Towards a European strategy for older persons

Miguel Ángel Cabra de Luna, EESC member from Civil Society Organisations’ Group, explains what must happen towards a European strategy for older persons

Back in July 2023, the European Economic and Social Committee – the European institution comprised of representatives of employers, trade unions and organised civil society – adopted an opinion on a future European strategy for older persons.

A future European strategy for older persons

The opinion, which was unanimously approved, calls on the European Commission to deliver a new strategy supporting the rights and social and economic participation of people of all ages. Ultimately, the new strategy should be the basis for policy and regulatory measures intended to reap the benefits – or seize the opportunities – that demographic change has to offer for Europeans.

However, to tap these opportunities, demographic change must be addressed by policies that trigger a paradigm shift. This shift must make older people visible and discard the approach where older means “needs support” to focus on empowering them and eliminating ageist attitudes.

Since it currently doesn’t have a comprehensive policy on either older people or ageing and demographic change, the European Union (EU) must devise a strategy for older people that tackles demographic change during the next mandate.

Promoting equality and non-discrimination

This new strategy must be the foundation for proposals and measures promoting equality and non-discrimination and ensuring that older persons can enjoy their rights without let or hindrance.

But in addition to guaranteeing these rights, the strategy must address social and economic participation, employment, education and training of older persons.

Deliver on an intergenerational pact

The future European strategy for older persons must deliver on an intergenerational pact based on respect and solidarity between generations. It’s older persons; it will be relevant to the entire population, including caregivers, and will help younger generations get ready for when they themselves reach this age. This is the backdrop against which the EESC is pushing on with its work on intergenerational solidarity, drafting and subsequently adopting an opinion on this issue.

Legislation on disability-related issues

EU policymakers have pointed out that the new strategy could draw on the European Strategy on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Over two decades ago, civil society organisations supporting the rights of persons with disabilities issued a Join Declaration, reshaped by the European Commission into the first EU Disability Strategy.

Since then, that Strategy – which has been reviewed twice during this period – has led to the adoption of specific legislation on disability-related issues, such as mutual recognition, non-discrimination and the benchmark EU Accessibility Act.

A key point is that the rate of disability and dependency is higher in older people than in the rest of society, so it is imperative to foster synergies between policies for older people and those for persons with disabilities.

Additional policy areas

The measures proposed by the Committee as part of a European strategy for older persons are grouped into several policy areas, including equality and non-discrimination, the rights of older persons and access to them. It must also address social and economic participation, employment, education and training.

Lastly, the strategy must ensure that older persons have an adequate income and are truly part of society.

At a global level, the EESC will work with the European Commission, Member States, the European Parliament and other international partners on the adoption of a UN Convention on the rights of older persons, following the example of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and taking care that civil society organisations representing older persons and other stakeholders are properly involved.

Defending older persons’ rights

The EU institutions must continue defending older persons’ rights and promote fair and competitive demographic policies.