At all ages

“The overall objective of the European Year shall be to facilitate the creation of an active ageing culture in Europe based on a society for all ages”. Thus recites article 2 of decision 940/2011 of the European Parliament and EU Council ratified on September 14 2010, published on the official journal of the European Union, to underline the purposes of the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations proclaimed by EU bodies for the year 2012. The first initiatives to this regard include an international conference to launch the Year (January 18-19), the opening of numerous national websites, meetings, local surveys and event in many cities. Information is available by logging on the website of the EU Commission www.ec.europa.eu.Against social exclusion. The official document ratified by the EU institutions states: “we shall encourage and support the efforts of Member States, their regional and local authorities, social partners, civil society and the business community, including small and medium-sized enterprises, to promote active ageing and to do more to mobilise the potential of the rapidly growing population in their late 50s and over”. In doing so, “it shall foster solidarity and cooperation between generations, taking into account diversity and gender equality”. Promoting active ageing “means creating better opportunities so that older women and men can play their part in the labour market, combating poverty, particularly that of women, and social exclusion, fostering volunteering and active participation in family life and society and encouraging healthy ageing in dignity”. Work, health, stereotypes. This involves, inter alia, “adapting working conditions, combating negative age stereotypes and age discrimination, improving health and safety at work”, and “ensuring that social protection systems are adequate and provide the right incentives”. The goals of the Year, that will be object of in-depth reflection on January 18-19 in Copenhagen (the initiative is promoted by Denmark that holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, in conjunction with the EU Commission) are among others: “to ensure that it is accorded a prominent position on the political agendas of stakeholders at all levels”; to stimulate debate at all levels, “to disseminate good practice and to encourage cooperation and synergies; to promote activities which will help to combat age discrimination, to overcome age-related stereotypes and to remove barriers, particularly with regard to employability”.Gray-haired Europe. “People are ready to remain active as they grow older. I am confident that the European year will act as a catalyst to mobilise citizens, stakeholders and decision-makers to take action to promote active ageing and to tackle the challenges of ageing in a positive way”. A few days ago Lazlo Andor, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion presented the survey by Eurobarometer to mark the start of the European Year. The research shows that “71% of Europeans are aware that Europe’s population is getting older, but only 42% are concerned about this development”. Commenting on the findings of the survey the Commission stated: “This is in stark contrast with the perceptions of policy makers, who regard demographic ageing as a major challenge” and related demographic, social and economic problems. “Young” and “old”. Eurobarometer (whose survey includes five areas: overall age awareness; old people in the workplace; exit from the labour market and retirement age; voluntary work; age-friendly environment) shows that over 60% of Europeans support the idea that people should be allowed to continue working once they have reached the official retirement age, and “one third of Europeans state that they would like to continue working”. Definitions of “old” and “young” differ across countries. “On average, Europeans believe that people start being considered as old just before 64 years and are no longer considered young from the age of 41.8 years”. Perceptions vary also according to age and gender. Women feel old age begins slightly later than men (65 years versus 62.7 years). The survey also shows, as strange as it may seem, that the concept of “young” and “old” change across the EU. “In Malta, Portugal and Sweden, people under 37 years are considered young, whereas in Cyprus and Greece people are considered young up to the age of 50”.