The annual MEP awards took place in Brussels on the 9th October and Carers UK in association with Eurocarers were pleased to sponsor the Campaigner of the Year Award. The President of Eurocarers, Baroness Pitkeathley presented the award to Zita Gurmai MEP.

There is an estimated 100 million carers living within the EU who provide unpaid care to a partner, relative or friend in need of help because they are ill, frail or disabled.

Carers form the bedrock of our health and social care systems, yet as a consequence of caring, they experience ill health, poverty and discrimination.

Eurocarers – a new EU-wide platform for carers was launched on Tuesday 12 June in the European Parliament in Brussels. It was established to influence policy within the European Institutions to ensure that the invaluable contribution of carers is recognised across Europe. The new organisation – Eurocarers – already boasts 31 members from 16 member states across Europe.

Eurocarers is also pleased by the support received so far from many MEPs and on the 12th June an Interest Group on Carers made up of a political cross section of MEPs was launched. Eurocarers and Carers UK hopes to work closely with MEPs in the next year on a range of health and social care issues.
For more information on our work in Europe, please contact

ACE Policy and Communications Officer- Sally.bamford@carersuk.org