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AGE Platform – AGE Platform – Growing old in Europe: challenges Growing old in Europe: challenges and ways forward – setting the sceneand ways forward – setting the scene

Dr. E. Mestheneos, Vice-President AGE-Platform Dr. E. Mestheneos, Vice-President AGE-Platform 50+Hellas50+HellasMadrid 2007Madrid 2007

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What is AGE-Platform?What is AGE-Platform?

brings together seniors’ organisations, and other civil society organisations working with and for older people from across the European Union to give a strong and credible voice to the views, needs and interests of older and retired people at national and European level.

aims to act as a bridge between its member associations and the EU Institutions, supporting its members in their daily advocacy activities at national level, actively representing their interests and agreed policy positions at European level and raising awareness of the issues that truly concern older people.

is a non-profit making international association, financed by membership fees and subsidies from the European Commission.

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Demographic challengesDemographic challengesEvery EU country has seen a decline in birth rates and an Every EU country has seen a decline in birth rates and an increase in longevity. Every year 3 months more are added to increase in longevity. Every year 3 months more are added to life expectancy (every ten years 2.5 years. Already a third of the life expectancy (every ten years 2.5 years. Already a third of the population is over 50, with the greatest proportional growth in population is over 50, with the greatest proportional growth in those over 80 years of age. Politicians see it as a national issue those over 80 years of age. Politicians see it as a national issue but it is common throughout EU. Hence the interest at EU level but it is common throughout EU. Hence the interest at EU level on how to address these new challenges.on how to address these new challenges.The debate on population ageing has tended to focus on what The debate on population ageing has tended to focus on what are presented as negative quantitative changes : are presented as negative quantitative changes : pensions and health care expenditure, pensions and health care expenditure, older worker employment rates - older worker employment rates - old-age dependency ratios etc. old-age dependency ratios etc. Important issues about how politically, economically and socially Important issues about how politically, economically and socially we manage these, but we should not ignore the qualitative we manage these, but we should not ignore the qualitative changes we shall need in our societies.changes we shall need in our societies.

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EU and MS Policy and Older EU and MS Policy and Older WorkersWorkers

EU competes with world – concern with productivity and the availability of EU competes with world – concern with productivity and the availability of labour in the future. Lisbon strategy aims to increase the labour market labour in the future. Lisbon strategy aims to increase the labour market participation of those over 50 in the labour market – this requires changes in participation of those over 50 in the labour market – this requires changes in mind sets/attitudesmind sets/attitudesbehaviour of employers, HR managers, line managers, policy makers, behaviour of employers, HR managers, line managers, policy makers, employment services and older workers themselves.employment services and older workers themselves.Some MS already succeeding in this aim – high variations in participation ratesSome MS already succeeding in this aim – high variations in participation rates

Employment Policies have to adjust to the ageing population in all areas – Employment Policies have to adjust to the ageing population in all areas – pension systemspension systems health and well being at work, health and well being at work, transport and accessibility transport and accessibility trainingtraining active employment measures for older workers active employment measures for older workers

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Older WorkersOlder Workers Majority less educated than younger generations but large MS Majority less educated than younger generations but large MS

variation and large individual variations.variation and large individual variations. In most M.S. governments and employers provide very low levels In most M.S. governments and employers provide very low levels

of training for older workers. Training often inappropriate, of training for older workers. Training often inappropriate, designed for the minds of young people and not those of older designed for the minds of young people and not those of older learners. learners.

Lower level of familiarity with ICT.Lower level of familiarity with ICT. Early retirement schemes, available in earlier decades, have Early retirement schemes, available in earlier decades, have

influenced expectations.influenced expectations. These schemes also generated negative attitudes amongst These schemes also generated negative attitudes amongst

managers, line managers and many workers towards the managers, line managers and many workers towards the retention, recruitment, career development and training of older retention, recruitment, career development and training of older workers. workers.

Bad or inadequate management especially in the public sector Bad or inadequate management especially in the public sector and in small and medium enterprises works against older and in small and medium enterprises works against older workers.workers.

Age discrimination is probably the most widespread form of Age discrimination is probably the most widespread form of discrimination. Legislation is not enough to change this.discrimination. Legislation is not enough to change this.

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Confronting an Ageing Workforce.Confronting an Ageing Workforce. Gathering of “Good Practice Examples by Gathering of “Good Practice Examples by

Employers” to promote Older worker Employers” to promote Older worker employment – since1995 – dissemination employment – since1995 – dissemination through social partners.through social partners.

Age discrimination in employment legislation Age discrimination in employment legislation now in place and being monitored and promoted now in place and being monitored and promoted in all MS.in all MS.

Efforts through EQUAL, Article 6 (ESF) Efforts through EQUAL, Article 6 (ESF) Leonardo, Grundvig EU funded projects to find Leonardo, Grundvig EU funded projects to find best practices to promote older people’s best practices to promote older people’s employment. CAWA a specific detailed study of employment. CAWA a specific detailed study of actions by sector and in cooperation with social actions by sector and in cooperation with social partners.partners.

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AGE-PLATFORM’s contribution: AGE-PLATFORM’s contribution: Basic Principles.Basic Principles.

A change of attitudes is needed if society is to A change of attitudes is needed if society is to become a society for all ages. become a society for all ages.

Age discrimination is a reality that impacts Age discrimination is a reality that impacts negatively on the lives of individuals and on our negatively on the lives of individuals and on our communities and societies; age discrimination communities and societies; age discrimination must be challenged in all spheres.must be challenged in all spheres.

Promotion of real choice in employmentPromotion of real choice in employment Older and retired people should be able to Older and retired people should be able to

speak out on their own behalf.speak out on their own behalf.

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Older and/or retired people are not a homogenous Older and/or retired people are not a homogenous group, but rather there is great diversity among older group, but rather there is great diversity among older and/or retired people, which must be respected. and/or retired people, which must be respected.

Civil dialogue should recognise and take account of Civil dialogue should recognise and take account of older and retired people.older and retired people.

Increased longevity is a tremendous social Increased longevity is a tremendous social achievement, which should be welcomed.achievement, which should be welcomed.

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We need to recognise, rather than fear, the effects We need to recognise, rather than fear, the effects of demographic ageing and reflect seriously on the of demographic ageing and reflect seriously on the opportunities and challenges that it poses.opportunities and challenges that it poses.

The agenda on age should be based on The agenda on age should be based on recognition of the fundamental rights of people of recognition of the fundamental rights of people of all agesall ages

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The major contribution of older people to The major contribution of older people to society should be recognised and not be society should be recognised and not be rooted exclusively in economic necessity rooted exclusively in economic necessity created by demographic ageing of labour created by demographic ageing of labour marketsmarkets

There needs to be a greater recognition and There needs to be a greater recognition and understanding at European level of the impact understanding at European level of the impact of European policies on older and/or retired of European policies on older and/or retired peoplepeople

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AGE’s main activities:AGE’s main activities:

The fight against Age DiscriminationThe fight against Age Discrimination Social Protection (Pensions)Social Protection (Pensions) Health and Long Term CareHealth and Long Term Care Social InclusionSocial Inclusion Employment Employment Universal accessibility and Independent Universal accessibility and Independent

living: New technologies, transport and living: New technologies, transport and the built environmentthe built environment

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AGE VisionAGE Vision

is of a society for people of all ages where is of a society for people of all ages where individuals enjoy equal rights in terms of their individuals enjoy equal rights in terms of their living conditions, their economic situation, living conditions, their economic situation, their participation as citizens and their their participation as citizens and their access to goods and services. We believe access to goods and services. We believe that the achievement of age equality will not that the achievement of age equality will not only benefit older individuals as citizens and only benefit older individuals as citizens and give the proper value to their wisdom, give the proper value to their wisdom, experience and personal characteristics; it is experience and personal characteristics; it is also in the interest of society in general. also in the interest of society in general.

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Why is the involvement of grass roots Why is the involvement of grass roots organisations important to the work AGEorganisations important to the work AGE does does at EU level?at EU level?

ParticipationParticipation Consulation Consulation InformationInformation CollaborationCollaboration Commitment Commitment ControlControl

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Towards a European society of all agesTowards a European society of all ages

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Dr. Elizabeth MestheneosDr. Elizabeth Mestheneos

AGE- The European Older People’s AGE- The European Older People’s PlatformPlatform

Rue Froissart 111Rue Froissart 111

1040 Bruxelles, Belgique1040 Bruxelles, Belgique

Tel: +32 (0) 2 234 65 53Tel: +32 (0) 2 234 65 53

Liz.mestheneos@sextant.grLiz.mestheneos@sextant.gr

+302103465009+302103465009

Mob. +306972292045Mob. +306972292045