My work at the European Parliament has always been driven by the desire for a more Social Europe, based on a social market economy. I feel very proud to have contributed through my work on the Work-Life Balance Directive for parents and careers to a more Social Europe and there is a great deal more to do in this area. 

A lot has been written about ageing and the realities of the hardships faced by pensioners. Statistics published by the European Commission in its report on Pension Adequacy 2018-2060, identifies Malta as one of the EU Member States with an increased risk of poverty and social exclusion for those over 65 years of age.

We cannot escape the fact that our societies are ageing rapidly, which brings with it a number of challenges. In this context, interest and attention to active ageing – both nationally and internationally – is, to a large degree, sparked by a concern about demographic change and the desire to keep people healthy and productive for longer periods of time.

Active ageing is a process – a journey that starts from childhood. It requires cultural change and a lifestyle choice that becomes ingrained in daily lives. An active society is a healthy society, both physically and mentally; it helps to address isolation, which develops with age.

Recently, the National Association of Pensioners (Malta) published its Manifesto for European Parliament Elections 2019. I welcome their proposals. They set out a number of very valuable suggestions which cater specifically for the needs of this particular and ever-increasing group of our citizens. These are proposals that we can build on. 

If given the trust to serve another parliamentary term, I intend to push for comprehensive strategies that promote active ageing, both at national level and at an EU level. I plan to do this most notably through EU programmes, legislative proposals and initiatives that can be tapped into in order to help achieve sustainable active ageing. 

In concrete terms, I would like to propose a Strategy on active and healthy ageing through an integrated and multi-disciplinary approach. We need to recognise the increasing role of civic centres. As families become smaller and the number of one-person households grows, social isolation will be on the increase. Governments will need to step in and take on the responsibilities that were previously carried by families and the community.

I also believe in the need for localised or regional one-stop day centres and night shelters, which would provide a place where older people can come together socially and also have access to basic services. It would bring together, under one roof, experts from governmental, non-governmental, academic and private stakeholders on healthy ageing to offer courses as part of a lifelong learning national strategy, health and fitness classes, social events and accessibility to public health and social services.

Long-term care services should be seen comprehensively, as a way of keeping people with health problems active and independent in society, valuing their continued participation.

The older generation must also be encouraged to remain connected and employable. Courses should be organised as part of a life-long learning process. We live in a world that is changing rapidly, both socially and technologically, and people need to remain skilled in order to remain employable and not risk being marginalised from society because they are not conversant with the latest technological skills to access a number of amenities that are becoming increasingly automated.

A special focus should be placed on older people who are excluded from measures to improve digital skills, because they are no longer considered to be of ‘working age’. This creates additional barriers to participation in society. Marginalisation leads to isolation, resulting in loneliness and poverty.

A national campaign should be set in motion to strongly encourage and underscore the importance of up-skilling, re-skilling, training opportunities and lifelong learning opportunities that will keep older workers employable. There is still a very high risk of long-term unemployment among older people.

I believe in encouraging and giving the choice for older people’s labour participation beyond pensionable age. This can be achieved through effective policies that fight age discrimination in employment, including more accessible workplaces and an appreciation of older workers.

Locally, a number of initiatives are already in place such as the ‘National Strategic Policy for Active Ageing 2014-2020’, but this now requires updating and adapting. As society evolves, more needs to be done to counteract the effects of this demographic change in order to maintain a healthy, active, inclusive society and a strong sense of social justice.