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H no ri g u t n ng chie e ent sWe will not be nished building a better society for ageing populations by the end of 2012. But the end of the European Year will be a moment to take stock of what has beenachieved so far by a wide range of stakeholders. The most outstanding contributions toactive ageing and solidarity between generations will be honoured at a European awardsceremony. Make sure your achievements dont go unnoticed!

St y i t u h! The website is the central meeting place of the European Year. There, youll nd detailedinformation on all commitments and initiatives being undertaken to foster active ageingin Europe, plus news, events and inspiring intergenerational life stories. Click on getinvolved to share with others what you are doing. Identify yourself as a partner of theEuropean Year by using the logo in your activities!

N v t o d ... or ctiv ageinThe European Year is a unique opportunity to jointly celebrate and mobilise the experi-ence, wisdom and many other qualities mature citizens bring to society. The EuropeanYear challenges our perceptions of older people as a burden on society by focusing onpotentials and opportunities rather than impairments and obstacles. We have potentialsfor a more active and fullling life at any age and these need to be realised for our ownbenet and for that of society as a whole. Even an older Europe is full of opportunities!

B d i t en r iona l divi e in sc hoolsSince 2009, Europe has celebrated a E uropean Day of Solidarity Between Generations onApril 29th. In 2012, the focus is on bringing together pupils and older people to engagein a conversation about what it means to get older and how older and younger peoplecan collaborate for a better life. Around April 29th, all schools in Europe are invited toopen the doors of their classrooms to older generations and to explore how the dialoguebetween generations can contribute to a better education.

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g in , ll our s t ry!Throughout 2012, life stories and testimoni-als of European citizens of all generationswill be showcased and shared on the Eu-ropean Year website. We are particularlyinterested in presenting how older peoplecan support the young and strengthen thebonds between different generations.

Throughout the European Year, events and activities will takeplace in all 27 Member States plus Iceland, Liechtenstein andNorway. The website puts them on the map. Find out moreabout whats happening near you, about your countrys nationalcoordinator and about organisations working on active ageingand solidarity between generations on

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EmploymentAs life expectancy increases across Europe, pension ages are rising, but many fear that they will not beable to stay in their current jobs or to nd another job until they can retire on a decent pension. We mustgive older workers better chances in the labour market.

Promoting independent livingOur health declines as we grow old. But there is much that can be done to slow down this decline, andenvironments can be made much friendlier towards people suffering from various health impairmentsand disabilities. Active ageing also means empowering us as we age so that we can remain in charge of own lives for as long as possible.

Active ageing means growing old in good health and as a full memberof society, feeling more fullled in our jobs, more independent in ourdaily lives and more involved as citizens. No matter how old we are, wecan still play our part in society and enjoy a better quality of life. Thechallenge is to make the most of the enormous potential that we harboureven at a more advanced age. The Year seeks to promote active ageingin three areas:

Activ e ageing:What doesit mean?

Lifelong learning andacquisition of new skills Healthy working conditions Age management strategies

in companies Transfer of experience

Employment services forolder job seekers No age discrimination Employment-friendly tax /

benet systems

Health promotion andpreventive health care

Accessible and affordabletransport

Age-friendly environments,goods and services

Maximising autonomy in longterm care

Tailoring technology to boost / encourage independent living

Adapted housing

Participation in societyRetiring from ones job does not mean becoming idle. The contribution of older people to society as carersfor others, typically their own parents or spouses and their grandchildren, is often overlooked; and so istheir role as volunteers. The European Year seeks to ensure greater recognition of what older people bringto society and create more supportive conditions for them.

Income security in old age Support for social participation

and volunteering Support for carers

Reconciliation of work and care Solidarity and dialogue Bridging the digital divide

Committito change

The average age in the European Union is 39.8 (Eurostat statistics), but by 2060 the aver-age age of the EU citizen will be 47.2. Those aged 65 years or over will account for almost30 % of the EUs population by 2060 (16 % in 2010).

Within a few years from now, the European working age population will diminish, whilethe population aged 65 and over will continue to increase by up to two million peoplea year. By 2060, there could be one elderly person (65+) for every two people of work-ing age.

An older Europe presents various challenges: to our job market, to our health systems andto our living standards after we retire. Many fear that life will get worse for older people;others expect older people to look out for their own interests and impose a heavy burdenon the younger generations.

Do we really have to fear the future in our ageing societies? Denitely not if we preserveour health for longer, if we create more opportunities in the labour market for older work-ers; if we remain active members of the community; and if we can live in an environment

where growing old does not mean becoming dependent on others in short, if active age-ing becomes a reality for all of us. Lets make sure that we have the best possible chanceto remain healthy, active and independent as we grow older!

The 2012 European Year of Active Ageing and Solidarity betweenGenerations raises awareness of the contribution that older peoplemake to society and how this can be supported. It seeks to encourageand mobilise policymakers and relevant stakeholders at all levels totake action with the aim of creating better opportunities for activeageing and strengthening solidarity between generations.

The European Union is experiencingsignicant population ageing. Thisdemographic shift is the inevitableconsequence of major achievementswithin our societies greatlyreduced mortality and thereforehigher life expectancy.

Populations are ageing,and so are we

201016 %

30 %

2060

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