EU Day of Solidarity between Generations
announces the European Year 2012 for Active Ageing
and Solidarity between generations
To celebrate the 3rd European Day on Solidarity between Generations on 29 April 2011 and announce the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations (2012), the European Commission held a high level conference entitled 'Towards the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations (2012)’. Attended by a large range of stakeholders (public authorities at EU, national and local level, NGOs, social partners, companies), the conference was organised around several thematic sessions with key decision-makers and experts. Different stakeholders from across the European Union - local and regional authorities, social partners, companies and civil society organisations - presented initiatives to be implemented and goals to be achieved in the context of the European Year.
The European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations which has the full support of four Commissioners in charge of Research, Health, Digital Agenda and Employment and Social Affairs, aims to provide a framework for awareness raising, as well as identifying and sharing best practice in order to promote the objectives of EY2012: active ageing in the workplace, active ageing in the wider community and independent living.
As the Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs, László Andor, pointed out: "From the employment perspective, the most important issue is that the active European workforce will start shrinking already next year. […] And this will continue for at least the next 25 years. This is why it is so critical to prevent older workers from getting squeezed out of the labour market. Likewise, it has to be guaranteed that those who are already retired can continue to participate in society, while remaining autonomous and healthy”.
For the opening session, Anne–Sophie Parent, Secretary General of AGE Platform Europe, asked for this EU initiative to be the opportunity not only to celebrate but to also take strong commitments for an age-friendly environment, integrating many different areas including new technologies, employment, transport, health and accessibility. Louise Richardson, AGE Vice-President, stressed that AGE Platform Europe will actively promote the European Year and its long-term objectives.
It is hoped that this initiative will encourage the promotion of active ageing by decision- makers and stakeholders at all political levels. The EY2012 is part of the framework of the 10th anniversary of the United Nations Action Plan on Ageing and will include a wide range of initiatives in this area.
Launch of the EY2012 Coalition brochure on the European Year
The conference was also the opportunity for the EY2012 Coalition - a coalition of more than 20 organisations from different sectors involved in the campaign to promote the EU Year 2012 - to present its new joint publication explaining the objectives of the Year and its intergenerational dimension and providing recommendations for stakeholders working at local, national and European level (policy makers, NGOs, researchers and universities, companies). The objective of the leaflet is to inform and mobilise a wide range of actors and encourage them to take concrete commitments for the European Year 2012 and beyond.
The publication can be downloaded on the AGE website (in EN and FR). Printed copies can be requested from AGE’s secretariat at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Spread the word about the European Year!
The European Commission has launched the official website for the Year 2012 that can be consulted at:
http://ec.europa.eu/social/ey2012.jsp
This website will present the partners involved and the initiatives taken in the framework of the European Year. Everyone is invited to:
- leave her/his comments and ideas on the website (in the section “Get involved”);
- inform policy makers and stakeholders about the possibility to post their commitments on the website.
Organisations and initiatives can apply for funding from existing EU programmes such as the European Social Fund, Grundtvig and the Research Framework Programme. More details on the budget will be available in June after the proposal for the EY2012 has been formally endorsed by the European Parliament and the Council. AGE is also working with the Committee of the Regions on a new version of their 2009 joint brochure ‘How to promote ageing well in Europe: Tools and instruments available to local actors’ (EN FR DE) presenting the different EU funding programmes of interest to older people.
The list of the national coordinators is already partially available on the website (http://ec.europa.eu/social/ey2012main.jsp?catId=973&langId=en). The name of the missing coordinators will be soon available. These coordinators will be responsible for ensuring that national activities are properly coordinated. The national coordinating bodies will be key contacts/reference points for those wishing to get involved in initiatives at the national level.
For more information on the EY2012, please visit AGE website: www.age-platform.eu or contact Alice Sinigaglia, AGE’s Logistics and Campaigns Officer at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
AGE would like to thank all of the many AGE members who attended the conference. Thanks to all for your contributions!
Last Updated on Tuesday, 07 June 2011 16:41
