Independent MEP Marian Harkin welcomed the "hugely important" reference made to Carers in a significant European Parliament resolution today, November 11th.

The "Demographic challenge and solidarity between generations" resolution, penned by German MEP Thomas Mann, calls for measures to improve job prospects for both young and old Europeans, and so reduce the costs of funding social security and pensions across the EU.

Independent MEP Harkin, in keeping with her efforts to ensure that Carers' issues are reflected in all relevant EU decisions, was instrumental in pushing for a section of the resolution to "address the issues faced by family carers".

Harkin's amendments argue that Carers "must have the right to choose freely whether they want to be a carer, the option to combine caring with paid employment, and access to social security schemes and old age pensions".

After MEPs voted for the resolution by a large majority, Harkin expressed her satisfaction that "the mainstreaming of Carers' rights is continuing apace" in the EU.