30 MEPs from six political groups and some independent MEPs have called on the Commission to provide a follow-up to the Green Paper on Ageing. Underlining the need for respect of older persons’ fundamental rights and non-discrimination for persons of all ages, the MEPs ask the Commission whether the Green Paper will be followed up by a White Paper, an Age Equality Strategy, or any other measure to complete the EU framework on non-discrimination.
“The increase of longevity opens up new opportunities for older persons, if their fundamental rights are respected and society becomes more inclusive.”
Extract from the written question.
Commission response: no follow-up planned beyond the EU Care Strategy
The Commission responded to the written question by pointing out that no follow-up to the Green Paper in form of a White Paper or an Age Equality Strategy was planned for the moment. The Commission vows to integrate demographic change and ageing in all relevant policies. The main specific policies on ageing outlined by the Commission are the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan, the announced EU Care Strategy and the implementation of adopted legislation: the European Accessibility Act and the Employment Directive.
Signatories
The written question has been co-signed by the following MEPs: Milan Brglez (S&D, SI), Jarosław Duda (PPE, PL), Klemen Grošelj (Renew, SI), Predrag Fred Matić (S&D, HR), Sara Cerdas (S&D, PT), Irena Joveva (Renew, SI), Marc Angel (S&D, LU), Atidzhe Alieva-Veli (Renew, BU), Magdalena Adamowicz (PPE, PL), Pernando Barrena Arza (The Left, ES), Carles Puigdemont i Casamajó (NI, ES), Clara Ponsatí Obiols (NI, ES), Antoni Comín i Oliveres (NI, ES), Elżbieta Kruk (ECR, PL), Rovana Plumb (S&D, RO), Olivier Chastel (Renew, FR), Robert Hajšel (S&D, SK), Alex Agius Saliba (S&D, MT), Estrella Durá Ferrandis (S&D, ES), Radka Maxová (S&D, CZ), Miriam Lexmann (PPE, SK), Ivan Štefanec (PPE, SK), Bronis Ropė (Verts/ALE, LI), Manuel Pizarro (S&D, IT), Maria da Graça Carvalho (PPE, PT), Aurore Lalucq (S&D, FR), Anna Júlia Donáth (Renew, HU), Sylwia Spurek (Verts/ALE, PL), Cláudia Monteiro de Aguiar (PPE, ES), Monika Beňová (S&D, SK)
Full text of the written question
The European Commission launched the Green Paper on Ageing and a consultation in Spring. The increase of longevity opens up new opportunities for older persons, if their fundamental rights are respected and society becomes more inclusive. The Green Paper did not address the issues of nondiscrimination and equal rights for all ages. Both the Council[1]
and the Parliament[2] have recently called for responses to be grounded on human rights principles and solidarity between generations.
- Is the Commission developing a White Paper to take the reflection further on the issues covered by the Green Paper?
- Will the European Commission envisage the development of an EU Age Equality Strategy to ensure comprehensive policies on ageing and promoting the rights of all generations?
- What further action does the European Commission foresee so that the Union of Equality delivers for people of all ages?
[1] Council conclusions of 9 October 2020 on the human rights, participation and well-being of older persons in the era of digitalisation. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2021-0248_EN.html; Council conclusions of 12 March 2021 on mainstreaming ageing in public policies
[2] Resolution of the European Parliament of 7 July 2021 on an old continent growing older – possibilities and challenges related to ageing post-2020. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2021-0347_EN.html ; Resolution of the European Parliament of 20 May 2021 on reversing demographic trends in EU regions using cohesion policy instruments. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2021-0248_EN.html
"The Europe we want is for all ages" 