European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations

People are worried about growing older, about their place in society when they are 60, 70 or 80. There is a lot to life after 60 — and society is coming increasingly to appreciate the mcontribution older people can make. That’s what active ageing is about — getting more out of life as you grow older, not less, whether at work, at home or in the community.
The Council of the European Union agreed in principle, subject to the vote of the European Parliament, to designate 2012 as the European Year for active ageing and solidarity between generations. The promotion of active ageing involves creating better opportunities and working conditions to enable women and men who are in their late 50's and above to play their part in the labour market, combating social exclusion by fostering active participation in
society, and encouraging healthy ageing. The purpose is to enable local authorities, social partners and civil society organisations, which have a role to play in promoting active
ageing, to plan campaigns and activities around this theme.
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The objectives of the Year are to:
• raise awareness of the value of active ageing by highlighting the contribution that older people can make to society and to the economy by mobilising more their potential;
• exchange ideas and good practice on how best to promote active ageing policies; and
• offer a framework for action to enable member states and stakeholders to develop policies and specific activities to encourage active ageing and solidarity between generations.
2012 - the European Year of Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations. A chance for all of us to reflect on how Europeans are living longer and staying healthier than ever before — and to realise the opportunities that represents.
Active ageing can give the baby-boom generation and tomorrow's older adults the opportunity to:
• stay in the workforce and share their experience
• keep playing an active role in society
• live as healthy and fulfilling lives as possible.
It is also key to maintaining solidarity between generations in societies with rapidly increasing numbers of older people.
The challenge for politicians and stakeholders will be to improve opportunities for active ageing in general and for living independently, acting in areas as diverse as employment, health care, social services, adult learning, volunteering, housing, IT services or transport.
The European Year seeks to raise awareness of the issues and the best ways of dealing with them. But most of all it seeks to encourage all policymakers and stakeholders to set themselves goals and take action to meet them. 2012 should go beyond debating; it should start bringing tangible results.