The official opening of the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations 2012 is taking place today

As laid down in Decision No 940/2011/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 September, 2011, the overall objective of the European year is that of facilitating the creation of an active ageing culture in Europe based on a society for all ages. The specific objectives of the year are:

(a) Raising general awareness of the value of active ageing and of its various dimensions, ensuring that it is accorded a prominent position on the political agendas of stakeholders;

(b) Promoting active ageing policies, identifying and disseminating good practice and encouraging cooperation and synergies between member states and stakeholders by means of debate, the exchange of information and the development of mutual learning;

(c) Offering a framework for commitment and concrete action to enable the EU, member states, stakeholders, civil society, the social partners and businesses to develop innovative solutions, policies and long-term strategies (including comprehensive age-management strategies related to employment and work) through specific activities, and to pursue specific objectives related to active ageing and intergenerational solidarity;

(d) Promoting activities that will help to combat age discrimination, to overcome age-related stereotypes and to remove barriers, particularly with regard to employability.

In Malta, events and activities for this European Year are being coordinated by a national committee nominated by the government for this purpose. In 2011, the committee set up four focus groups to ensure that all stakeholders are actively involved. The main focus of these groups and of the national committee throughout 2012 is to address the participation of older people in formal employment, active ageing by means of health and healthy ageing initiatives, the participation of older people in volunteering, and inter-generational solidarity.

There is a clear link between the themes of the past and of the next European years. 2011 was dedicated to volunteering. 2013 will be the European Year of Citizens and marks the culmination of a progressive build-up over the past few years. Ultimately much is stated and written about a ‘Europe for Citizens’ and on the creation of a sense of ‘Europeanness’ particularly among the inhabitants of the 27 EU member states. Clearly, although we do consider ourselves as Europeans, our sense of belonging is more to our county of origin or, indeed, to our region, town or locality. The reason for dedicating each year to a different theme is to instil this sense of being part of a Union that transcends regional and national identities and that improves our quality and way of life.

The European Union cannot do all! Member states retain exclusive competence on major policies that have a direct impact on peoples’ lives. Although it is often convenient to blame the EU for a country’s woes, the truth is that much of what gives cause for complaint does not emanate from the EU framework but from national or regional capitals. The European years have, over the past years, targeted issues that remain very much in the realm of national sovereignty and that are very closely intertwined with varying sensibilities across the EU map. The EU framework aims to give added value by showing how much more can be achieved by work closely together.

The success of the EU has, after all, been that of working together on matters where this leads to an improvement in the quality of life of Europeans. By raising awareness on matters related to active ageing, the EU desires to encourage national authorities and stakeholders to take concrete steps to address important issues such as those that are being raised in the context of the current year. With life expectancy in Malta at around 80, the period during which a person is officially considered as elderly represents one-fourth of a person’s life span. Therefore, it is important that we overcome age-related stereotypes in order to allow older people the possibility to remain active.

Dr Vanni Xuereb is head of Meusac