Lidstaten presenteren beleidsinitiatieven tijdens sluitingsceremonie Europees Jaar (en)

The closing event of the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations 2012 was held on December10th in Nicosia, organised by the Cyprus EU Presidency.

In his opening address László Andor i, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, said that the European Year has been an important milestone in the efforts to support the development of active ageing policies and initiatives. He also admitted to be “impressed by the commitment and innovative ideas shown by hundreds of organisations, companies and individuals across Europe who have increased older people's opportunities to keep working and participate in the economy and society”. “It makes me confident that we can succeed in tackling the challenges of population ageing. I encourage you to keep up your efforts after the Year is over", said Mr. Andor.

The European Year 2012 has mobilised a wide range of stakeholders across Europe to take action with the aim of creating better opportunities for active ageing and strengthening solidarity between generations. It gave rise to hundreds of new initiatives and events at European, national, regional or local level dealing with employment, social participation and independent living of older people.

In addition, the EU Member States have developed together with the Commission the "Guiding Principles for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations" which were endorsed by the EU's Social Affairs Ministers on 6 December 2012. The Guiding Principles are addressed to Member States, regions and cities, companies and other relevant organisations which have a role to play in further improving the conditions for active ageing over the coming years.

At the closing conference, a new Active Ageing Index (AAI) was presented for the first time to the public. The AAI was developed in a joint project between the European Commission and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). The index will help the EU Member States to identify challenges and unrealised potentials and to monitor progress in the area of active ageing.

The European Year 2012 for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations has aimed at raising awareness of these issues and promoted measures that create more and better opportunities for older people to remain active and independent and to ensure genuine two-way solidarity between generations.

Many Member States used the political momentum created by the European Year 2012 for launching important policy initiatives. Here are summaries of some of those initiatives:

• - 

  Austria presented a Federal Plan for Senior Citizens in January 2012.
• - 

  Belgium has established in November 2012 a new Federal Advisory Council for the Elderly.
• - 

  Germany ran an awareness campaign. The German Anti-discrimination Agency has declared 2012 the Year Against Age Discrimination.
• - 

  Ireland has decided that every local authority area in Ireland will have its own Age-Friendly County Programme by the end of 2013.
• - 

  Poland adopted in August 2012 a Government Programme for Senior Citizens Social Activity for the years 2012-2013.

--

The ceremony will be streamed live online at this address in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian and Greek. It will be also be transmitted in Twitter with the hashtag #EY2012.