The European Year aims to raise awareness about active ageing, especially in the fields of employment, participation in the society and independent living of older people. The European Year will encourage stakeholders and policymakers to set commitments in these areas and take concrete action.
These commitments can range from legislative reform (e.g. remove obstacles that prevent older people from staying in employment), to analysis or public debates, raising awareness, or identifying priorities for action. For instance, cities can join the age-friendly cities programme of the World Health Organisation; companies can improve the working conditions for older workers; civil society organisations can foster senior volunteering. The website of the European Year is the place where such commitments can be made public and where inspiration can be found from what is happening elsewhere. At the end of the year, the most successful commitments will be given recognition at national and European level.
László Andor, EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, said: "Active ageing is about helping older people to stay in work and share their experience. It is about them continuing to play an active role in society and living as healthy, independent and fulfilling lives as possible. Active ageing is essential to reach our 75% employment target and to lift at least 20 million people out of poverty by 2020. The Year calls for action in different areas - employment, social protection, education and training, health and social services, housing and public infrastructure".
The European Year 2012 covers three dimensions of active ageing:
- Active ageing in employment. Encouraging older workers to stay in employment requires notably the improvement of working conditions and their adaptation to the health status and needs of older workers, updating their skills by providing better access to life long learning and the review of tax and benefit systems to ensure that there are effective incentives for working longer.
- Participation in society. Improving the opportunities and conditions for older people to contribute to society as volunteers or family carers and to participate in society, thus avoiding social isolation and many of the associated problems and risks.
- Independent living. Health promotion and preventive health care through measures that maximise healthy life years and prevent dependency as well as making the environment (public buildings, infrastructure, transport, buildings) more age-friendly, allowing older people to stay as independent as possible.
Throughout the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations, hundreds of activities, projects and communication events will take place and will be promoted both at the EU and national levels.
Key dates and events related to EY2012 and active ageing:
- 18/19 January: EY2012 opening conference in Copenhagen
- January/February: National opening conferences
- 14 February: Forum on EY2012 organised by the Committee of the Regions in Brussels
- March: Media conference "Reporting on ageing and solidarity between generations" in Brussels
- 7 April: World Health Day on Health and Ageing
- 29 April: European Day of Solidarity between Generations (promote intergenerational encounters in schools around in the weeks before and after 29 April)
- 4 June: Conference on "Good governance for Active and Healthy Ageing" in Brussels
- 19/20 September: UNECE Ministerial Conference on Ageing in Vienna
- 1 October: International Day of Older People
- 4 November: European Demography Forum
- November: Award Ceremony in Brussels
- December: Closing conference in Cyprus
P.A.U. Education has been selected by the European Commission to design and implement the above explained communication campaign on a European level and in all EU Member States.
