We All are Europe - AESAEC

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The issues of older people are connected to the way of life that society allows or enables older people to have. Older people’s needs are social, emotional, cognitive and involve the need for sharing values. Their needs are psycho-social, just as with all individuals regardless of their age. The needs of older people should be met by policies. The issues of older people also involve the numerous stereotypes about them and old age that are to be found everywhere, such as with regard to policies, treatment by professionals and voluntary working. Stereotypes do not only affect older people, as they also affect everyone dealing with issues relating to older people, such as professionals, politicians, researchers etc. The best thing would be to ban these stereotypes - which is an easy thing to say but a very difficult thing to achieve. Older people’s needs should be taken into account by European projects and should be satisfied at all levels within society; this includes at the level of their relationships with a partner, children, coworkers, co-students, co-volunteers, at the local community level, at the level of the municipality, at the regional level, at the state level and at the EU level. All levels are important when seeking to act upon issues that concern older people. The issues of older people are related to their untapped and unrecognised human capital (abilities, knowledge, skills), to the lack of social capital (not enough institutions, associations, etc), to the insufficient support of active ageing, to integration into society, to social protection, to eradicating poverty, to stimulating them volunteering and to active citizenship. The issues of older people are connected with the lack of justice and the inequality (discrimination) faced by older people and retired people, be it legally, culturally, socially, economically or politically based - with older people not being allowed or stimulated to take part in decision making processes at all levels. In order to identify the issues of older people, one must first identify sources in society that are available to the generations in the middle, and secondly, a number of questions need to be asked: do older people have equal access to work, culture, education, health, transport, housing, science and active citizenship Do they have the right to go on working after their retirement without being penalised Do older people have equal access to the media and do they appear in the media Are there discounts offered to older people solely on the basis of their age, pushing them in the end to appreciate being supported and slowly abandoning their right to play an equal role in public matters The direction of local, national and EU policies regarding older people is often one that promotes weakness and dependency and this should be changed! EU treaties and common policies as well as numerous documents address older people’s issues. Senior citizens launching a European project should be knowledgeable about the contents and the aims of the EU treaties and the common policies, as well as about many of the documents that address older people’s issues in a direct or indirect way. Employment and Discrimination At the Amsterdam European Council heads of state or government of the member states accepted Article 13 of the Amsterdam Treaty against discrimination - and promoting social inclusion - in all its forms. This article is further related to the EU Race Directive, the EU Employment Equality Directive and the Gender Equality Instruments - all these documents are related also to older people. Discrimination can be visible or invisible. This issue is being tackled also by a number of organisations supported by the European Commission. Visiting their web pages older citizens can learn much about the subject and also about the related policies and documents: • AGE (The European Older People’s Platform): http://www.age-platform.org • ENAR (European Network Against Racism): http://www.enar-eu.org 40
Module 1 – The European Union and its Relevance for Senior Citizens • EDF (European Disability Forum): http://www.edf-feph.org Additionally, social inclusion of vulnerable groups is being promoted at the European level by: • Caritas Europa: http://www.caritas-europa.org/code/en/default.asp • CECOP (European Confederation of Workers' Cooperatives, Social Cooperatives and Social and Participative Enterprises): http://www.cecop.coop • COFACE (Confederation of Family Organisations in the European Union): http://www.coface-eu.org • EAPN (European Anti Poverty Network): http://www.eapn.org • EMN (European Microfinance Network): http://www.europeanmicrofinance.org/index2_en.php • ESN (European Social Network): http://www.esn-eu.org • European Women's Lobby: http://www.womenlobby.org Intergenerational solidarity Technology can also help older people to carry out daily activities as well as to monitor health, create social networks, learn and study. It can further increase their participation in society and augment their safety. It enables older people to participate in the e-economy, e-government, e- communication, and to benefit from e-health and e-learning. The use of technology can also facilitate social inclusion, improve professional participation and quality of life and ultimately enhance independent living. The use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to help older people and people with disabilities to continue to live at home is commonly known as Ambient Assisted Living (AAL). Active European Citizenship Education for Active Citizenship is a lifelong process. One cannot become an active citizen “just like that”, when one grows old. Policies are needed to support older people’s potential for volunteering and to prevent discrimination on the grounds of age in this field. AGE publications on senior volunteering, that might help you in preparing a European project proposal, are given on the AGE Leaflet on Promoting Volunteering for Europe’s Seniors (http://www.age-platform.org). 1.1.4. Older citizens and who represents them at the European level The institutional level The issues of older citizens are being addressed through the endeavours of various European Institutions, mainly by the European Commission and the European Parliament. The European Commission (EC) The EC seeks public opinion on the issues through promoting public debate, peer reviews, consultations, thematic conferences etc, and prepares proposals in the field of social policy that concern older citizens (employment, social security, volunteering etc.). Intergroup on Ageing This is a group within the European Parliament and unites MEPs from different committees and sectors who are willing to discuss this particular issue. The Intergroup issues statements directed at the 41
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