Dear Readers,
As autumn turns to winter, the nature’s powerful cycles can be unpleasant, especially when first cold comes or the force of wind gusts. The same goes for political cycles, which can also have physical and emotional effects, making us feel disoriented, nervous but also excited about what’s new or unexpected. This autumn has been one of those that will have a major impact on our political, social and economic landscape and, ultimately, on everyone’s lives. The highly mediatised change in the US White House coincided with an equally high-profile change in the EU. The hearings of commissioners-candidates and the recent confirmation of the new Commission by the Parliament in Strasbourg provided new answers to the question of what kind of Union will emerge to face complex internal and external challenges such as climate change, the lag in technology and innovation, migration or geopolitical tensions.
But what about the ageing population? It seems that the challenge of fully grasping the potential of older people for our societies will remain, and even increase. Whereas rightly focusing on competitiveness and crisis preparedness, the European Commission seems to be overlooking the unique synergies between economic growth and resilience, digitalisation and the green transition, on the one hand, and population ageing, on the other. Yet these megatrends, intertwined and mutually reinforcing, can improve cohesion, inclusion and the wellbeing of society. We can’t miss this opportunity!
As populations age, there is an increasing demand for technologies that support long-term care, such as telemedicine, smart homes, or digital health monitoring systems. Digitalisation can help bridge the gap, improving access to essential services and fostering independence among older people. Additionally, the green transition – focused on sustainability – can create new industries and job opportunities that benefit both younger and older generations, strengthening intergenerational cooperation. In exchange, sustainable energy solutions and green technologies can improve the quality of life by reducing pollution, enhancing environmental health, and creating healthier living spaces for all. By aligning these major trends – ageing population, digital and green transitions – both in terms of investment and targeted policies, the EU can foster dynamic and inclusive growth, ensuring that the needs of ageing populations are met while driving environmental and economic transformation. Ultimately, greater coherence between these policies will strengthen our societies, while creating cohesion within them – societies that welcome everyone, whatever their age, origin, socio-economic status, etc.
At a recent European conference on pensions, I was asked whether there was a silver lining to ageing population. There’s more than one, obviously! The question should be rather about what impedes us from taking advantage of it. Population ageing presents potential for economy, innovation, for social cohesion, inclusion and ultimately our individual and collective wellbeing. Older people are co-creators of our societies and could be even more so, if only policies guaranteed equal opportunities, freedom and flexibility for all. It will therefore be even more important to continue our campaign for age equality given the lack of ambition and coherence in the EU’s agenda for older people.
As we end the year by entering a new policy cycle, the mobilisation of our members created for the European elections must continue into 2025, stepping up our commitment to fulfil AGE’s mission which is to celebrate longevity as one of humanity’s greatest achievements. In the upcoming months and years, we will continuously seek to combat ageism, promote human rights throughout the life course, reduce inequalities and enable everyone to live a full and dignified life – and so on until the next political cycle…
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