International
Information about the world-wide response to demographic challenge and the UK Government’s involvement with associated international institutions.
- European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations
- European Union peer review January 2011
- Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing – the ten commitments
- More information
European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations
The European Commission has designated 2012 as the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations (EY 2012). The overall aim is to promote active ageing and to do more to mobilise the potential of the rapidly growing population in their late 50s and over across Europe.
European Union peer review January 2011
DWP hosted the European Union peer review A good place to grow older on 18-19 January 2011. Along with the UK the peer countries represented were Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Romania and Spain.
With the number of UK citizens over the state pension age exceeding those younger than 16, the UK is responding to the challenge of:
- ensuring its communities promote the independence, well-being and participation of older people
- addressing the wider challenges and opportunities of an ageing society.
The review considered a number of guiding principles, such as:
- involving the whole community
- maximising collaboration between statutory and non-governmental organisations.
Peer review countries also presented their own approaches to ageing.
- A good place to grow older – reports from the day (European Commission website)
Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing – the ten commitments
Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing sets out the 10 commitments agreed by Governments to bring about the adjustments needed to address the challenges and opportunities of an ageing society.
- To mainstream ageing in all policy fields with the aim of bringing societies and economies into harmony with the demographic change to achieve a society for all ages.
- To ensure full integration and participation of older persons in society.
- To promote equitable and sustainable economic growth in response to population ageing.
- To adjust social protection systems in response to demographic change and their social and economic consequences.
- To enable labour markets to respond to economic and social consequences of population ageing.
- To promote life-long learning and adapt the educational system in order to meet the changing economic, social and demographic conditions.
- To ensure quality of life at all ages to maintain independent living including health and wellbeing.
- To mainstream a gender approach in an ageing society.
- To support families that provide care for older persons and promote intergenerational and intra-generational solidarity among their members.
- To promote the implementation and follow-up of the regional implementation strategy through regional co-operation.
It was followed up by a Ministerial Conference in Leon, Spain, in November 2007 where:
- the implementation of the Madrid Plan was reviewed by considering the national reviews submitted earlier in 2007, sharing experience and good practice
- priorities were identified for future action
- a Ministerial Declaration was agreed.
Officials from the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) region set up the Working Group on Ageing, to reinforce and continue the implementation of the Regional Strategy for the MIPAA/RIS and the Leon Ministerial Declaration and to better integrate country-level expertise on ageing.
The Working Group had its first meeting at the UN in Geneva on 1-2 December 2008 where a programme of work for 2009-10 was agreed upon.
More information
- Regional Implementation Strategy (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe website)
- United Nations Economic Commission for Europe website promotes pan-European economic integration and sets out norms, standards and conventions to facilitate international cooperation within and outside the region.
- Monitoring the Regional Implementation Strategy website for more information.
