AGE Platform Europe: To future EU Commissioners – don’t leave older persons behind
At a time when the new European Commission is taking shape, the United Nations’ International Day of Older Persons on 1st October reminds us that significant challenges remain, namely in terms of inclusiveness and sustainability of our societies. Although the EU seems to be aware of those challenges, AGE Platform Europe points out a lack of clarity in the way demographic issues and age discrimination will be addressed by the upcoming Juncker’s team.
The 60+ population is expected to reach 20 per cent of the global population by 2030, whereas in the EU the 50-plussers already represent more than 30% of the population and will increase significantly by 2060 due to an estimated 15% rise in life expectancy. Those projections show how vital it is for our societies to adapt in order to avoid excluding an increasingly large part of their population. Under the title ‘Leaving No One Behind: Promoting a Society for All’, the UN International Day of Older Persons makes a clear link between inclusiveness and sustainability of our societies and is fully in line with AGE Platform Europe’s recommendations addressed to future European Commissioners.
The need to adapt to the demographic ageing is clearly mentioned in the mission letter sent by European Commission’s President Juncker to the designated Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility, Marianne Thyssen, who will be responsible for ensuring that the impact of ageing is “appropriately taken into account in all Commission proposals and activities”. It remains unclear, however, if Mrs Thyssen will have the power to address the multi-sectorial issues related to ageing and demographic change, which go far beyond employment and pension issues.
