The role of carers is more crucial than ever due to demographic changes and challenges to formal health and social care services throughout Europe. Eurocarers brings together organisations representing carers and those involved in research and development.

Eurocarers lists these EU facts in their manifesto:

80% of care across the EU is provided by informally spouses, relatives and friends – usually unpaid.
These carers will become even more important as the number of older people is increasing.
The economic value of unpaid informal care – as a percentage of the overall cost of formal long-term care provision – ranges from 50 % to 90 % across the EU.
Caring can be a source of personal satisfaction and emotional gratification….
…but it can also have challenging health, financial, social and employment consequences.
The increasing labour market participation of the main carers, i.e. women and older workers and other demographic developments are leading to decreasing availability of carers.
Carers cannot do their work without proper recognition and support (in policy and practice).

All Member States face the same challenges in terms of long-term care provision.
All Member States need the informal care resource to prevent social security systems collapsing.

Eurocarers’ Manifesto for EP2014 gives guidance to MEP candidates how they can support carers should they be elected to the European Parliament.