17/09/2019 (Agence Europe) – On Monday 16 September, AGE Platform Europe welcomed the creation of a vice-presidency position specifically dedicated to issues related to Democracy and Demography. This portfolio, which has been attributed to Croatian Dubravka Šuica, is a “first”, according to the organisation, and responds to one of its “most profound challenges”: demographic change. Indeed, according to her mission statement, the new Vice-President's main role will be to address the long-term impact of the ageing of the European population on pension and care systems, as well as its territorial impact. This is a long-standing request from the organisation representing the interests of Europeans over 50, which calls for a strategy for rural areas and actions to modernise national social protection systems. (PH)