Press Release
Brussels 12th of May 2020 – Today the world celebrates, as every year, the International Day of Nurses. This celebration becomes even more special, since the whole year 2020 is declared “International Year of the Nurse and Midwife” by the World Health Organization. The pandemic the world is unfortunately still fighting against gives our celebration a solemn and very emotional tone: our thoughts go first to the families and friends of the nurses that died trying to save the lives of their fellow citizens, our lives, and to those who are still in the front line of the struggle, giving their very best, sometimes with only elementary measures of protection. Today more than ever it has become more than obvious how crucial central and primordial Nurses, Nursing regulation and Nursing studies are for our societies
The European Nursing Council (ENC), through its President, Mr. Mircea Timofte, has recently written to the Presidents of the EU Institutions highlighting the challenges Nurses in Europe are facing in the midst of the pandemic, asking for a strong message of support and for concrete measures to enable the profession to continue its work with efficiency.
Reacting to the letter of ENC, Mr. David Sassoli, President of the European Parliament underlined that the concerns of the nursing regulators “must obviously be taken into account in proportion to the issues that this crisis shows it is facing.”, promising at the same time that he “will not fail to forward (the suggestions of ENC) to the competent committees of the European Parliament.” For his part, Mr. Charles Michel, President of the European Council, admitted with regard of the success of the struggle against the pandemic that “This would not have been possible without the outstanding efforts and involvement of healthcare staff, who were fighting at the front line to save lives. As we now approach the second phase, with a gradual re-opening of societies, their efforts will remain as essential as ever”. Honoring our Nurses, ENC joins him in declaring that “Under these unprecedented circumstances, it is most timely that the World Health Organization has declared 2020 the international Year of Nurses and Midwives, to highlight the vital role they play.” Let us be grateful for our outstanding Nurses and let us all address them our warmest thoughts today and every day!