Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu, in a written answer on 23 June 2026, detailed the European Commission's approach to protecting older persons from abuse and neglect, emphasising support for Member States through EU funds, mutual learning, and a forthcoming European Care Deal in 2027. The answer, responding to a question by PPE MEP Eleonora Meleti, signals the Commission's intention to strengthen long-term care quality and data collection without committing to binding common standards for carers.
Mînzatu's reply, while reaffirming existing commitments under the European Care Strategy and the 2022 Council Recommendation on Long-Term Care, offered no new legislative proposals. Instead, she pointed to ongoing initiatives: the Large-Scale Skills Partnership for Long-Term Care to train workers in digital and person-centred skills, and a Monitoring Framework developed with the Social Protection Committee to track care quality indicators. The Commission will report on the recommendation's implementation and table a European Care Deal in 2027, though details remain unspecified.
On data collection, Mînzatu noted cooperation with the World Health Organisation to compile data on long-term care quality management, but did not announce a dedicated EU-wide abuse registry. She highlighted the 2023 proposed regulation on protecting adults in cross-border situations, which reached political agreement on 12 May 2026, as a key legal tool to safeguard vulnerable older persons moving between Member States.
The answer leaves open the question of common European training and certification standards for carers, which Meleti had specifically requested. Instead, the Commission relies on EU funds—Cohesion funds, the Recovery and Resilience Facility, and the European Social Fund Plus—to support Member States in improving working conditions and upskilling care workers. The policy direction favours voluntary cooperation and financial incentives over harmonised regulation, balancing Member State autonomy with EU-level monitoring and support.
Older persons and their families may benefit from improved care quality and data transparency, but the absence of binding standards could leave gaps in protection across Member States. Care workers stand to gain from EU-funded training and better working conditions, though progress depends on national uptake. Member States retain flexibility but face pressure to implement the Council Recommendation and absorb EU funds effectively. EU institutions, particularly the Commission, strengthen their coordinating role without expanding regulatory powers.