Diolch yn fawr iawn am y cyfle i ddod i siarad gyda chi heddiw. Thank you very much for the invitation to speak here today. It's the first time I've met with a group of people from the University of the Third Age and it is quite apt that I am speaking here today on the European Day of Solidarity between Generations! It is a day to highlight the need to develop new policies to promote greater solidarity and cooperation between citizens of all age groups. A group of NGO's have come together to call for 2012 to be a European Year on Solidarity between Generations and to convey the message on how creating opportunities for generations to meet can ensure that all generations benefit from the experience and knowledge of other age groups and to ensure the long term sustainability of European societies.
Today is one day of the year, but it is important that we value the contribution of older people in our society every day. The EU has a lot to thank "older people" for. In fact the EU in any form would not exist today if it were not for the generations that we now define as being "older people". They are the ones that made it happen, that had the original courageous idea and provided the impetus for this great project. At the time it was intended to stop wars between countries in Europe as closer links provide a better understanding of each other and through continual dialogue issues are dealt with before they become problems. This has proved to be very true - in spite of all the trouble that is currently happening in the world. From this basis the European Economic Community evolved to the European Union we have today. Even the staunchest eurosceptic has to admit that, although far from perfect, it has been a big success. We have learnt from past generations on how to build a better future for ourselves.
In those years since the beginning what the EU can do and how it does it has changed a lot. As the free market developed so did the realisation that purely economic interest were not always in the interest of the citizens and that there needs to be a balance between economic, social and environmental interest. If Europe is to be sustainable and reflect the values of equality, justice and solidarity that we have in common we can't just turn a blind eye to the poor, the socially disadvantaged or how we're damaging each other and the environment. Realising the importance and appreciating all sectors of society must be part of this.
European citizens are living longer than ever thanks to improved healthcare and living conditions. Average life expectancy is now over 80, and by 2020 around 25% of the EU population will be over 65 of age. In Wales, that same number will be retirement age by 2015.
In a way 'old' is changing its meaning or becoming meaningless. Even though the official retirement age has not changed we don't think of a person of 60 or 65 as being old nowadays. What you do in your 60s and 70s has more to do with your social situation and financial background, where you live and family and community support. For example studies in Wales have shown that women living in poor rural areas have worse health and suffer more as older people. However, shockingly 3 out of 5 pensioners in Wales live on or below the poverty line.
Recently, Plaid launched a campaign to lower heating bills by calling for a suspension of VAT on all domestic gas and electricity until 2011. The two year gap would allow energy saving measures to be introduced meaning lower bills in the longer term. Tackling poverty and social deprivation throughout our lives has to be encouraged as a long term strategy.
The EU first addressed specifically the situation of older people in a number of resolutions by the European Parliament during the 1980s. The Charter on the Fundamental Social Rights of Workers, adopted by 11 of the Member States in 1989, included specific reference to older and retired people. In addition, a number of established legal instruments and policy initiatives, while not specifically aimed at older people, have nevertheless been of relatively greater concern to the older generation. These include initiatives in the fields of disability, such as the HELIOS programme, European anti-poverty programmes and equal treatment between women and men in the matter of social security.
It wasn't until the 90s however that we really saw an ability to make decisions on matters in the interest to older people with the Commission's "Communication on the Elderly" in 1990. Two Council Decisions, on Community action for older people and on the 1993 European Year of Older People confirmed the Community's role in the process underway in all Member States to meet the long-term challenges of an ageing population. A liaison Group was established in 1991 to promote dialogue with organisations representing older people at European level and to strengthen the voice of older citizens at this level.
In 1993, the "European Year of Older People and Solidarity between Generations", hundreds of events ranging from the local level to the pan-European built partnerships across different levels, cultures and generations. The objectives of the European Year were
to highlight the Community's social dimension;
to raise the awareness of societies about ageing issues
to promote debate
to promote inter-generational solidarity
to involve older people in the process of Community integration.
In November 2000 a European Directive which is aimed at combating age discrimination was transposed into UK law and by 2006 legislation had to be implemented which makes it illegal to discriminate against people on the grounds of age in a number of employment areas.
In October 2006, the Commission presented its views on the demographic challenges the EU faces and on opportunities for tackling them. In its 2008 report, it focused in particular on opportunities for enhancing the contribution of older people to the economy and society.
According to the report, education and skills remain the biggest obstacles to people in their 50s and 60s to participate in the work force. In 2007 for example, 57% of people aged 55-64 had never used the internet. However this is set to improve as the age brackets entering this age class have much greater familiarity with computers and the internet. But the biggest obstacles remain to be caring obligations towards grandchildren or dependent adults and poor incentives in tax benefit systems.
There is a common concern across Europe about the future of pensions - those that are state based are threatened by a future of more people being retired than in work, private schemes are threatened by a volatile stock exchange which the current economic crisis has highlighted and company pensions face a deficit as the baby-boom generation reach retirement age.
Every EU member state will have to come to terms with the challenges of decreasing number of citizens in employment and the sharp increase of people of pensionable age. We can also learn from other countries, Finland for example reformed their pension plan between 2003-2005, by increasing incentives to work by providing more pension rights for older workers and overhauled early retirement arrangements. Other countries like Austria and France have also reformed their pension policies and increased the number of contribution years required for a full pension. We have to ensure that Welsh pensioners obtain a fair settlement from the Westminster government and get what they deserve.
The EU is anxious to make working lives more flexible - partly to help the economy and ensure a big enough workforce - and that includes opportunities for older people to continue working or to work in new areas if they wish to do so, without taking away their right to retirement. But active ageing is much wider than continuing with paid employment as every single one of you in this room knows, for example the U3A, voluntary work, caring responsibilities and involvement in community events. I have worked on lifelong learning in the European Parliament, and as well as benefiting the community, active ageing can provide personal fulfilment, continued social interaction and keeping physically and mentally fit.
If nothing else politicians would be wise to remember that older people are also much more likely to vote in all elections
than any other age group!
Jill Evans ASE/MEP
