On this Europe Day, EFFE invited the European Commission’s team responsible for long-term care policy to share their perspectives on the progress made, the challenges ahead, and the EU’s commitment to the workers and employers who sustain this vital sector every day.
On this 9th of May, as we celebrate the values of solidarity, social progress and shared responsibility that are at the heart of the European project, EFFE reaffirms its commitment to those who dedicate their work to caring for others in the home. The personal and household services sector — its workers, the families who employ them, and the people they care for — is a cornerstone of European society. Today, we are proud to give the floor to the European Commission, whose engagement on long-term care policy gives us reason to look forward with determination and hope.
The following questions were put to Flaviana Teodosiu, Team Leader for Long-Term Care, and Dorota Korczynska, Policy Officer, at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (DG EMPL).
The European Commission has been actively working on care policy in recent years, notably through the European Care Strategy. What have been the most significant milestones achieved so far, and what does this mean concretely for workers and families in the personal and household services sector?
The European Commission has long recognised the importance of care policy, but the adoption of the European Care Strategy in 2022 marked a real turning point. A key achievement was the Council Recommendation on affordable high-quality long-term care, agreed by all Member States, which put a spotlight on improving access to care and working conditions for care workers. All 27 EU countries developed National Plans outlining concrete actions to advance in this direction. We are now monitoring progress, and next year, we will publish a report on the achievements and gaps still to be addressed.
We are also building a strong evidence base to inform policy. Agencies like Cedefop, EU-OSHA, Eurofound, and ELA have produced reports on skills gaps, undeclared work in care sector, occupational health and safety risks, labour mobility recruitment patterns and enforcement of labour law in the sector. And we are not forgetting informal carers – those often overlooked by public policy. In partnership with the WHO, we’ve launched an online course to help them access reliable information, not just on caring for others, but also on looking after themselves.
Long-term care is at the heart of major demographic and social challenges in Europe — an ageing population, workforce shortages, and the fight against undeclared work. How is the European Commission addressing these challenges, and what role does the domestic and home care sector play in the Commission’s response?
Europe’s ageing population and declining birth rates mean demand for care is rising fast. But with the right policies and investments, we can turn this challenge into an opportunity. We are working closely with Member States, using data-driven indicators to track progress and shape reforms.
We are using different possibilities to engage the policy makers at national levels – where long-term care competences primarily lie – in reforming their systems. Through the European Semester economic cycle, we provide Country Specific Recommendations to guide national policies and investments. We facilitate Mutual Learning events and the exchange of the best practices between the Member States. And we provide funds to improve the systems and provide better access to long-term care. €8.1 billion is being invested in reforms and services from the Recovery and Resilience Facility and €6.7 billion was invested by 22 Member States with the European Social Fund Plus to support long-term care. Looking ahead, the next Multiannual Financial Framework will continue providing incentives for achieving resilient and inclusive long-term care systems. Our goal is to move away from a medicalised, one-size-fits-all model toward a person-centred, rights-based approach – one that prioritises quality of life and well-being for care recipients, informal carers, and care workers.
Social dialogue and the professionalisation of domestic and home care workers are key priorities for EFFE. What progress has been made at EU level in improving working conditions, access to training, and the recognition of skills in this sector?
Social dialogue is absolutely key – this is how we address real-world challenges like pay, staffing levels, and working conditions. That is why we are working closely with trade unions and employers to strengthen collective bargaining and raise standards. A major step forward came in June 2025, when the European Federation of Public Service Unions and Social Employers adopted a Joint Framework of Action on Staff Retention and Recruitment.
But improving conditions is not just about pay – it is also about skills and recognition. The Union of Skills, our flagship initiative, aims to boost high-quality education, training, and lifelong learning. Under this, the EU Pact for Skills promotes four key principles: encouraging a culture of lifelong learning, building strong skills partnerships, monitoring supply and demand to anticipate future needs, and ensuring equal opportunities, particularly for women, who make up the majority of the workforce. A great example is the Large-Scale Skills Partnership for Long-Term Care, which focuses on digital and person-centred care skills. Its ambition is to contribute to training at least 60% of long-term care professionals every year by 2030. And through Erasmus+, the Care4Skills Blueprint Alliance is developing tailored vocational training programmes and a sector-wide skills strategy -because professionalising this workforce is essential for the future of care.
Looking ahead, what are the Commission’s priorities for the personal and household services sector in the coming years, and what message would you like to send to the workers and employers who make up this sector on Europe Day?
Our message is simple: We see you, we hear you, and we’re working with you. We know this is an undervalued sector, facing huge challenges. Building resilient long-term care systems takes collaboration – between governments, policymakers, practitioners, experts, and social partners and persons with long-term care needs. That’s why we’re strengthening alliances at every level. The Commission will propose a new, reinforced long-term care agenda through a Care Deal. Because at the heart of all this are the workers and employers who make this sector run. On Europe Day, and every day, we want you to know: Your work is vital, and Europe is committed to supporting you.
To every home care worker, every family employer, every professional who shows up each day to support someone in need — EFFE stands with you. The work you do is not invisible to us. It is the foundation on which a truly social Europe is built.
The commitments expressed by the European Commission today are a signal that our sector’s voice is being heard at the highest levels. Let us continue, together, to make it louder. The road to recognition, fair working conditions, and a fully professionalised sector is long — but we are walking it, and we are not walking it alone.