Policy Study

08/03/2023

Today Europe might be standing at the crossroads of a new care paradigm shift as the EU Commission has presented its ‘European Care Strategy’ in September 2022. A particular focus is laid on childcare and long-term care (LTC) through two Council Recommendations on the revision of the Barcelona targets on early childhood education and care (ECEC) and access to affordable high-quality long-term care.  

By taking leadership in this under-explored policy area, the EU may take a more proactive approach to rebalance persisting inequalities attributable to the neglect of care. The true question lies, however, in how this recognition translates into wide-reaching answers addressing the challenges faced by women whose individual situations are as diverse as Europe itself. The EU plays a crucial responsibility in initiating transformative policies towards a change of social and gender norms and incentivising public investment in care

That is precisely why this policy study seeks to feed and guide the discussion by critically assessing whether the European Care Strategy can be seized as an opportunity to trigger a new approach to care that is truly inclusive and fair for all. In other words, this publication explores whether the EU is sufficiently equipping itself to live up to the claims that European values “can only flourish in a caring society”. On the one hand, it offers an analysis of the positive developments welcomed by the key stakeholders. On the other hand, it also serves to better understand the remaining blind spots of the Strategy. Care being such a complex and multifaceted policy field, each chapter thus dives into a different dimension relevant to understand how the Strategy can give itself the means to ensure that care-givers and -receivers do not fall short of the EU’s fundamental values and the fulfilment of social rights. 

By gathering diverse voices from academia, civil society and policymaking, this policy study thus makes the case for strengthening care policies across the EU. The last chapter provides an overview of the policy recommendations put forth by this policy study. 

Chapters of the Policy Study:

  • ‘Introduction’ by Laeticia Thissen and Agnes Mach
  • ‘Care as a driver of sustainable growth’ by Cecilia Navarra and Meenakshi Fernandes
  • ‘Demographic challenges for social cohesion’ by Chiara Saraceno
  • ‘Ensuring universal access to childcare’ by Anna Gromada
  • ‘Building a resilient care sector: a human centred approach’ by Tuscany Bell
  • ‘The new challenges of care work in light of digitalisation and platformisation’ by Claire Marzo
  • ‘Towards a home care strategy for long-term care’ by Jean-François Lebrun
  • ‘The care strategy as a remedy for gender inequality?’ by Barbara Helfferich
  • ‘Care at the intersection of multiple discriminations’ by Elisa Chieregato
  • ‘Independent living for disabled people and personal assistance’ by Florian Sanden

Network
Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung
Find all related publications
Publications
08/03/2023

Abortion in the European Union

Actors, issues and discourse
08/03/2023

The European Care Strategy

A chance to ensure inclusive care for all?
03/03/2023

Spotlight on the political groups as gender equality actors

Struggles over issues of gendered violence in the European Parliament
10/02/2023

Climate and gender policy

'Climate mainstreaming: breaking down the silos' series
Find all related events
Events
Upcoming
04/05/2023
Online

Climate and gender

'Climate mainstreaming: Breaking down the silos' series
Past
02 - 03/03/2023
Valencia, Spain

#ProgressivesSpeakUp 2023

School of young local and regional politicians
06/03/2023
New York, USA

CSW67 Parallel Event: Automating inequality

The digital era, a new reality perpetuating old forms of discrimination?
Find all related news
News
20/02/2023

When will European women start earning the same as men?

Spoiler alert: that day hasn’t arrived yet
03/03/2022

EU Care Atlas: how care deficits impact the gender earnings gap

While the attention is often focused on the gender pay gap (which averages 13% in […]
02/12/2021

FEPS Joins the Brussels Binder Think Tank Network

The Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS) and the Brussels Binder commit to strengthening their […]
11/12/2013

Research Project: Beyond Austerity, Towards Employment: a Gender Aware Framework

FEPS, together with the Economic Council of the Labour Movement (ECLM), the School of Oriental […]
Find all related in the media
In the media

Pay transparency can help close the gender pay gap but at what cost?

by Euronews 31/08/2022

How many inequalities can the world fight at the same time?

by Social Europe 07/07/2022

Rebutting the assaults on gender equality

by Social Europe 08/03/2022

La cúpula de la UE también es de cristal: 4 mujeres entre los 28 representantes

by La Información 11/06/2019