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Digitalisation: Campaign Launch to Ensure Offline Access to Essential Services in Europe

©Centre for Ageing Better

The increasing digitalisation of everyday life has left over 40% of Europeans unable to access essential services, highlighting a critical gap in inclusion and accessibility. In response to this, the organisation Lire et Écrire is launching a campaign, with AGE Platform Europe supporting it.

Lire et Écrire is launching a campaign on Thursday, January 30, 2025, at the European Parliament, calling for guaranteed offline access to all essential services. AGE Platform Europe will also join the initiative.

Together, we will deliver an open letter – co-signed by more than 650 organisations and experts – to Members of the European Parliament and the European Commission.

The letter emphasizes the urgent need to ensure human interaction remains available and calls for a broader societal debate about the role of digital technology in our lives.

The Belgian newspaper Le Soir published the letter, further amplifying this important message.

Digitalisation and older people: our call to EU Policy Makers

Together with our members, we have published our contribution to the EU debate on the issues of digitalisation and ageing, including recommendations to achieve a smooth digital transition for everyone, at all ages.

In our policy paper, we have identified four priorities on which we believe the European Union, its Member States and all relevant stakeholders should make progress.
These priorities are:

  • Collecting and making available more data on digital technologies in old age, therefore making older people truly visible and to better identify the gaps, the needs for actions as well as the progress.
  • Tackling ageism to dismantle stereotypes about older people and digital technologies. The change of lens is critical to make sure that both policies, products and services are shaped to answer people’s needs without further increasing inequalities.
  • Guaranteeing full accessibility, including availability and affordability, to ensure that the digital transition leaves no one behind.
  • Using human rights as a compass for digitalisation so that people come before technologies.

A digital transition should be barrier free and attractive for all. This requires involving us, older people, are a true partner.

Contact

Julia Wadoux

Policy Manager on Healthy Ageing and Accessibility

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