Shaping and re-shaping the caring relationship in European Law: a catalogue of rights for informal carers?

This article explores the engagement of the European Union with the caring relationship and focuses on the socio-economic impact on those who provide care. It argues that, albeit care was not an initial concern of the EU legislator, over the years, a discourse has gradually been shaped. The needs of carers have been addressed with a variety of approaches such as non-discrimination legislation and policy as well as specific employment policy and legislation. So far, however, this intervention has been ad hoc: accordingly it has not helped to formulate a coherent set of principles, let alone propose satisfactory solutions to the demands that carers experience on a daily base. It is now time to reshape this discourse: this article maintains that the caring relationship needs to be reconceptualised in order to fit the evolving reality. Ultimately, it argues for a more proactive, right-based approach and explores the possibility of introducing a specific catalogue of carers’ rights in EU law.