20
May
2026
Watch
Advancing towards a care society: addressing the gender care gap (debate)
Mr President, Commissioner, the own-initiative report on which we are speaking today makes a clear observation: care professions, as well as the millions of caregivers who support our families, must finally be recognized. I welcome the essential progress that this text suggests for social recognition, material support and real help for caregivers. Family cohesion is the first safety net of our societies. It must be sanctified. However, some red lines should not be crossed, as technocratic interference has no place at the heart of families. Parents' freedom of organization and the sovereignty of States must remain fully respected. Similarly, the crisis in the care sector must be resolved by raising the wages of our fellow citizens and not by new immigration channels. But in the face of the challenges of addiction, our responsibility is to provide concrete answers and not to block the debate. That is why our delegation will choose a positive and pragmatic vote on this text.