Closing ceremony:
On December 10, the closing event of the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations 2012 took place in Nicosia, organised by the Cyprus EU Presidency.
In his opening address, László Andor, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, said that the European Year has been an important milestone in the efforts to support the development of active ageing policies and initiatives. The European Year 2012 has mobilised a wide range of stakeholders across Europe to take action with the aim of creating better opportunities for active ageing and strengthening solidarity between generations. It gave rise to hundreds of new initiatives and events at European, national, regional or local level dealing with employment, social participation and independent living of older people.
In addition, a set of "Guiding Principles for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations (see below) and a new Active Ageing Index (AAI) (see below) was presented. The latter was developed in a joint project between the European Commission and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and will help the EU Member States to identify challenges and unrealised potentials and to monitor progress in the area of active ageing.
Some other highlights of the Year:
- Austria presented a Federal Plan for Senior Citizens in January 2012.
- Belgium has established in November 2012 a new Federal Advisory Council for the Elderly.
- Germanyran an awareness campaign. The German Anti-discrimination Agency has declared 2012 the Year Against Age Discrimination.
- Ireland has decided that every local authority area in Ireland will have its own Age-Friendly County Programme by the end of 2013.
- Poland adopted in August 2012 a Government Programme for Senior Citizens Social Activityfor the years 2012-2013.
For more information:
http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-12-1339_en.htm
