European Care Strategy: One year anniversary after the adoption

European Care Strategy: One year anniversary after the adoption

Background information: The European Care Strategy aligns with European Pillar of Social Rights principles, contributes to EU social headline targets on employment, skills, and poverty reduction. It is a part of the 2020-2025 Gender Equality Strategy, building on other EU initiatives. Progress made in the European Care Strategy, in cooperation with EU countries and partners, benefits citizens, care providers, and children, aligning with EU social goals and gender equality principles.

New updates on the strategy:

Policy Reforms for Long-Term Care

• EU states to appoint national long-term care coordinators for reform design and monitoring.
• Mutual learning events among coordinators and experts focus on quality in long-term care.
• 18 EU states to tap into Recovery and Resilience Fund for national reforms.
• Additional EU funding support available through various programs.
• Strategic partnership with WHO supports informal training for care personnel and development of national reforms.
• Improved data collection for evidence and monitoring of Long-Term Care (LTC).

Better Care Sector Working Conditions

• Large-scale skills partnership launched to train 60% of LTC workforce annually by 2030.
• New European social dialogue committee for social services established in July 2023.

Early Childhood Education and Care

• Gender stereotype challenge campaign launched to promote equal childcare sharing.
• Monitoring of Work-life balance directive 2019/1158 for parents and careers.
• Directive provides non-transferable paternity and parental leaves.
• Seminar held to address possible unfavourable treatment of workers taking family leaves.

Find more information here.