extending the tax deduction currently available to mothers with children aged 0 to 3 so that it covers children up to 6 years old. The goal is to strengthen support for families and motherhood until the universal child benefit for minors under 18 is approved. The FEFN notes that this direct child allowance up to adulthood is the most necessary and widely demanded measure among families, yet it remains a proposal on the table with no implementation date.
For this reason, the FEFN proposes that, in the meantime, other measures—much more manageable for the State—be put in place to reinforce protection for families and children and bring Spain in line with other European countries in terms of public spending in this area.