An Interest Group on Carers was set up in the European Parliament today Tuesday, June 12th.
Marian Harkin MEP who has sponsored twenty one carers from six different counties, Louth, Mayo, Galway, Limerick, Sligo and Roscommon to attend the launch of the Interest Group stated “Carers are the glue which holds society together yet they remain unrecognised and unrewarded. We in the European Parliament have a responsibility to ensure that European legislation has a positive impact on the lives and situations of Carers. Many of the initiatives before the European Parliament currently must include positive policy measures to support Carers. These include the Lisbon Agenda, Demographic Initiatives, the upcoming Mental Health Strategy, the modernising of the Green Paper on Labour Law and the PROGRESS Programme”.
“Carers constitute the largest unpaid workforce in Europe, however, far too often they are invisible. This Interest Group will raise the profile of Carers in the European Parliament and help ensure that their concerns and their needs are brought to the attention of European policy makers.
“Looking at the demographic situation in Europe it is clear that the number of Carers both formal and informal will increase significantly over the next number of years. Account must be taken of this situation and European legislation should support carers where possible and advocate positive policy measures.
“Eurocarers, the European association working for Carers represents Carers and Carers organisations in eleven different countries, will provide the secretariat for the Interest Group, Eurocarers promote the recognition of Carers and Carers interests, the social inclusion of Carers and the development of services that support Carers”, Marian Harkin concluded.
