EU Commission: Member states failing to reach childcare targets

Most member states will not achieve EU targets for childcare provision by 2010, thereby failing to meet the needs of working parents, according to an October 2008 report from the European Commission.

At the Barcelona European Council summit in March 2002, the EU member states set a 2010 target of providing childcare: for at least 90% of children between the age of three years and the mandatory school age; and for at least 33% of children under three years of age.