Gender care gap: Socialists put political games before social responsibility

The European Parliament, under the leadership of the EPP Group, took a major step forward today by recognising care as one of Europe’s key social, economic and democratic pillars, with the adoption of the report on Advancing Towards a Care Society. Unfortunately, the Socialists chose to turn their backs on the report and abstained in the final vote.

“At a time when Europe urgently needs stronger care systems and practical support for carers, women and families, the S&D Group chose to abstain on the report that they had themselves supported at committee level. This was no longer about policy differences; it was about political games taking precedence over social responsibility. Europe’s carers deserved far better,” stressed Eleonora Meleti MEP, who negotiated the report on behalf of Parliament’s Committee on Employment and Social Affairs.

The report addresses one of Europe’s biggest social and economic challenges: care. It highlights that women continue to bear a disproportionate share of care responsibilities and calls for a fairer distribution between women and men, including policies that encourage men’s participation. With over 12 million unpaid carers across the EU, their contribution must be better recognised through improved social protection, fair pension rights and stronger support services. 

After more than a year of negotiations in Parliament’s employment and gender equality committees, the S&D Group abandoned the report on one of Parliament’s most important social initiatives.

“It is deeply disappointing that S&D chose to abandon a report that it had supported throughout committee negotiations,” said Rosa Estaràs Ferragut MEP, who negotiated the report on behalf of Parliament’s Committee on Women’s Rights. “At a moment when millions of women continue to carry the invisible burden of care, Europe should have been united behind stronger support systems, not divided by partisan tactics. We will continue fighting for a Europe that values care, supports families and ensures that no woman has to choose between her career, her family and her future.”

The EPP Group believes S&D’s decision exposed a clear contradiction between its rhetoric and its actions. While presenting itself as a champion of social rights, the Socialist Group ultimately chose indifference to a major care report for partisan reasons.