Dec 8, 2014:

European seniors call MEPs to join forces for an age-friendly EU

"Involving older citizens in the shaping of EU policies that concern them is the most effective way to meet older people's current and future needs and address Europe's demographic challenge. This is also the most appropriate response to the increasing lack of confidence EU institutions and policy makers are currently facing", stated Marjan Sedmak, AGE Platform Europe President at the closing conference of the Active Seniors Citizens for Europe (ASCE) project organized at the European Parliament on 8th December. 

"The ASCE project is an example of positive initiatives that can bring the EU closer to its citizens and foster a greater sense of ownership among older citizens", added Mr Sedmak. 

Helping older European citizens to engage in a constructive dialogue with Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to help shape the EU political agenda has been the overall objective of the two-year ASCE project, coordinated by AGE Platform Europe, run in Ireland by Active Retirement Ireland and Age and Opportunity, and co-funded by the Europe for Citizens Programme. From September 2013 to December 2014, ASCE has involved 10 partners from 8 countries to enable older citizens - men and women - to take part in the relevant EU policy-making processes and in the European elections, organizing workshops and training trainers to use and spread the training material developed by the project  (based on AGE Platform Europe's publication  'Active Citizens for Europe: A guide to the EU').

 

On the occasion of the project closing conference, AGE Platform Europe and the project partners called on the newly appointed MEPs to take their responsibilities to address demographic challenge in a more democratic way through enhanced dialogue with older citizens and civil society organisations.

The focus of this work, which brought together older people from Active Retirement Associations & other organisations, was to create a greater understanding of how the EU works and for older people to meet and discuss issues with their MEPs. The meetings explored the value of the EU and what difference it made to everyday life. Speaking at the conference, Michael Maher of Active Retirement Ireland's Eastern Region South, highlighted the importance of MEPs working with older people in their constituencies to hear their issues and concerns and ensure they were kept informed of the work going on in the EU to support the rights of older people.

Michael Maher of ARI and Ellen Reddin of Age Friendly Ireland (right) with Maude Luherne, AGE Platform Europe Projects Officer and ASCE project coordinator.

Marjan Sedmark also referred to the volunteer work of retired people within their own countries and the need to value and promote this at EU level as a major contribution to society and to minimising age discrimination. He cited his own experience of being busier now with his role as President which is a volunteer position than when he was 'working'.

 

In addition to this project, AGE Platform Europe and ASCE partners are also campaigning for the re-establishment of the Intergroup on Ageing and Intergenerational Solidarity, aimed to support the collaboration of MEPs committed to finding innovative, sustainable and fair solutions to demographic change.

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