"The goal is to agree on common principles between the member states that would ease the workload of parents and carers for next of kin," Iva said according to spokespeople for the Ministry of Social Affairs. "Family policy should offer possibilities to reconcile work and family life and be consistent with the modern organization of work."

With the package for the reconciliation of family and working life, the Commission plans to update the principles of parental and carer's leave and agree on goals for ensuring places for children in child care. "It's essential to reduce people's burden of care and increase the participation of women in the labor market. With regard to the upcoming presidency, Estonia is looking very much forward to the publication of the package for the reconciliation of family and working life and the discussions it will provoke," Iva said.

Estonia is already revising domestic regulations concerning parental leave and paternal leave. On Mar. 2, the government agreed at a Cabinet meeting on amendments that support the reconciliation of family and working life for parents, and on a more equal division of care for an infant between mother and father. The bill is expected to be ready by autumn.