EU Policy Developments
Issue 131
January 2013
EU Policy Developments
1
Special Briefing
7
Council
Other news
10
News about AGE
13
Publications
16
Call for Proposals
18
2013 European Year of Citizens kick-off conference in
Dublin
The European Year of Citizens 2013 was officially launched on 10 January
in Dublin's City Hall, with a series of speeches by the European
Commission President Barroso and the Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny,
and the Deputy Prime Minister Eamon Gilmore. The opening ceremony was
followed by a two-hour questions-and-answers session with the European
Commission Vice-President Viviane Reding, the Irish Minister of State for
European Affairs, Lucinda Creighton, and the floor. This interactive session
offered the opportunity for citizens in the audience and via the social media
to debate with the VIPs their concerns and hopes on a wide range of EU
issues.
Further regional dialogue events are planned for different venues
throughout Ireland during the Presidency.
As part of the EYCA, a civil society Alliance which aims to mobilise
and coordinate wide civil society engagement in the activities of the
EY2013, AGE will follow-up the EY2013 activities and echo older
citizens’ voice in the EU debate around EU citizenship. Together with
the EY2012 Coalition, we will also ensure that a link is made with
EY2012 work and outcome.
Read more in the Special briefing on page 7
http://eu2013.ie/news/news-items/20130110eyclaunch/
EYC2013 official website
EYC2013 Alliance
European Parliament
MEPs react to the release of the Annual Growth Survey
launching the European Semester 2013
Last 24 January, MEPs adopted in Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL)
Committee a report on the “European Semester for economic policy
coordination: Employment and Social Aspects in the AGS 2012 (Annual
Growth Survey)”, following the release of the EC guidelines.
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Policy content
MEPs underlined the negative effects austerity measures may have on social conditions, noting that austerity
measures should not compromise the quality of employment, nor social protection and health and safety standards.
Similarly, they deplored that priorities identified during last year’s European Semester cycle, in particular those
relating to job creation, job quality and the fight against poverty, notably among older people, and social exclusion
have not given the expected results.
On employment, MEPs regretted that the AGS does not address the quality of jobs and that too little attention is paid
to for increasing labour market participation of women, workers aged 45 +, people with disabilities and the most
deprived. They estimated that retirement age could be evaluated on the basis of the evolution of healthy life
expectancy, but recalled the need to reduce the number of people leaving the labour market early. To do so, they
asked for the development of employment opportunities for older workers, adaptation of working conditions,
guaranteed access to life-long learning, tax benefit policies giving incentives to stay longer at work, and support to
active healthy ageing. With regard to health, MEPs asked any reform to focus on improving quality, ensuring
adequacy, affordability and universal access and guaranteeing sustainability.
Governance
As in the last report on the European Semester adopted in October 2012, MEPs regretted the insufficient
involvement of national parliaments, social partners and civil society and required that Member States guarantee
maximum transparency in the elaboration of NRPs (National Reform Programmes) as well as a wide involvement of
national parliaments and social partners in this process.
The final report is available here
AGE involvement
AGE shares the findings of the EP’ report both in relation to policy and governance issues. The report confirms our
member organisations’ feedback about the lack of transparency around the European semester in 2012. While the
extraordinary economic and political situation in European Union may partly account for this, AGE organisations
deplored the very little political willingness for inclusive policy planning with stakeholders.
AGE is mobilizing its members to take a more active part in national policy making around the Europe 2020 strategy.
AGE members sent calls to their respective national governments asking for open consultations on the reform
programs (NRPs) and social reports (NSRs)in 2013. By giving a voice to those who are directly affected by policymaking, national government will not only benefit from the input and expertise of civil society organisations but this
will also help strengthen the effectiveness of its policy response and ensure that the measures adopted will deliver
better social inclusion, social protection, and health and long-term care for the elderly, as well as age-friendly labour
markets.
For more information, please contact: Maciej.Kucharczyk@age-platform.eu
Adoption of the ENVI report on the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing
On January 24, the European Parliament’s Environment, public health and food safety
(ENVI) Committee adopted an own-initiative report on the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing (EIP-AHA).
In this report, the ENVI Committee recognized the importance to see ageing as an opportunity, to value the role of
older people, their experience and their contribution to society and the economy, and to ensure their participation on
equal terms in society as being a fundamental right. MEPs also called on the need to increase older people’s participation in decision- and policy-making.
AGE has closely followed the process to raise awareness among MEPs on the key issues of concern for older people, i.e. promotion of active ageing, age-friendly environments, design-for-all, fight against age discrimination, affordable and accessible health and social services, safe and adequate medicines for older patients, employment opportunities at old age, user-friendly innovation and fight against elder abuse.
On age-friendly environments, AGE particularly welcomes the acknowledgement of the necessity to provide accessible and affordable surroundings and houses which facilitate older persons’ independence, help them retain their
physical and cognitive capabilities for as long as possible, and live in familiar and safe environments while also preventing social isolation. Emphasize was also put on the necessity to understand age-friendly environments in a broad
context, i.e. not only the built environment but also the social, psychological, ecological, cultural and natural environment.
Through the association of the Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) Committee, the report also focuses very well
on the necessity to ensure employment opportunities for older workers, adequate working conditions, support of ICT
when adequate, and phased retirement possibilities.
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At last, AGE strongly supports the proposal to better involve regional and local authorities in the entire decisionmaking and assessment process.
For more information, please contact: Julia.Wadoux@age-platform.eu
EP Debate calls for improved accessed to cardiovascular emergency treatment
A debate was organised under the aegis of the European Critical Care Foundation (ECCF) at the European
Parliament on 23 January to discuss how to improve access to life-saving therapy for acute heart attack patients. The
discussion mainly highlighted the fact that there are vast inequalities in access to care across Europe, in particular
with regard to emergency services, the hospital network and the reimbursement of care given. It also emphasized
that rapid and effective treatment is key to improving the quality of life of patients suffering from cardiac problems,
and therefore to avoiding cardiovascular incidents, such as repeated heart attacks. The most valid method is often
the p-PCI (Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention), a non-surgical method for opening blocked blood vessels
that cause heart attacks, thereby improving circulation and reducing thoracic pain. However, for such intervention to
be effective, it must be used within two hours after the first symptoms appear and by specialist teams. Emergency
transport response times and lack of coordination between hospitals are some of the reported obstacles to proper
treatment.
Representatives of the associations involved in the debate (ECCF, Stent for Life, EAPCI, European Society for
Cardiology, EuroPCR) made a commitment to work towards improving the care delivered to heart patients in all
member states, and to encourage the diffusion of p-PCI. MEPs attending the debate pledged to take initiatives to
urge the European Commission and the member states to consider concrete action to reduce the inequalities in
healthcare systems.
Tackling health Inequalities through investing in housing
The European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) and CECODHAS Housing Europe organised a joint
seminar at the European Parliament on 22 January to debate on the link between health inequalities
and housing.
The event gathered MEPs, Civil Society representatives, specialists in housing and health issues
and representatives of the European Commission to discuss both the state of play as well as ongoing experiences on investment in quality housing and the positive impact on health status of
inhabitants.
Many different issues were raised such as energy poverty, unsafe housing, inadequate dwellings,
the necessity to make smart investment in housing and thus efficient spending that beneficiate the
whole community.
For more information, please refer to:

EPHA’s article on the seminar: http://www.epha.org/spip.php?article5467

CECODHAS Housing Europe website: http://www.housingeurope.eu/

WHO reports:
o Equity, social determinants and public health programme
o Environmental burden of disease associated with inadequate housing
Amendment proposals to defend older vulnerable consumers
Following the release of Vicente Miguel Garcés Ramόn draft Report on a new policy agenda for European consumers, AGE has been in contact with Claude Moraes, co-chair of the Intergroup on Ageing and Intergenerational Solidarity, to raise awareness to raise awareness of the issue of accessibility of goods and services, discrimination in
access to transport, financial services, ICT and energy experienced by many older people. We will closely follow the
adoption of the report by the European Parliament.
This cooperation has been mentioned in Claude Moraes MEP’s January newsletter.
European Commission
Extended deadline for EIP AHA commitments
The European Commission has postponed the deadline for the invitation for commitments of
the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing (EIP AHA) until 28th February. The Commission
has also issued an update FAQs which is available here.
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Last but not least a list of potential relevant EU funding for the EIP AHA was recently posted and can be viewed by
people registered:
https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/eipaha/news/index/show/id/318
AGE participation in eHealth Stakeholder Group
On 29 January, AGE participated in the meeting of the eHealth Stakeholder Group
(under the umbrella of DG CONNECT). This meeting was the opportunity to exchange
about the eHealth Action Plan 2012-2020 released by the European Commission in
December as well as about the accompanying Staff Working Document. A state of play
of the different working groups was done by ‘issue leaders’ – AGE being involved in two of them: (1) access of
patients to the electronic medical record led by BEUC and (2) eHealth and health inequalities led by EPHA.
Last but not least, the European Commission updated briefly the participants about the eHealth Week to be held from
13 to 15 May 2013 in Dublin.
For more information, please contact Julia Wadoux, julia.wadoux@age-platform.eu
Conference on the role of pension funds in active aging and solidarity among generations, 21 January 2013, Brussels
Building on the experience of the European Year 2012 for Active Ageing and
Solidarity between Generations, the European Commission together with the
European Association of Paritarian Institutions, the Federation of the Dutch
Pension Funds and pension funds from several EU countries co-organised a conference looking at the role pension
funds and social partners can play in promoting a genuine active ageing based on intergenerational solidarity.
Various practical examples from pension funds around the EU were presented. In the opening speech, the European
Commission confirmed that the discussion on the revision of the Solvency II directive and its possible application and
/or impact on pension funds is still in progress. However, there is no intention to transfer all its prudential rules to the
IORP directive (Institutions for Occupational Retirement Provision). The elements most likely to be considered for the
application to the IORP directive are: more transparency in management of pension funds, financial literacy or more
control over the risks of investments.
AGE was represented at the conference by its experts on pensions and secretariat. AGE’s UK member of our Social
Protection Expert Group, Mervyn Kohler, made a presentation on the latest developments in the UK pension policy.
He also reminded AGE long-lasting call for more supervision and transparency in respect to financial markets and its
actors, in particular in the light of the problems pension funds have been encountering due to the financial crises
since 2008. With the growing role of pension funds across the EU in delivering income for pensioners, AGE is
particularly concerned by the lack of adequate EU supervision of financial markets and institutions including pension
funds. Due to the on-going ‘externalization’ of pension funds from employers to insurance companies or other
financial bodies, there is a growing risk that pension funds will not keep their promise to members as consequence of
the increased exposure of their investment activities to volatility of financial markets. For more information on AGE’s
position on pension reforms and the impact of the financial crisis on their adequacy, please see: http://www.ageplatform.eu/en/age-policy-work/social-protection/age-position-statements In the closing speech to the conference,
European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, László Andor, reminded that pension funds
have, first of all, a social purpose, namely providing old-age income from other sources in order to prevent poverty
among older people. Only in second place they should act as financial institutions. The Commissioner insisted that
the long-term sustainability of Economic and Monetary Union also calls for solidarity and it is vital to clarify and
strengthen its social dimension, as it has been acknowledged by national governments at the last Summit in 2012.
The on-going EU debate on pensions builds on the last year’s Commission’s White Paper on pensions. The
upcoming Social Investment Package that the Commission will be presenting later in February will therefore propose
an overall approach to social dimension of the Europe 2020 including pension systems. It will set out an agenda for
social policy to help the Member States carry out the structural reforms needed to come out of the crisis stronger,
more cohesive and more competitive, according to the Commissioner.
A conference’s programme is available here:
http://europa.eu/ey2012/ey2012main.jsp?langId=en&catId=970&eventsId=846&furtherEvents=yes
AGE responds to EC consultation on implementation of Employment Directive
AGE has responded to the European Commission’s consultation on the implementation of the Employment Equality
Directive (2000/78/EC) with the support of our Employment and Non-Discrimination experts who gathered examples
about the impact which this directive has at national level.
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This paper looks at the impact that this directive has had on the preventing age discrimination among older workers
before and since the current crisis started, and considers the adequacy of its implementation in Member States in the
context of today’s very challenging economic climate. The paper also addresses the development of case law on age
discrimination in employment and how the application of the directive could be made more effective in combating age
discrimination in this area, drawing from several national examples provided by our members.
AGE members are asked to continue monitoring the transposition and implementation of the Employment Directive
in their Member State and to continue to provide the Secretariat with information on its impact at national level on an
ongoing basis so we can update the Commission during 2013 on what’s happening on the ground.
Updates can be sent to Rachel Buchanan, Policy Officer for Employment and Non-Discrimination, at
rachel.buchanan@age-platform.eu.
To access AGE’s response
DG Justice on the Eurobarometer on discrimination in the European Union in 2012
Speaking at the Equality Summit in November, Mr Aurel Ciobanu-Dordea, Director, Fundamental
Rights and Citizenship, European Commission (DG Justice) commented the findings of the recent
Eurobarometer on discrimination in the European Union in 2012 (see November CoverAGE). He highlighted that one of the striking results of the survey is that in the employment area, older citizens were
seen as the most discriminated group in 2012. Over a half of Europeans believe that a job applicant’s age is a disadvantage if they are over 55 years old, and 67% believe the economic crisis is contributing to more discrimination
against older workers. Considering the acceleration pace of the population ageing, its impact on public finances and,
more importantly, the dreadful effects of discrimination on the wellbeing of our older citizens, this trend should be
regarded as a major issue.
Mr Ciobanu-Dordea further stressed the lack of accessibility to goods and services that persons with disabilities and
older people often experience and which is considered by more than two-thirds of Europeans (68%) as a form of
discrimination according to the survey. Boosting the market for goods and services that are accessible for persons
with disabilities and older persons should, according to Mr Ciobanu-Dordea, contribute to growth, but above all
improve the quality of life of millions Europeans. Within this spirit and based on a “design for all” approach, the
Commission will present a European Accessibility Directive in the second quarter of 2013 as part of the Disability
Strategy. This legislative proposal will provide a European framework and standards for accessible goods and
services.
Commission seeks Horizon 2020 experts
The European Commission is planning the creation of a body of experts for its new framework-programme on
research and innovation, “Horizon 2020”. From the spring of 2013 onwards, advisory groups of indepedent experts
will examine preparations for calls for tender for projects to be financed by the EU from 2014 to 2020.
Experts (individuals or organisational representatives) have until 6 March 2013 to apply to the European Commission
to join the first group of advisers, who will help deliver innovative ideas, sustainable growth and new jobs.
Please note that no remuneration is provided for the participants in this advisory group, but the expenses will be
covered.
http://ec.europa.eu/research/horizon2020/index_en.cfm?pg=h2020-experts
Other EU and international institutions
UN Public Consultation on the human rights of older persons - Call for countryspecific contributions to be included in AGE answer!
The UN Human Rights Council in Geneva has requested the Office of the High Commissioner
for Human Rights (OHCHR) to organise a public consultation on older people’s rights as a
contribution to a thorough analysis of the state of protection of older people’s rights in law and in practice. In
preparation of the consultation that will take place on 15 April, in Palais des Nations, Geneva, the OHCHR is
gathering views from various stakeholders in order to inform the discussions from a substantive and pragmatic
perspective. In order to reflect the views of older people in this debate, AGE will submit a contribution from the
European perspective. The request is in principle country-specific, so AGE’s answer will be based on information
gathered by our members, highlighting the state-of-the-art across EU countries and summarizing regional trends.
Secretariat will therefore rely on the experience of AGE members to inform us on the challenges that older people
face and to what extent these are addressed at the national level.
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In particular, we wish to receive from members information on:
1. The main challenges related to promotion and protection of the human rights of older persons at the country
level.
2. Constitutions or legislation explicitly forbidding discrimination on the basis of old age, and the existence of
specific bodies which protect against age discrimination or are mandated to protect and promote the rights of
older persons.
3. Specific national legislation, national policies, strategies and plans of action adopted to ensure the equal
enjoyment of rights by older persons, particularly in the areas of prevention and protection against violence
and abuse, social protection, food and housing, employment, legal capacity, access to justice, health support,
long-term and palliative care.
AGE members are kindly requested to provide input on the above issues sending the below template to Nena
Georgantzi by March 1st 2013, in order to be included in our paper to the OHCHR. Older people’s organizations and
other interested stakeholders are also encouraged to submit their views directly to the OHCHR, which can act as
shadow reports to the information provided by Member States and governmental agencies, sending an email to
Christian Courtis, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (e-mail: registry@ohchr.org,
cc: ccourtis@ohchr.org) by Friday 15 March 2013. The information provided, which should not exceed 10 pages, will
be made available on the OHCHR website.
The template to gather country data to be submitted for the preparation of AGE’s response can be found here
More information on the consultation through this link.
The Resolution of the Human Rights Council 21/23 “Human Rights of older persons” can be viewed through this link.
Click here to know more about AGE’s work at the UN level to promote the rights of older people.
High-level Panel on Ageing at the 51st session of the UN Commission for Social Development
A High-level Panel Discussion on the report of the Secretary-General on the Second Review and Appraisal of the
Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing will be held at the United Nations Headquarters, on Thursday 7
February 2013. This High-level Panel Discussion will be part of the fifty-first session of the Commission for Social
Development, which will take place in New York from 6 to15 February 2013.
The Secretary-General’s report on the second review and appraisal of the Madrid International Plan of Action on
Ageing (E/CN.5/2013/6) is based primarily on information from the United Nations regional commissions in line with
respective regional review and appraisal exercises and meetings. It summarises and analyses regional findings and
priorities compared to those of the first review and appraisal, regional priorities for the next implementation period,
and offers recommendations for the consideration of Member States on global priorities for the further
implementation of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing.
You may follow the high-level Panel Discussion on UN Web TV: http://webtv.un.org
Join the Global Conversation on the UN Post- 2015 Development Agenda !
From 28 January to 22 February 2013 an online consultation called the ‘World We Want’ offers an
open and inclusive forum for civil society, policy makers and other stakeholders to stimulate
dialogue and facilitate an exchange of ideas, experiences and perspectives on the scope and
priorities of the UN post-2015 development agenda.
Amongst the discussed topics is "Population Dynamics", and within that is an online discussion on
"Low Population Growth and Ageing". This is a unique opportunity to place the issue of ageing on the international
development agenda for post 2015 period. In joining the online discussions, you may highlight the inadequacy of
policies, programmes, research and data collection to address ageing in areas such as poverty eradication, health,
food security, gender as well as in opportunities to secure access to livelihood and assets. Your contribution to the
ongoing debate on the ‘World We Want’ can underline that the post-2015 development agenda needs to be sensitive
and responsive to how ageing affects equality and enjoyment of human rights. Besides, currently, there is a lack of
nationally representative and internationally comparable data on older people which may act as barrier to the
response to population ageing.
For more information and to join the discussions go to www.worldwewant2015.org
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Special Briefing
Managing Director
2013 : European Year of Citizens launches debate on EU citizenship
Launch event highlighted priorities and challenges and fostered public interaction
On 10th January, over 200 citizens, including AGE Vice-President Louise Richardson (Ireland), came together in
Dublin City Hall to witness the Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Enda Kenny, Tanaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) Eamon
Gilmore and President Jose Manuel Barroso, launch the European Year of Citizens 2013 (abbreviated as EYC2013)
at the beginning of the Irish Presidency, and marking the 40th Anniversary of Ireland’s accession to the EU.
In his speech, President Barroso stated that 2013, the last full year before the
European elections, would be another crucial year for Europe. ‘The financial and
economic crisis has demonstrated just how interdependent we all are in today's
globalised world. More European unity is our best answer to globalisation. And more
unity has to be accompanied by more democracy’, he said. He added that support
for Europe had always been driven by voluntary groups, by businesses and by
engaged citizens and that their trust had to be earned more than ever. ‘Europe 2020
sets out a course towards what we believe can be sustainable inclusive and smart
growth’.
Activation of young people on the labour market was one of the priorities. The European Commission had proposed
that all Member States introduce a youth guarantee scheme to ensure that all young people up to age 25 receive a
quality offer of a job, continued education, an apprenticeship or a traineeship within four months of leaving formal
education or if they were unemployed. He was pleased that the Irish Presidency was working to get this agreed
already in February. ‘Together we will do everything we possibly can not to let our younger generations go to waste.’
EY2013 would offer new opportunities for helping to shape the European Union of the future. ‘I want to see a real
debate which engages every citizen on how the European Union should evolve in the years to come, both in the
economic and in the political sense,’ he concluded.
The launch was followed by a Citizens’ Dialogue – an exchange of opinions between audience members and VicePresident of the Commission, Viviane Reding and Minister for European Affairs, Lucinda Creighton T.D. The dialogue
focused on the economic crisis in Ireland, citizens’ rights in the EU and the future of the EU. Ms Reding recognised
that too many people were still unaware of their rights as EU citizens and that the EU needs to engage citizens better
than it has done to date. "We want to change the way we do politics. We want citizens to know who and what we are
voting for in the next election", she said. Further issues raised during the debate ranged from protecting the poor,
youth employment and the status of small countries in the EU. Contributions from all over Europe were also taken
online via Twitter.
The event was widely covered in both print and broadcast media and demonstrated the level of interest citizens have
about the European institutions and how interaction can take place.
Another event, entitled ‘Making the most of the European Year of Citizens’, was organised by European Economic
and Social Committee (EESC) in Brussels on 23-24 January to explore future pathways of active European
citizenship. Participants proposed a list of topics to be discussed in workshops. Following discussions in these
workshops, 19 proposals were documented and compiled in a brochure overnight. On the second day, a more limited
number of topics (decided by voting) were further discussed and documented.
The results of the workshops are available in the pdf brochure Your Europe 2013 - results (also available in French)
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Objectives of the EY
Being an EU citizen has a direct impact on your daily life in providing you with rights, such as moving and staying
freely within the European Union, studying or working in another EU country, having access to health care
everywhere in Europe or paying less for your phone calls. The European citizenship also allows you to vote in and
stand for municipal and European elections in the country where they reside. The next European Parliament
elections will take place in 2014.
However those rights are not always well known by many Europeans as a study dating back to 2010 (Eurobarometer
on EU citizenship) shows: only 43% of respondents know the true meaning of “European Union citizenship” and
nearly half of all European citizens (48%) feel they are “not well informed” about their rights.
The overall objective of the European Year of citizens 2013, which marks the 20 th anniversary of EU citizenship,
introduced by the Maastricht Treaty in 1993, is to raise awareness of your rights as EU citizens and stimulate a wide
debate on the development of EU citizenship and on how the EU should be in 2020. It will be a good opportunity to
trigger a dialogue between all levels of government, civil society, business and interested stakeholders and look at
obstacles EU citizens still encounter in their daily lives when exercising their EU rights, notably their right to free
movement and their political rights and to discuss solutions to remove these obstacles.
The discussion will notably draw on the study 'Participatory Citizenship in the European Union' published in May
2012 and on the outcome of the public consultation on EU citizenship launched last summer and will feed the 2013
EU Citizenship Report to be issued in May 2013 by the European Commission as a major contribution to the
EY2013.
Scope for a wider debate - Civil society engagement
Although the EYC2013 seeks to promote citizens’ involvement in the EU democracy process, AGE deplores that no
reference was made during the Year’s launch in Dublin to the achievements of EY2012 nor were there any apparent
links with the preceding ‘social’ European Years of Volunteering and Anti-Poverty and Social Inclusion which would
have indicated how citizens could successfully engage with the European processes. Bridging this European Year
with the previous ones is indeed important to build on the work previously done and show ways towards an EU in
which all citizens are empowered to bring their active contribution, whatever their age, capacity, gender, ethnic origin
or economic situation. This would help widen up the debate and develop a more comprehensive approach of what
being an EU citizen means and should mean in the future.
In order to contribute to the promotion of a comprehensive approach of EU citizenship and bring the ageing
perspective, AGE has joined the European Year of Citizens 2013 Alliance (abbreviated as EYCA) bringing together
civil society organisations standing for citizens’ concern in a wide range of EU policy areas. The aim of the Alliance is
to make the voice of the civil society heard within the debate around EU citizenship and to broaden the
understanding of EU citizenship and the scope of EYC2013 beyond the economic and legal dimensions. It promotes
the notion of democratic and active citizenship in the sense of supporting citizens’
involvement and participation in public affairs, society and the life of their communities,
in terms of activity and decision-making. This notion of citizenship should be based on
citizens’ legal status including all aspects of life and foster all citizens (including the
most disadvantage groups) to take part in the policy-making processes at all levels.
The Lisbon Treaty already provides a broader framework for the development of European citizenship rooted in a
“community of values” and reinforces its social and political dimension in granting the Charter of Fundamental Rights
the same legal value as the EU treaties and in enhancing the involvement of citizens and civil society organisations
in the European processes.
The Alliance will contribute to make sure that the EYC2013 reflects this approach and will throughout 2013 promote
activities which would facilitate and support various expressions and mobilisation of active citizenship in Europe.
The key message of the EYC2013 Alliance is summarized in its Manifesto.
Online materials
The EYC2013 official website aims to support the objectives of the EU Year in providing information on your rights
as EU citizens, on how to take part in the EU policy debate and on the relevant upcoming events. You are also
invited to share an event organised in the framework of the EYC2013.
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The European Year 2013 is also an excellent opportunity for stakeholders at local and regional level to debate about
Europe with citizens in the member states. For that reason, the Committee of the Regions (CoR) has developed an
online toolkit providing background information and communication material, helping CoR members
and other stakeholders to bring the key messages of EU citizenship at a local and regional level. This
online toolkit is available on the CoR website: www.cor.europa.eu/ey2013
On this page, you will also find the proceedings brochure with a report of the Forum of 28 November
2012 about the regional and local impact of the European Year.
In Belgium, the website Youreurope.be (available in English, Dutch, French and German) has been developed in
the framework of the EU Year by the Belgian authorities with the collaboration of the Representation of the European
Commission in Belgium, the Information Office of the European Parliament in Brussels, the European Economic and
Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions.
Last, but not least, AGE issued in November 2012, a publication aimed to improve older people’s
understanding of the EU decision-making processes and of civil society’s involvement, and to
facilitate their active participation in policy debate. The brochure Active Citizens for Europe: A
guide to the EU is available in English and French. Printed copies can be order at AGE
secretariat: info@age-platform.eu
Useful links:

EY2013 official website: http://europa.eu/citizens-2013/

European Commission press release: http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-13-2_en.htm

EY2013 launch event: http://eu2013.ie/news/news-items/20130110eyclaunch/

EY2013 Alliance: http://www.ey2013-alliance.eu/index.html
-------Interview: MEP Claude Moraes
Member of the Socialist Democrats for United Kingdom
1. According to a 2010 Eurobarometer, only 43% of respondents know the true meaning of “European Union citizenship” and 48% of all European citizens feel they are
“not well informed” about their rights. Do you think the EP has a role to play in
raising those figures and in feeding the debate on the development of EU citizenship? How?
The European Year of Citizens is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the rights citizens enjoy as part of the EU, and
to encourage everyone to have a more active engagement in the European democratic process. It is extremely
important that citizens know their rights, and the European Parliament has already taken a lead role in this. In
establishing the European Year of Citizens, the European Parliament stressed the need to raise citizens' awareness
of their rights as citizens of the Union, focusing particularly on the tangible, everyday ways in which citizens can
benefits from their rights.
With a little over a year to go before the European elections, the most important thing we can do as parliamentarians
is to make sure people know about their right to vote and the importance of active participation in choosing the only
directly democratically elected institution within the EU. Voters should know that they have a stake in what we do
here. Developing a shared sense of citizenship is part and parcel of raising awareness of the rights and protections
that Europeans enjoy, and it will be more effectively developed as citizens are made aware about their rights.
2. Which links could be made between the EY2012 and the EY2013 to ensure that the issues raised last
year stay high on the political agenda?
Already the European Parliament has been active in making sure the impact of EY2012 goes beyond the end of the
year. Last month, working with AGE Platform Europe, I tabled several amendments to a report on a New Consumer
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Policy Agenda, to address the growing digital divide experienced by older people, which has made them some of the
most vulnerable consumers in Europe.
Websites, and more widely many key services and products, remain inaccessible for a large proportion of consumers
in Europe; in particular persons with disabilities and persons with low levels of digital literacy. The amendments I
tabled addressed the areas of financial products and services, electronic commerce, product safety, price
transparency, unfair contract terms and accessibility.
These amendments aim to emphasise these problems throughout the report, with the intention of supporting
measures to address the barriers faced by older and disadvantaged consumers.
Promoting citizens' rights should go hand in hand with promoting equality of access for all consumers, and I intend to
make sure that this is not lost from the political agenda during EY2013.
Other news
O
Accessible transports: AGE releases two contributions
Transport is an important issue for older people since it is a key element for the active inclusion in society. Since EU
competencies on this area are quite important, AGE is actively involved in order to enhance accessibility of transport
in the whole European Union. In January, two contributions were released:

AGE contribution to the consultation on the preliminary draft of the revised TSI PRM
This paper is linked to the on-going work on the revision of the Technical Specification of Interoperability relating to
persons with reduced mobility (TSI PRM). This revision is led by the European Railway Agency together with a group
of stakeholders in which AGE Platform Europe is represented by two experts, Peter Rayner and Frans Moltzer. The
first preliminary draft of the revision was released end October 2012 and opened for consultation. AGE took this
opportunity to outline some concerns in relation to the content of this preliminary draft such as the definition of
persons with reduced mobility, the training of staff, resting areas, lighting and visual information.

Joint Statement “Towards better accessibility of transport services”
The second paper is a joint statement of AGE, CER (The Community of European Railway and Infrastructure
Companies), EDF (the European Disability Forum) and EPF (the European Passengers Forum) in order to contribute
to the forthcoming Accessibility Act and highlight how this EU initiative can contribute to the establishment of a level
playing field regarding accessibility of transport services.
For more information on those documents, please contact Julia Wadoux, julia.wadoux@age-platform.eu
EAPN releases its conference report: "Is Europe 2020 delivering on poverty?"
This conference, organised by the European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN) on 28 September 2012, looked into the
reality of the most vulnerable in the context of austerity policies and the malfunctioning of stakeholder participation in
decision-making, and discussed how to improve this situation.
The full report of the conference can be downloaded here in English (and here the condensed version in French).
The list of speakers and the presentations made at this conference are available on EAPN website.
AGE participation in Task Force on older workers
The conference, held on 6 December 2012 in the framework of the European Year 2012 of Active Ageing and
Solidarity between Generations, presented the findings of a joint venture project “Creating Second Career Labour
Markets – Towards more Employment Opportunities for Older Workers“ by the Bertelsmann Stiftung and the
European Policy Centre (EPC) which investigated how to make the labour market more inclusive for older workers
and provide them with new job opportunities that better match their needs . A series of policy recommendations,
aiming at a better labour market inclusion of older workers, was put to debate amongst a distinguished panel of
experts. Anne-Sophie Parent, AGE Secretary General, who was part of this panel, stated that measures such as
removing legal or financial disincentives to working had to be accompanied by employers willing to offer jobs. Ms
Parent also added that more quality jobs were needed, along with more support for older workers moving between
jobs and highlighted the paradox of some governments’ measures making cuts in the care sector despite the direct
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link between current demographics and the consequent growing need for care services.
A report of the conference as well as two project related movies are now available and can be accessed via this link
Boosting user involvement, the NET EUCEN experience
On 6th February AGE attended the NET-EUCEN workshop dedicated to user-centricity. Invited by the Coordinator of
the NET-EUCEN network, which is a multi-disciplinary eGovernment Community, Ilenia Gheno, AGE Research
Project Manager, had the chance to bring the older people’s perspective in the context of ICT and to support the
elicitation of users’ needs in all stages of research, from the its design to the implementation and assessment.
Co-funded by the European Commission under the CIP-ICT-PSP funding programme, NET-EUCEN aims to cover
the whole supply chain of the user-centered services: Users, Associations, Public Administrations, Software
Developers, Services Providers, Cultural Facilitators, Field Experts. The workshop tackled the engagement of final
beneficiaries in the whole process from the demand perspective: the event served to highlight what useful steps can
be undertaken in order to minimize the burdens for European citizens (in the case of e-government solutions) and
users (in the case of ICT-driven research) when confronted with new tools and technological services, while
maximizing the benefits deriving from their early involvement.
The workshop aimed in particular to brainstorm over 3 indicators of user-centricity, measuring how much a service
respects the user-centred approach, focusing on its design (indicator 1), its outcomes, and on its users and their
needs (indicator 3), without forgetting to analyse the intermediate steps, thus having a look to the implementation
phase too (indicator 2).
Indicators are still available for comments and further reviews till the end of February! Do not hesitate to
‘jump’ into the discussion and to contribute to the process.
For additional information, please visit http://www.net-eucen.org/indicators.php or contact ilenia.gheno@ageplatform.eu.
Online SURVEY on European eInclusion Intermediaries (Deadline: 15 February)
The European Commission is conducting the MIREIA project - Measuring the Impact of eInclusion Intermediary
Actors project - which aims at better understanding the role of intermediary actors facilitating the access to and use
of new technologies (ICT) for groups at risk of social exclusion (e-Inclusion) and to create adequate instruments to
facilitate the demonstration of their outcomes and their contribution to the achievement of European e-Inclusion
policy goals.
Within the framework of this project, Telecentre-Europe is conducting an online survey with a view to provide a 'map'
of eInclusion actors across Europe that will help to illustrate the diverse typologies and roles of key eInclusion
intermediary organisations and the socio-economic impact of their activities at European level.
This survey is aimed at e-Inclusion Intermediary organisations - that is to say centers that provide eInclusion
services/opportunities - defined in this study as a public place where people can access computers, the Internet, and
other digital technologies that enable them to gather information, create, learn, and communicate with others while
they develop essential digital skills. For example, if your organisation provides or supports activities to help older
people use the ICTs, computers, the Internet, etc, you are welcome to participate in the survey. You can also
disseminate it to any relevant organisation throughout your network.
This short online survey is open until 15th February 2013 and available in 15 European languages at:
http://www.telecentre-europe.org/?page_id=5644
For more information on the MIREIA project: http://is.jrc.es/pages/EAP/eInclusion/MIREIA.html
International Project investigates links between arts and society
The International Network for Contemporary Performing Arts (IETM) is launching a series of publications to look at
how art is valuable to society. What does art have to say about crucial social issues like health, education, politics
or gender? How does art interact with society?
IETM is looking for experts from outside the cultural sector who are interested in taking a closer look at the arts of
today and commenting on how it relates to society.
If you are interested in the arts and are willing to work with IETM on this cross-sector research, please contact Ms
Milica Ilic at milica.ilic@ietm.org
Read more on EITM website
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In relation to that topic, we mentioned, in the October edition of CoverAGE, a French
project introducing fine art classes in elderly care home. The experience shows the benefit
and potential of creative activities on older people’s wellbeing and health in developing
participants’ motivity and imagination, while stimulating exchanges between them. The
residents of a senior care institution taking part in a creative workshop have been followed
for one year and filmed to produce a 52-minute documentary entitled « Artiste…à mon âge ? »
This initiative aimed to launch a reflection on the power of creativity and promote the development of fine arts and
manual workshop within elderly care and home settings.
Second edition of the intergenerational project
« generations@school »
The first edition of the generations@school project was organised in 2012 to mark the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations. The initiative aimed at fostering intergenerational solidarity by encouraging
all sorts of intergenerational activities in schools – discussions between older and younger people, games, artistic
activities like drawing, theatre, music and handicrafts works, etc.
Given the success of the first edition of the project, every school across Europe is this year
again encouraged to promote intergenerational dialogue by inviting older people to meet
young pupils and students around the date of the European Day of Solidarity between
Generations on 29 April in order to share experience, fears and hopes for the future and
reflect together on how to create a better society for all generations. Last year, a resource kit was developed in all
EU languages to help teachers organise such debates as part of their curriculum. An updated toolkit will be also
available in March 2013.
Do not hesitate to send the information and link to the resource kit to all schools and teachers you know.
This activity is easy to organise and there will be an award scheme where the most innovative projects will
be selected.
Conference report on ‘Strengthening the Rights of Older People Worldwide: Building Greater
European Support’
This high-level conference was held in Osnabrück (Germany) on 5-7 December with a view to generate a better
understanding of the human rights issues facing older people globally and the role of European Union member states
in achieving a global standard that protects the rights of all older people. (Read more on this event in December’s
CoverAGE). A report of the event is now available following this link. The document summarises the discussions, key
issues and action points in the conference and includes a calendar of opportunities and suggested actions for civil
society, and national and international bodies to engage on building support for human rights instruments for older
people.
Fitch report 'Ageing Costs: The Second Fiscal Crisis'
Unless reforms are made to address the long-term impact of the population ageing, many countries worldwide and
within the European Union are expected to experience a second financial crisis in the long run, warns a report on
ageing by the London-based rating agency Fitch. Populations everywhere are getting older as people live longer and
have fewer children, but it seems that some countries are less prepared for this. Japan, Ireland and Cyprus face the
largest jump in ageing costs over the next decade if nothing is done there to reform the present systems, while
Luxembourg, Belgium, Malta and Slovenia face the most severe impact over a longer term. The report adds that the
recent reforms in Portugal, Italy and Greece have effectively neutralised the long-term impact of ageing on public
finances in those countries.
Read Fitch’s press release
Good practices:

Creation of a national committee to prevent elder abuse in France
A new decree setting up a national committee for the wellbeing and rights of older people and people with disability
has recently been adopted in France. The objective of this committee will be to help define, implement and follow up
policies to promote the respect of the well being and dignity of older people and people with disability and prevent
abuse. It is composed of 65 public administration and civil society representatives in charge of elderly or disability
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issues and social welfare, and can be consulted by the Ministers concerned by any related issues.
Jean-Pierre Bultez, AGE Vice-President and Member of AGE Administration Council for France, welcomed the
creation of this committee at a time when population is ageing rapidly and various forms of abuse are arising.
According to Mr. Bultez, connecting this committee directly to seniors and disabled people and their organisations is
a considerable step forward, which should allow a more effective assessing of the application of universal rights and
the relevance of promoting specific rights. Such national committee, with entitlement to jurisdiction can be a very
useful instrument to address the current ageing related challenges.
Link to the Decree (nr 2013-16) in French

Integrated community house in Brussels
The BILOBA house (Maison Biloba Huis) in Brussels, Belgium, aimed to offer shared solidarity-based
multicultural and intergenerational accommodation integrated in the local community life and intended
for independent older people from all origins. It offers about 15 individual spaces (with private kitchen,
living room and bathroom) and common places to meet, cook, rest, together with a small garden. The house also
includes a reception service downstairs welcoming any seniors feeling isolated and willing to spend time with others.
Any other local inhabitant (of any age) are welcome to join as well.
Next to accommodation, the BILOBA project also offers other services including midday meals, household
assistance, leisure activities, etc.
http://www.maisonbilobahuis.be/Notre-projet-Maison-15735.php - presentation leaflet
A video (in French) has been made to present the approach of this project and the house’s community life:
http://www.cvb-videp.be/videp/fr/catalogue/film/id/160

NHS Health Scotland: Videos ‘Living Well with Dementia’
NHS Health Scotland, a national Scottish agency to improve public health, has issued a series of video
entitled ‘Living to support people diagnosed with dementia’:
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1321AC384A573125&feature=plcp
AGE news
Employment
NEW DATE: « Les seniors entrepreneurs et l’Emploi des Jeunes», 30 May 2013
Seniors Entrepreneurs is co-organising a conference in Brussels on “Senior Entrepreneurs and Youth Employment”
with the European Union and AGE Platform Europe at the Committee of the Regions in Brussels. The morning
session will focus on "Youth Employment: A Challenge for the Regions and Local Authorities" and during the
afternoon session, the Senior Entrepreneurs concept will be presented.
draft agenda
Long-term care and elder abuse
WeDO: Reminder! last chance to answer a short survey on EU quality framework
for long-term care services
The WeDO project (2010-2012) aimed at creating an EU-wide partnership of
organisations committed to improving the quality of life of older people in need of care and
assistance. With the support of the European Union the project developed an EU quality framework
for long-term care services and translated it into 10 languages. This Quality framework is now
considered as a great tool to support a wider movement at EU level, thanks to the involvement of
more than 200 organisations all over the EU during the whole project duration. The quality
framework can contribute to bring positive change in the EU, but we need your help!
We invite you to tell us what you think of the EU quality framework for long-term care services by
answering a very short questionnaire (3 questions). The questions are translated in English, French and Italian,
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you can answer using these three languages, as well as Spanish, Polish, German, Dutch, and Greek. A long and a
short version (4 pages) of the EU quality framework are available here for consultation and download, and the
questionnaire is accessible here, and it only takes 5 minutes to answer! You only need to have a look at the short
version (4 pages) to answer the questionnaire, but please feel free to download and disseminate the longer version!
These documents are available in English - English (Version for Ireland) - French - German - Italian - Dutch (Version
for Netherlands) - Dutch (Version for Belgium) - Swedish - Finnish - Slovene - Czech - Greek
The 4-page summary is available in 12 languages on the WeDO website following this link.
We thank you in advance for your time and efforts to answer the questionnaire!
For any question regarding this survey, please contact the WeDO project coordinator at maude.luherne@ageplatform.eu.
More information on the WeDO project: www.wedo-partnership.eu and access to the online survey on the European
quality framework: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/7JTZHZN.
Be kept informed! Please register through the mailing list newsletter of WeDO on www.wedo-partnership.eu or
follow us on LinkedIn through the ‘WeDO partnership’ group!
Irish launch of WeDO : the Minister Lynch endorses the WeDO quality principles!
The Irish partner of WeDO Third Age organized the launch of the WeDO European Quality framework for long-term
care services on 29 January 2013 in Dublin, in European Parliament offices. As indicated on Third Age’s website, the
Minister Lynch was very enthusiastic about the WeDO project: “This Guide will go a long way to inform our thinking
as to the care we should deliver to older people. This is the benchmark,’ she said.” The Irish coalition worked hard
during the WeDO project to involve the Irish ministry in the work done, and this meeting is a great achievement.
Read more…
Independent living and new technologies
AGE report on the conclusions and recommendations of the DREAMING Advisory
Board on the acceptance, added value and challenges of telemonitoring
The DREAMING project, which carried out randomised control trials across six pilot sites to assess the
impact of telemonitoring on the health and quality of life of older people with chronic conditions,
concluded its activities in June 2012. AGE was a partner in this pioneer project, being in charge of the
management of an Advisory Board comprised of experts who overlooked the project activities and
provided useful recommendations.
Throughout the project, the Advisory Group observed and had real contact with the older people and professionals
experiencing the DREAMING technology; read and contributed to a number of documents prepared by the
DREAMING consortium and actively participated in various events and dissemination activities. Additionally, the
experts worked with an eye beyond the project lifetime and provided long-term perspectives to the project outcomes.
The Advisory Board has visited all pilot sites and has concluded that the technology is accessible and not intrusive;
that users of telehealth are satisfied, more aware of their own situation and feel secure using the DREAMING
services; and in some cases telemonitoring has proved not only to reduce medical visits and hospitalisation but also
to save lives. Additionally, the Advisory Board has agreed that to ensure positive outcomes, the services should not
pay attention just to the health aspect but also to social care, and this is what DREAMING has tried to do focusing
both on eHealth and on eInclusion. The experts also noticed that good results go hand in hand with challenges,
including the change of roles of health professionals and the possible resistance to change, the importance of
training and involving users and their immediate environment (family, caregivers) and the need for reliable
technology as well as technical support.
AGE has prepared a document summarising the main comments and lessons learned based on the outcomes from
the Advisory Board visits. This paper provides useful insights on the drivers and bottlenecks of telemonitoring from a
user perspective and also supplies evidence on the important and complementary role that such bodies can play in
European projects. It is therefore a useful tool for policymakers, researchers and users. This report is available online
on AGE’s website, while the feedback of the Advisory Board can also be found in a recent publication on the
DREAMING project entitled ‘ Is Ambient Assisted Living the Panacea for Ageing Population?’ published by IoS Press.
You may read AGE’s report online through the following link.
For more information you may contact Nena Georgantzi, Legal & Research Officer at nena.georgantzi@ageplatform.eu
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Workshop on standardization in AAL in Frankfurt, 12 February 2013
AGE is partner of the AALIANCE2 Project which focuses on Ambient Assisted Living
(AAL) solutions, i.e. advanced ICT technologies for the wellbeing of elderly people in
Europe. One of the AALIANCE2's main objectives is to build consensus upon upcoming
research priorities, standardization and certification needs in the AAL sector, to be
published in the AALIANCE² AAL Roadmap and Strategic Research Agenda. The AALIANCE2 is organising a
workshop on the topics of standardization and certification in the field of Ambient Assisted Living (AAL). The
workshop will on one hand review the existing landscape of standards relevant for AAL as documented by
AALIANCE² and, on the other hand, discuss future needs in terms of new standards, certification programmes and
organizational structures for promoting interoperability in the AAL sector. One of the topics will also be User
Interfaces and needs for standardization in the accessibility area.
More information on the project and on the workshop is available here
A step forward for a European portal on assistive technologies 2.0 (Atis4all and
ETNA projects)
The two thematic networks ETNA and Atis4All will meet on 21-22 February in Milan to reflect and
improve on the upcoming European portal on assistive technologies 2.0. The two projects work
hard to develop a revised version of the EASTIN portal already existing, which gathers all the main national websites
on assistive technologies. The new portal plans to include new functionalities such as the products rating by the
clients, the development of a community supported by different organisations and represented by ‘Gurus’, the
possibility to develop blogs, to meet other personalities in that field, etc. It will also include information on research
projects, good practices, case studies, trainings, etc. related to assistive technologies. The meeting in Milan will aim
to complement the missing information, improve the first portal proposal so it is ready to be launched very soon.
Want to support this initiative? Go to http://www.atis4all.eu/news/detail.aspx?id=408&tipo=2.
INNOVAGE kick-off meeting,
The kick-off meeting of the project INNOVAGE is taking place in London on Wednesday 13 February 2013. The
project is dedicated to developing, testing, surveying and cataloguing social innovations that will have an impact on
improving the quality of life and well-being of older people. The project, started in December 2012, will finish in
December 2015.
AGE will ensure older people will be the pivot of the action, by advising all other activities on the involvement of older
people in social innovation development, by being member of the expert panel and advising on membership of the
Stakeholders Forums. AGE will also prepare formal guidelines on user involvement.
GoAct kick-off meeting
In 2013, AGE is involved in the GoAct (“Generations in Action”) project, whose kick-off meeting took place on 14-15
January 2013. The overall aims of the project are to:

raise awareness of policy-makers, persons dealing with educational planning, academics and umbrella
organisations as well as the general public on the importance of lifelong learning in ageing processes,

change the common image of elderly people and ageing in Europe through educational means and
awareness raising (inclusion of journalists),

transfer knowledge, methods and good practice for intergenerational learning from project supported under
the four main Actions of the LLP, and

develop ideas for innovative approaches to intergenerational learning.
The project pursues to motivate stakeholders to initiate projects connecting ageing and intergenerational
learning. AGE will in particular ensure synergies between the project and the campaign for the European Year 2012
and an age-friendly EU. For more information, please contact alice.sinigaglia@age-platform.eu
Home Sweet Home Mid-term Workshop and Pilot site Visit in Barcelona
A series of meetings in the framework of the Home Sweet Home project took place in Barcelona
on 16-17 January. A workshop, entitled ‘Ageing Well: Integrating Healthy Ageing and Chronicity’,
was organised to discuss sustainable models for wider deployment of ICT based services for
elderly care. A presentation of the user perspective was made by Fausto Felli (Equity in Health
Institute), based on the first feedback gathered among the Advisory Board following the visits of Latina and
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Antwerpen pilot sites.
In the afternoon a visit was organised for the experts of the Advisory Board in the pilot site of Badalona, with the
presence of Heidrun Mollenkopf (BAGSO), Claus F. Nielsen (Delta) and Philippe Swennen (AIM). It was for them the
occasion to witness the successful uptake of the HSH technology in the Spanish context. More particularly, they had
the opportunity to evaluate the technology used by the project and discuss its adequacy on
the long-term. The emphasis was put on the necessity to focus on the service provided,
rather than on the devices, to ensure better results in terms of user acceptance and in
terms of sustainability. The suggestion made during the visit in Antwerpen to collect
qualitative data to mitigate drop-outs and ensure better acceptance was also further
discussed and considered among the project’s partners.
For more information, you may contact: Nena Georgantzi (nena.georgantzi@age-platform.eu) or Ophelie Durand
(ophelie.durand@age-platform.eu).
Families and Societies : Press release for project launch
How will families look like in the future? Are existing social- and family policies compatible with changes in family
patterns? A major European research project investigating the diversity of family forms, relationships and life courses
in Europe in relation to policies, was launched on 1st February. It will last four years. Coordinated by the Stockholm
University Demography Unit (SUDA), Dept. of Sociology, researchers from 25 leading universities and research
institutes in 15 European countries and three transnational civil society organizations will work together within the
project entitled 'FamiliesAndSocieties - Changing families and sustainable societies: Policy contexts and diversity
over the life course and across generations'.
The points of departure for the project are that family life courses are becoming more complex and diverse, that
individuals’ lives are interdependent – linked within and across generations – and that individual life courses are
shaped by social contexts and policies. The project will explore the growing complexity of family configurations and
transitions across and within European societies and examine their implications for children, women and men with
respect to inequalities in life chances, intergenerational relations and care arrangements. The researchers will also
investigate how policies address family diversity and its consequences, and identify likely paths of future changes in
family compositions and related policy needs. The aim is to assess the compatibility of existing policies with the
increasingly diverse and complex family life courses in Europe, and to contribute to evidence-based policy-making.
Two new databases will be developed within the project. One will gather legal content of family forms available in
European countries, and another will contain data on EC/EU initiatives in core family-policy areas covering the period
from 1957 to the present.
In this project, AGE will provide support for dissemination and exploitation and provide inputs on topics related to
older people’s issues, such as intergenerational relationships and care issues.
For further information, visit the project webpage on AGE website and on the Stockholm University website:
http://www.suda.su.se. The project website will be launched in July 2013
Members’ news
Enéo: Opération Rois-mages
On the Epiphany, and in times of budget negotiations, three members of the
Belgian older people’s association, Enéo, dressed up in Magis and met Belgian
Ministers for pensions, equal opportunities and social affairs, under the slogan
"Cette année, pas de galette... Des miettes!" (‘This year, no epiphany cake… only crumbs!’).
The action, which caught considerable media attention, intended to raise politicians’ awareness of pensioners’
precarious conditions in this period of crisis (with 19,4% of pensioners living under the poverty rate) and call for lifting
the lowest pension incomes. www.ucp-asbl.be/spip.php?article1649 - article in LeVif.be


BAGSO newsletter on the use of internet among older people
In the first 2013 edition of its newsletter, the German seniors’ organisation BAGSO focuses on the use
and benefit of internet and IT media to support seniors’ wellbeing and social participation.
The article (in German) provides an overview of relevant survey’s findings on older web users’
behaviours and profiles in Germany, the development of social networks, the use of online tools to
support lifelong learning and active ageing, the development of mobile technologies and of applications for older
people with hearing and seeing impairments, consumers’ protection, etc.
http://www.bagso.de/fileadmin/Aktuell/BN/2013_1_BAGSO-Nachrichten.pdf
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Conferences
Some upcoming conferences or events in February/March:

AAL Workshop on standardization

TechnolAGE Final Conference

EP hearing: Making the most of EU citizenship

An agenda for new skills and jobs: Regions and cities contributing to training and active labour market policies

25th EuroMeeting

“Civil Society Day” conference
Other ageing related events can be viewed on AGE website at:
www.age-platform.eu/en/component/jevents/year.listevents/2012/02/03/-
Publications
Between the Social and the Spatial: Exploring the Multiple Dimensions of Poverty and Social
Exclusion
This book summarizes some of the latest research on the “social and spatial dimensions” of poverty, with a view to
enriching our understanding and feeding a future research agenda involving new ways of working, which could
improve the effectiveness of anti-poverty policy solutions.
The volume consists of two main parts – the first considers new perspectives and research outcomes on poverty and
related social problems. The second tries to build bridges between the social and spatial dimensions of poverty.
http://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/ItSjeXHfY56yWNkCA23P/full
EAPN conference report: "Is Europe 2020 delivering on poverty?"
The European Anti-Poverty Network has issued a report of the major conference they organize on 28 September to
discuss the reality for the most vulnerable in the context of austerity policies and the malfunctioning of stakeholder
participation in decision-making, and look into ways of improving this situation. Starting with a series of
recommendations, the report outlines the main points raised by the speakers, provides a synopsis of the questions
raised in the discussion and the responses from the panel and present recommendations.
To access full report of the conference in English and the condensed version in French.
All the presentations made at the conference are available on EAPN website
EC and OECD publication “Policy Brief on Senior Entrepreneurship”
The brochure, co-published by the European Commission and the OECD, emphasizes the importance of a shift in
entrepreneurship policy to encourage older people to become more active. The publication examines a range of
different initiatives and schemes that could be implemented to promote business start-ups by older people and
provides policy recommendations .
http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?langId=en&catId=89&newsId=1796&furtherNews=yes
Report of the conference: ‘Creating Second Career Labour Markets - Towards more Employment
Opportunities for Older Workers’
(see related article under 'Other news') http://www.epc.eu/pub_details.php?cat_id=1&pub_id=3278
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Employment and Social Developments in Europe 2012
This 500-page review provides an analysis of the economic and social situation in the EU. The document, which
clearly shows that unemployment is reaching new peaks, that household income is declining and that the risk of
poverty or exclusion is on the rise, argues mainly for appropriately designed social protection systems and a better
matching of skills to labour market needs. It will help identify appropriate and effective measures and lay the
foundation for the recommendations that will be addressed to the member states as part of the ‘European semester’
2013 exercise. (Read more in the related article under European Parliament)
http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=738&langId=en&pubId=7315&type=2&furtherPubs=no
Facts and figures on long-term care and healthy ageing
The 2nd edition of the Facts and Figures on Healthy Ageing and Long-term Care provides information on the ageing
phenomenon across the UNECE region. It covers data and information on demography, social situation of older
people, health, informal care, migrant care workers, public long-term care policies and expenditure for the countries
of the UNECE. http://www.euro.centre.org/detail.php?xml_id=2079
Home Care across Europe
Home Care across Europe probes a wide range of topics including the linkage between social services and healthcare systems, the prevailing funding mechanisms, how service providers are paid, the impact of governmental
regulation, and the complex roles played by informal caregivers. Drawing on a set of Europe-wide case studies
(available in a second, online volume), the study provides comparable descriptive information on many aspects of
the organization, financing and provision of home care across the continent. It is a text that will help frame the
coming debate about how best to serve elderly citizens as European populations age.
http://www.wedo-partnership.eu/resource/home-care-accross-europe
Call for proposals
European calls for projects in the ageing field can be accessed on AGE’s website at:
www.age-platform.eu/en/call-for-proposals
Did you know that…?
A US study shows that hearing loss among older people is likely to impact their memory, thinking and
mental capacities…
Read more…
If you would like to contribute with news stories, please contact AGE Platform Europe,
Information and Communication Officer, Anne Mélard at: anne.melard@age-platform.eu