Countdown to the European Year for Active Ageing: Meeting the Challenge of Europe’s Ageing Population

Key Speakers

	Mr. Ralf Jacob, Head of Unit of Active Ageing, Pensions, Healthcare, Social Services, DG EMPL European Commission
	Ms. Maria Iglesia-Gomez, Head of Unit, Strategy and International, DG SANCO, European Commission
	Mrs. Anne-Sophie Parent, Secretary General, Age Platform Europe
	Mr. Kai Leichsenring, Researcher, The European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research, Vienna, Austria
	Prof. Anja Declercq, Project Leader at LUCAS - Centre for Care Research and Consultancy, Leuven, Belgium
	Dr. Fausto Felli, President, Equity in Health Institute, Italy
	Prof. Kène Henkens, Head of the Social Demography Department, Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute in The Hague, The Netherlands

The European Union is experiencing a process of significant demographic change as people live longer and healthier lives. Life expectancy has risen by eight years, and demographic projections forecast a further five-year increase over the next forty years. If we combine this with low birth rates, the balance between younger and older people in Europe will be dramatically changed. Alarmingly, demographic projections by Eurostat indicate a decline of about 6.8% in the number of people of working age by 2030, therefore, two people of working age will be needed to support one retired person.

Society faces a number of challenges as a result, and the implications for local, regional and national authorities are serious – there may be an increase in pressure on public budgets and pension systems, as well as on social and care provision for older people. Furthermore, old age is often associated with illness and dependence, and older people can feel excluded from employment as well as from family and society.

However, these challenges neglect the significant and potential contribution that older people can make to society. The key challenge will be to promote healthy and active ageing for European citizens as more years in good health will mean a better quality of life, more independence and the possibility to remain active. An ageing population in good health will also mean less strain on health systems and fewer people retiring from work due to ill-health. This, in turn, would have a positive impact on Europe’s economic growth.

As 2012 is designated by the Commission as the ‘European Year for Active Ageing’, this timely international symposium seeks to raise awareness, stimulate debate and trigger policy discussion around improving the vitality of older people, enhancing their involvement in society and removing barriers between generations. Active ageing includes creating more opportunities for older people to continue working and to contribute to society through volunteering, however, these ambitions need to be supported by a wide range of policies at all levels of governance.

The European Union has a key role to play in areas such as employment, social protection and inclusion, public health, information society and transport, but the primary role is for national, regional and local governments, as well as civil society and the social partners to adopt clear frameworks to promote active ageing. Public Policy Exchange welcomes the participation of all key partners, responsible authorities and stakeholders. The Symposium will support the exchange of ideas and encourage delegates to engage in thought-provoking topical debate.

Delegates will:

• Understand and assess the implications of the EU’s ageing population for local, regional and national authorities
• Learn about the key opportunities and goals to be created by the ‘European Year for Active Ageing’ in 2012
• Support the European Commission’s key measures for intergenerational solidarity and raising awareness of active ageing
• Discuss how to improve services for older people at local and regional levels
• Explore how to reduce economic dependency and promote greater participation in employment and society
• Exchange best practices, local case studies and lessons learnt

Programme

Who Should Attend?

• Health Practitioners
• Social Care Practitioners
• Health Promotion Agencies
• Patient’s Organisations
• Pension’s Organisations
• Pension Funds
• National Associations of Pensioners
• Trade Union Representatives
• National Senior Citizen’s Organisations
• Research Labour Institutes
• Welfare and Elderly Federations
• Unions of Retired Persons
• Elderly Women’s Activity Centres
• Federations of Elder Associations
• Active Ageing Organisations
• Social Services
• Institutes of Lifelong Learning
• National Societies of Gerontology
• Public Service Pensioner’s Councils
• National Institutes of Adult Continuing Education
• National Centres for Public Health Protection
• National Departments of Health
• Private and Non Profit Organisations
• Researchers
• Centres of Health Economics
• Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Bodies
• Palliative Care Associations