European Parliament

Making nursing count in the European Parliament

MEPs have significant decision-making powers which can benefit patients and RCN members. They have influence over nursing staff's working hours and entitlement to compensatory rest; patients receiving treatment abroad; nurses' ability to work abroad; preventing needlestick injuries and workplace violence; control of counterfeit medicines and many other issues that fall within the scope of European law. Taking the opportunity to influence the European health agenda is an essential part of the RCN's mission to represent nurses and nursing across the UK and beyond. You can find out who your Member of the European Parliament (MEP) is on the UK Office of the European Parliament's website. 

European election manifesto 2009-2014

In an online consultation in February 2009 we asked what members thought the RCN should include in its European manifesto. The College received significant feedback and thanks to our members' responses we developed a European Election manifesto (PDF 76 KB) which outlines five priorities for MEPs to act on throughout their terms of office, which last until the next election in 2014.

The RCN's priorities

  1. Ensure enough nursing staff to meet patients' needs
  2. Stop nurses getting injured at work
  3. Meet health and social care needs of patients with long-term or age-related conditions
  4. Prevent health care associated infections (HCAIs)
  5. Provide the best possible nursing care through excellent education and training.

2014 election

The next European Parliamentary election is taking place in 2014. In order to vote in any election you must be registered. To find out how to register, who is eligible to vote and how to vote, go to the About my vote website.