We All are Europe - AESAEC

Module 1 – The European Union and its Relevance for Senior Citizens
Module 1:
Dušana Findeisen (The Slovenian 3 rd Age University/SI)
The European Union and its Relevance for Senior
Citizens
Unit 1
Unit in a nutshell
Achievements
Did you say European Union Did you say older European citizens
Understanding the mission and functions of the European Union and its
integration processes
European institutions, their mission and how they relate to each other
Demographic ageing and the ageing society in Europe
Older citizens’ major issues and how they are being approached by European
institutions
Older citizens and who represents them at the European level
After this unit you will be able to:
understand the gradual shaping of the idea of European integration
say what the most important institutions and advisory bodies of the EU
are, what their missions and functions are and how they relate to each
other.
understand how European and national legislation, dealing with senior
citizens’ issues, relate to each other
be aware of demographic changes, the ageing society and active ageing,
and how they interact with the major needs of older people
become familiar with the key NGOs and European networks representing
older people and what they are doing for you.
Older people’s satisfaction with life depends on how well they are integrated into society. (Theory
of activity in old age, 1972)
Warming up:
The European Union – What does it mean to you
What is your personal experience of the EU Do you personally
think it was a good idea to establish it in the first
place and do think it is good idea that your country is part
of it
Please take a few minutes to reflect upon these questions
and discuss your answers with others!
Listen / Read
1.1.1. Understanding the nature and role of the European Union and its integration processes
We would like to begin by saying that a significant number of European citizens, be they young,
middle aged or older, seem to have not quite a sufficient understanding of the mission and functions
of the European Union, its institutions, as well as an incomplete knowledge of the gradual
building of Europe. This might be due to the fact that the “EU is an enterprise that was launched by
closed circles and was constructed with little participation by European citizens” 1 and that “the
unification process indeed has until now been promoted mostly by the political elites” (Habermas,
1 Jacques Delors, Les Controverses du progrès, 26 June 2009, France Culture.
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