Thread by @EU_Commission

Investing in care is an investment in gender equality and social fairness.

Today, we present the European Care Strategy to ensure quality and accessible care across 🇪🇺.

It will positively impact millions of children, older people and those who cares for them.

#EUCareStrategy

We propose that EU countries revise ‘the Barcelona targets’ on early childhood education and care.

Investing in high-quality care means improving gender equality and enhancing women’s participation in the labour market.

#EUCareStrategy

With an ageing population, people in need of long-term care are expected to increase by 23.5% in 2050.

To tackle future challenges, we recommend EU countries to draw up action plans to make care more available, accessible and of better quality for all.

#EUCareStrategy

Around 52 million Europeans provide informal long-term care to family or friends.

Almost 90% of the formal care workforce are women.

Conditions to attract workers - in particular men - must be improved to avoid future labour shortages in the care sector.

#EUCareStrategy

2002 Barcelona targets called on EU countries to provide childcare to:

🎯33% of children under 3
🎯90% of children from age 3 - mandatory school age.

We want to be more ambitious!

We propose to set NEW targets for 2030⤵️

#EUCareStrategy