The “old” continent

“Identifying common policies to tackle, with success, the far-reaching demographic changes” that are taking place in the European Union. Declining birth-rate, growth of the average age of the population, contraction of the size of families, internal migrations and those from other continents: these are all phenomena that are causing concern to the EU institutions and to member states and that will be on the order of the day at the first Forum on “demographic challenges” due to be held in Brussels on 30-31 October. FORUM IN BRUSSELS. Last year the Commission published a Green Paper on these issues (“A new solidarity between the generations in response to demographic changes, March 2005). It was discussed at a Conference (July 2005), with the participation of many international experts. The meeting at the end of October is being prepared by VLADIMIR ŠPIDLA , European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities. “The Forum – he explains – will have a dual aim: first, that of discussing a new Communication on demography that the Commission is drawing up, taking into account the discussions following the Green Paper” of 2005; “second, it will serve as a platform for the identification and exchange of good practices” in the field of demographic policies. The focus will be placed on the changes that have taken place in the life of individuals, families and businesses, “not only at the local and regional, but also at the national and European level”. THE ELDERLY ACCORDING TO EUROSTAT. The preparatory materials for the Forum to be held at the Palais Charlemagne – its programme punctuated with reports, round tables and specialized work groups – also include the study realized by Eurostat for the International Day of Elderly Persons (1 October 2006). According to the data furnished by the Statistics Office of the European Community, the population over the age of 65 is rapidly growing: in 1995 it consisted of 66 million people (15% of the EU total), which grew to 75 million in 2005 (17%). The highest percentages of the elderly are registered in Germany and Italy (19%), the lowest in Ireland (11%), Cyprus and Slovakia (12%). “The projections for 2050 – says the Eurostat document – indicate that in the 25-member EU the number of people aged 65 and over could rise to roughly 135 millions”, equivalent to 30% of the total of EU citizens. The greatest percentages of the elderly would be registered – again according to Eurostat projections – in Spain, Italy, Germany, Greece and Portugal, while the “younger” populations would be those of Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden. THE ELDERLY LIVE BEST IN CYPRUS. The Eurostat evaluations of the demographic data provide other interesting findings, this time of social and behavioural type. For example, the figures show that, on average, once the age threshold of 65 is passed, both men and women now enjoy a further ten years of life “in good health” and without physical and psychological incapacities. The best “state of health” among the elderly is registered in Cyprus, followed by Italy, Belgium and Spain, while more precarious conditions characterize the life of the elderly in Hungary, Finland, France, and the United Kingdom. Also of interest are the data on professional condition: bearing in mind that the rate of employment in the age group between 15 and 64 is approximately 63% in Europe, that in the age group 60-64 drops to 26%. Over this threshold, only 8% of people continue to work, most of them concentrated in Sweden, Estonia, Ireland and the UK. INTERNET, HOLLAND WINS. The time dedicated to work is offset by the time free for recreation and culture. The data, though not strictly comparable from nation to nation, reveal that people over the age of 65 have at their disposal at least 5-8 hours of free time to invest in their own avocations, i.e. in activities other than work and housework. “Men – says the report – in general have more free time than women”. Another finding is not of secondary importance: 12% of people between the ages of 65 and 74 “made use of the Internet in 2005”. The data suggest that the elderly are devoting themselves in growing percentages to the computer and the World Wide Web. “The member states that register the highest proportion of surfers on the Net over the age of 65 are Holland (34%), Sweden (27%) and Luxembourg (26%). The lowest percentages are registered in Greece and Slovakia (1%), Czech Republic, Lithuania and Portugal (2%)”.