Photo Credits: © European Union 2024 – Source : EP
We closely followed the EU Commissioners’ Hearings 2024, focusing on five portfolios relevant to our advocacy work for a Europe for all ages, to better understand their positions on age equality.
Unlike her previous term, President Ursula von der Leyen has not appointed a standalone Commissioner for Equality in her new College of Commissioners. This represents a significant step back from achieving a ‘Union of Equality,’ building on the legacy of President Ursula von der Leyen’s engagement over the past five years for people of all ages.
In this article, we summarize insights from the hearings of 5 Commissioners, who began their mandates on 1st December 2024, to identify which portfolios are best aligned with leading on age equality issues.
Key points from the Hearings of Commissioners-designates 2024
Glenn Micallef
- Portfolio: Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture, and Sport
- Country: Malta
- Hearing Date: 4 November 2024 | 14:30-17:30
- Recorded video of the session
Photo Credits: © European Union 2024 – Source : EP / Photographer: Alain ROLLAND
- We fully support Mr Micallef’s statement “We must not leave any generation behind, but we also need to take into account the needs of future generations in all actions that we take”, and remind how crucial a life-course perspective approach is.
- We welcome the forthcoming strategy on intergenerational fairness and we are ready to work hand in hand with Mr Micallef to bring the perspective of older people.
- While we acknowledge the commitment of Mr Micallef towards mental health, we are disappointed to see that older people are not mentioned as one of its target groups.
- While we support the portfolio of intergenerational fairness, we regret that the concrete actions or aims of such a Strategy vis-à-vis current and future generations of older persons are not mentioned and have not been debated at the hearing. AGE stands ready to discuss this missing aspect with the new Commission.
No. Older people as such were not mentioned by Mr Micallef, but we acknowledge his commitment toward intergenerational fairness and his willingness to leave no generation behind. However, there is a need to clarify the concept, as Mr Micallef stated: “The concept of intergenerational fairness – fairness between generations – is one that is in our Treaties, and it is one that I look forward to take work in very seriously”, while the exact wording in the treaties is around solidarity between generations (art. 3 of the consolidated version of the EU Treaties).
It is also worth underlining that Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have not been very vocal on ageing/older people issues while asking their questions. Essentially one MEP (Marlena Maląg, Poland, European Conservatives and Reformists Group) asked how the Commission intends to address loneliness in old age or discrimination against older people in the workplace. In response to her question, Mr Micallef made a general reply and reminded us the importance of “harmony between the different generations, so not pitting generations against each other, not blaming generations for different challenges that we find ourselves in”. He also highlighted the horizontal impact of demographic change citing, for example, employment policies, housing policies and climate change.
Michael McGrath
- Portfolio: Democracy, Justice and the Rule of Law portfolio
- Country: Ireland
- Hearing Date: 5 November 2024 | 9:00-12:00
- Recorded video of the session
Photo Credits: © European Union 2024 – Source : EP / Photographer: Alain ROLLAND
- Mr McGrath confirmed the Commission’s commitment to fundamental rights, highlighting that they will use the full suite of available tools in cases of breaches and will not hesitate to initiate infringement proceedings and interim measures against member states if necessary. He referred to the 25th anniversary of the Charter of Fundamental Rights, to be celebrated next year, as a key milestone. He also mentioned that the annual report on the implementation of the Charter will focus on monitoring. Additionally, Mr McGrath stressed that the EU budget should continue to support civil society organisations.
- It was clarified that equality will remain a key priority for the Commission, to be treated horizontally across all its activities. Mr McGrath stated that he will work closely with the Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management, as well as Equality, Hadja Lahbib, particularly on issues related to gender and LGBTI rights.
- Mr McGrath expressed support for the progress made by the previous Commission on victims’ rights and the Violence Against Women directives. However, he emphasised the need for further work in these areas.
No. Older people were not specifically mentioned. When asked about the Digital Fairness Act and the issue of addictive design, Mr McGrath clarified that it would cover all consumers, regardless of age, but focused particular attention on the protection of minors as consumers.
Dubravka Šuica
- Portfolio: Mediterranean
- Country: Croatia
- Hearing Date: 5 November 2024 | 14:30-17:30
- Recorded video of the session
Photo Credits: © European Union 2024 – Source : EP / Photographer: Alexis HAULOT
- Mrs Šuica explained that demography impacts all policy areas, including the competitiveness agenda, the green and digital transition and that she will continue to mainstream demography across all relevant policy areas.
- In answering Member of the European Parliament, Michał Kobosko (Renew Europe)’s question on whether the European Commission was planning to work on a “European demography strategy”, she stated the following: “we are trying to just to make democracy prominent on our agenda”. However, Mrs Šuica did not mention that the European Commission was working on a specific Age Equality Strategy, nor how she is planning to put demography higher in the political agenda, including alongside her portfolio on Mediterranean.
- Since the portfolio on Demography is together with the portfolio on the Mediterranean, the majority of questions from Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) reinforced stigma and stereotypes both on migrants and older people. In some MEPs’ words, demographic change is seen as something even “collapsing” and the “drop-in fertility rate” is going to be responsible for an increase in the number of migrants in the EU.
- In Mrs Šuica written answer, she stated that her priority regarding demography will be the implementation of a Demography Toolbox, “which outlines a comprehensive set of existing regulatory instruments, policy frameworks and funding tools available at EU and national level to support Member States in managing demographic change. The toolbox aims at better reconciling family aspirations and paid work; empowering younger and older generations to thrive; and where necessary helping to fill labour shortages through legal migration.” In her written answer, she also mentions equality and intergenerational fairness.
Yes, but there was a stronger focus on youth and children. However, Ms Šuica never referred to the rights of older people but to “human capital”, nor did MEPs when raising questions on demography.
Demography was articulated around the angle of competitiveness and labour market participation. During her opening statement on demography, Ms Šuica stated that “the fact that we live longer, healthier lives is a remarkable achievement. It is a testament to the social and economic progress Europe has achieved over the past decades.” Despite this statement, where ageing is seen as a positive process, the ageing population in Europe was rather depicted as an economic burden.
Hadja Lahbib
- Portfolio: Preparedness, Crisis Management and Equality
- Country: Belgium
- Hearing Date: 6 November 2024 | 9:00-12:00
- Recorded video of the session
Photo Credits: © European Union 2024 – Source : EP / Photographer: Laurie DIEFFEMBACQ
- AGE, along with other observers, wondered whether Ms Lahbib could reconcile the two main areas of her portfolio – Preparedness and Crisis Management, as well as Equality.. When asked about the perceived downgrade of the equality portfolio, Ms Lahbib said it was not a step back and claimed she would have the same tools and influence as former EU Commissioner for Equality, Helena Dalli.
(Read our position here, and see our open letter, co-signed by 50 NGOs, urging the European Commission to prioritise Equality.) - Ms Lahbib connected equality and crisis response in her replies to Members of the European Parliament, such as emphasising equality in rescuing disaster victims. This raised questions about her engagement with day-to-day equality policies.
- Ms Lahbib committed to pursuing the horizontal equal treatment directive but noted that the Council of the EU and the need for unanimity among Member States were blocking progress. She mentioned plans to renew existing strategies but did not propose any new equality initiatives. While she stated that all forms of discrimination must be treated equally, she made no specific reference to age.
- Age equality is not explicitly mentioned in Ms Lahbib’s mission letter, unlike other grounds of discrimination. Questions on ageism and an intersectional approach were deflected, with Ms Lahbib stating that all aspects of policies must be considered to achieve equality. However, she clearly committed to continuing the current Disability Strategy when asked about it.
No. In her closing statement, Mr Lahbib listed the grounds of discrimination she will address in her Mandate to ensure that everyone can live free from these constraints. However, she did not mention the need to combat age discrimination.
“I will be 100% Commissioner for Equality. 100% Commissioner for Preparedness, for Civil Protection and for Humanitarian Aid (…)
I will work for a Europe where everyone can live free from discrimination and violence, no matter their background, beliefs, skin colour, gender, sexual orientation or origin.”
Older persons were only directly mentioned in a question by Member of the European Parliament, Judita Laššáková (Non-attached Member, Slovakia) on ageism. However, Ms Lahbib did not directly answer the question, instead pointing to the need to tackle antimicrobial resistance in agricultural policies due to its significant impact on human health, as an example of how she intends to work transversally.
Roxana Mînzatu
- Portfolio: People, Skills and Preparedness
- Country: Romania
- Hearing Date: 12 November 2024 | 14:30-17:30
- Recorded video of the session
Photo Credits: © European Union 2024 – Source : EP / Photographer: Denis LOMME
- Roxana Mînzantu is missioned with developing a Quality Jobs Roadmap, together with social partners, to ensure a just transition for all and to provide not just employment but quality jobs. Ms Mînzatu will continue work on the right to disconnect and telework and reflect on workers’ rights in the digital age. She also announced a new Pact for European Social Dialogue in early 2025, focusing on three transitions: green, digital, and demographic.
- We welcome the strong statement of Ms Mînzatu on the gender pension gap and its impact in term of old age poverty: this is a positive sign for the future Anti-Poverty Strategy.
- We support Ms Mînzatu’s commitment to improving long‑term care to better respond to increasing needs in Europe and enhance people’s dignity to live independently and safely. On this, she mentioned the need for balanced work-life arrangements, and in her written answers, she recognised the “disproportionate burden from caring responsibilities, which impacts whether and how women can pursue paid work.”
She highlighted “In order to support women’s labour market participation throughout the life course, we need to ensure high-quality, affordable and accessible care services across the EU and improve the situation for both care receivers and the people caring for them professionally or informally. I will therefore continue and further step up the work on the implementation of the European Care Strategy”. - We look forward to the announced European Care Deal, which should raise the issue of the social protection and the impact of informal care in terms of poverty and income.
- We regret that the issue of discrimination faced by older workers, including in accessing life long training, was not mentioned. During the hearings, Ms Mînzatu mentioned the need to enhance intergenerational cooperation and support the workforce regardless of age or gender, but she didn’t go further than this.
Regarding lifelong learning, in her written answers, she says “Skills are a social right; a right that everyone should continue to benefit from childhood to old age”, which we could use to remind of the right to skills for people beyond the labour market.
Ms Mînzatu also expressed the willingness to put forward the Action Plan on Labour and Skills Shortages, the Union of Skills, and the Individual Learning Accounts initiatives with Member States.
Yes. Older people were mentioned by Ms. Mînzatu and those in vulnerable situations, notably older women living in poverty.
Conclusion
The EU Commissioners’ Hearings revealed both promising and disappointed outcomes for age equality.
On the positive side, we welcome the Commissioners-designate’s strong commitment to inclusion and diversity, as well as the focus on the gender pension gap and old-age poverty among women. However, we were disappointed by the low visibility of older people in the discussions and the lack of attention from Members of the European Parliament toward combatting age discrimination issues.
Regrettably, there were no indications that the new College of Commissioners will implement an Age Equality Strategy, based on its absence from both the hearings and the mission letters. We also reiterate that the absence of a standalone Commissioner for Equality represents a significant step back in the EU’s efforts to achieve a “Union of Equality”.
As we enter a new European legislature, AGE Platform Europe wishes to continue cooperating with the Commission to amplify the voices of older people and ensure that everyone, regardless of age, can age with rights, where human rights apply throughout life, enabling both young and older people to flourish and contribute meaningfully to society.
Contact
Philippe Seidel Leroy
Policy Manager on Social Protection and European Parliament
Sarah Loriato
Policy Officer on Employment & European Parliament Liaison
