Church Co-Hosts Transatlantic Policy Exchange on Families in Brussels

Brussels, Belgium — May 12, 2026

Policymakers, academics, legal experts, and civic leaders from Europe and the United States gathered in Brussels, Belgium, on May 12, 2026, for a day-long policy exchange entitled "Bridging Continents: Transatlantic Dialogue on Family Policy," co-hosted by the European Union & International Affairs Office of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Sutherland Institute.

Held at the heart of the European Union institutions, the conference brought together voices from across both continents as part of the 2026 initiative "Building a Resilient Future," which examines how rapid social, economic, and technological change is reshaping family life across societies.

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Participants applaud at the conclusion of a session during the Brussels Family Policy Exchange on May 12, 2026.© 2026 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.

Elder James W. McConkie III, General Authority Seventy of the Europe Central Area Presidency, delivered opening remarks grounding the day's discussions in the Church's understanding of family. Drawing on words recently shared by President Dallin H. Oaks, Elder McConkie reflected on the role of parents as "master teachers" in the home: "The family circle is the ideal place to demonstrate and learn eternal values .....the importance of marriage and children, the purpose of life, and the true source of joy." He described the family as the foundation from which individuals grow into engaged, contributing members of civic society.

Core Convictions

Francesco Di Lillo, Director of the EU & International Affairs Office for the Church, opened the conference by framing the day's central question: "How do we help families remain stable, resilient, and free to flourish amid rapid social, economic, and technological change?" He emphasized the transatlantic spirit of the exchange: "We want to see the experiences from our friends from the United States, hear the experiences from our European friends — see what works, what doesn't work, and what can be adapted across cultures and institutional areas." He also spoke to the Church's foundational commitment: "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints places a strong emphasis on the family. Families are at the core of our doctrine, and all we do is to strengthen them."

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Dr. Joseph Price, Professor of Economics at Brigham Young University, converses with Lorenzo Shakespeare, master's student at BYU, and Dr. Medlir Mema, Director of the AI Ethics and Governance Institute, following the conclusion of their panel session at the Brussels Family Policy Exchange on May 12, 2026.© 2026 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.

Perspectives from Across the Atlantic

The conference unfolded across five sessions, with speakers representing academia, law, government, and a rising generation of young professionals.

The opening academic session viewed how economic instability, labor market pressures, and housing affordability are shaping family formation on both continents. Lois Collins of the Deseret News noted that in the United States, 71 percent of people now say family life is unaffordable, up from 50 percent a decade ago. Dr. Joseph Price of Brigham Young University pointed to research showing that children raised in two-parent households have a poverty rate of just three percent, and that the stability of those families benefits entire neighborhoods.

The effects of technology on family life were also a significant focus of the morning sessions. Melissa McKay of the Digital Childhood Institute presented data showing that the average age of first exposure to online pornography is now twelve, and that one in five teenagers reports having a romantic relationship with an AI chatbot. "The answer is not whether technology is affecting children and family formation," she said. "It is — one hundred percent."

A legal session examined the frameworks shaping parental rights and family autonomy on both sides of the Atlantic. William C. Duncan of Sutherland Institute highlighted recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions affirming that "children are usually best protected through their parents, not from them." Dr. Vincenzo Bassi, President of the Federation of Catholic Family Associations in Europe, addressed the challenge of EU institutions influencing family policy through indirect legal mechanisms and what he described as "competence creep", despite family matters formally remaining within the exclusive competence of member states.

A session dedicated to younger voices gave early-career scholars and professionals a platform to share research and lived experience. Ornella Ulrich, National Communications Director for the Church in Luxembourg, spoke about the need for policy that goes beyond short-term fixes: "What families need is not just an emergency response, but a real, long-term strategy for resilience."

Families at the Center

The afternoon policymakers' session featured Senate Minority Leader Luz Escamilla and Senator Majority Heidi Balderree of the Utah State Senate, who spoke about practical legislative measures including childcare tax credits for small businesses, infertility treatment access, and legislation requiring state agencies to consider family health and stability before adopting new policies.

Senator Escamilla shared on the value of cross-border dialogue: "When families thrive, societies flourish. And when we listen across borders and perspectives, we don't just exchange ideas, we expand what's possible." Senator Balderree closed with a quote from President David O. McKay: "No other success can compensate for failure in the home."

Russell Bowers, Government Relations Representative of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, moderates the ‘Policymakers Perspectives’ session alongside Senator Heidi Balderee of Utah and Minority Senator Luz Escamilla of Utah on May 12, 2026.© 2026 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.

A video address from Prof. Assunta Morresi, Deputy Chief of Cabinet to Italy's Minister for Family, Natality and Equal Opportunities, outlined Italy's national approach to family policy, including strengthened parental leave provisions and the expansion of local family centers as a model for long-term structural investment.

Honoring European Family Values Awardee

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Antonella Sberna, Vice President of the European Parliament, delivers her acceptance speech as an awardee for the 2026 European Family Values Award Dinner in Brussels on May 12, 2026.© 2026 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.

That evening, invited guests gathered for the 2026 European Family Values Award Dinner, where Antonella Sberna, Vice President of the European Parliament, was honored for her contributions to strengthening families in Europe. Participants had the opportunity to engage with her throughout the evening.

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From right to left: Elder James W. McConkie III, of the Europe Central Area Presidency, presents the 2026 European Family Values Award to Antonella Sberna, Vice President of the European Parliament, on May 12, 2026. He is joined by Francesco Di Lillo, Director of EU & International Affairs for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Derek Monson, Executive Director of Sutherland Institute.© 2026 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.

In accepting the award, Vice President Sberna reflected on the importance of placing families at the heart of Europe's future. "A Europe that supports families is a Europe that lives in tomorrow," she said. "A Europe that invests in children is a Europe that invests in hope. And when we speak about the future, we inevitably speak about families, children, education, solidarity between generations, and the dignity of every human person."

Antonella Sberna, Vice President of European Parliament, accepts a bouquet of flowers from Donetta Bowers, Government Relations Representative for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, at the European Family Values Award Dinner on May 12, 2026.© 2026 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.

European Family Values Award Dinner participants gather for photo with awardee Antonella Sberna, Vice President of European Parliament, on May 12, 2026, in Brussels.© 2026 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.

Looking Ahead

The conference concluded with a plenary session led by Francesco Di Lillo and Derek Monson, Executive Director of the Sutherland Institute. Monson reflected on a theme that ran through the day: "Standing up for things that strengthen families is an act of courage — whether that's deciding to start your own family in the face of uncertainty or making difficult decisions in the political arena. The takeaway for me is to elevate those things that promote faith and hope, rather than anxiety and fear."

Di Lillo shared one of the day's conversations: "Family policy cannot be siloed. Each one of us has something to share, and none of us alone can change policy for the better."

The Brussels Policy Exchange is part of a year-long series of webinars and public events across Europe and the United States. Now in its third year, the “Strengthening Families” partnership between the Church's EU & International Affairs Office and Sutherland Institute has already seen ideas from previous convenings translated into enacted legislation in the state of Utah.