EU Care Strategy: AEIP joins a coalition of civil society organisations to endorse the European Parliament resolution on care
Following the adoption at the European Parliament of the EMPL/FEMM Report “Towards a common European action on care (2021/2253(INI))” on 5 July, AEIP joined a coalition of civil society organisations to endorse the resolution towards the European Commission.
On 13 July 2022, the coalition sent a joint letter to the responsible Commissioners – Commission Vice-President for Demography and Democracy, Dubravka Šuica, Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, Nicolas Schmit, Commissioner for Equality, Helena Dalli, in order to make sure that the European Commission takes into account the EMPL/FEMM report in drafting the EU Care Strategy communication, foreseen for the 7th of September.
The coalition gathers organisations representing persons in need of care, informal carers and care workers, care providers (public, not-for profit and cooperative), not-for profit insurers and public health and health promotion actors. The goal of coalition’s members is to ensure the success of the upcoming European Care Strategy and that it leads to the development of universal and better-quality long-term care systems, rooted in the right to independence, people’s preferences, dignity, affordability, accessibility, and universality. The letter also stresses that improved working conditions for care professionals and better recognition and support for informal carers and families are a prerequisite to ensure universal and quality social protection against long-term care risks.
The EMPL/FEMM Report is a reaction from the European Parliament to the upcoming European Care Strategy (Q3 2022). According to the Commission Work Programme 2022, the strategy will address both carers and care receivers, from childcare to long-term care. It will set a framework for policy reforms to guide the development of sustainable long-term care that ensures better and more affordable access to quality services for all. Synergies with other EU initiatives on digitalisation can help improve health and digital literacy, facilitate the use of medical devices for the elderly, the collection of data and secure better health outcomes.
Anticipating the vote in parliament on 5th July and the recommendations of the Council of the European Union scheduled for Q4 2022, AEIP provided EP’s rapporteurs and co-rapporteurs as well as Czech Presidency’s attachés with the AEIP’s Position on the European Care Strategy and Long-term care.
For any further information and questions, please contact Giuseppe Perretti, AEIP Policy Advisor on healthcare and provident funds.