Greek MEP Eleonora Meleti (PPE) has pressed the European Commission to take concrete action against the rising mistreatment of older persons across the EU, urging common standards for caregiver training and comparable data on abuse cases. The initiative targets a vulnerable population often overlooked in EU social policy, with potential impacts on national health systems, care providers, and millions of elderly citizens and their families.
In a written parliamentary question submitted on 8 May 2026, Meleti highlighted that several Member States have reported an increase in physical, psychological, and verbal violence against older persons, as well as neglect by caregivers. She described the problem as underreported and insufficiently addressed, despite the EU's demographic shift and growing demand for long-term care.
The MEP's question contains three concrete asks. First, she wants to know what measures the Commission intends to take and how it plans to support Member States in preventing and addressing mistreatment of dependent older persons. Second, she asks whether the Commission is considering establishing common European standards for the training, certification, supervision, and assessment of carers looking after older people, to ensure quality and safety. Third, she inquires about promoting the collection of comparable EU-wide data on elder abuse cases and the quality of long-term care services, as part of the European Care Strategy.
Policy orientation and ambition Meleti's question signals a push for greater EU involvement in a field traditionally reserved for national competence. By calling for common standards and EU-wide data collection, she advocates for harmonisation that could raise care quality but also impose new requirements on Member States and care providers. The reference to the European Care Strategy suggests she wants elder protection embedded in existing EU frameworks rather than addressed through isolated initiatives.
Expected follow-up The Commission is required to respond within approximately six weeks. Its answer will indicate whether it is open to expanding its role in elder care regulation, which could lead to legislative proposals or funding programmes. A positive response would likely be welcomed by elder rights NGOs and professional care associations, while some Member States may resist additional EU standards in a sensitive social policy area.
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