The first session of the ‘European Citizens’ Panel on Intergenerational Fairness’ was held in Brussels from Friday 12 to Sunday 14 September.
150 citizens from across the European Union took part in an exercise led by the European Commission to contribute to the first ‘EU Strategy on Intergenerational Fairness’, planned for 2026.
Over the course of this first weekend, the participants exchanged their initial ideas on how to make the European Union fairer for present and future generations.
Discussions focused on how to bridge the gaps and better balance the needs of the different generations.
These initial discussions form the basis for the in-depth deliberations that will continue in October and November.
The Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, Glenn Micallef, reiterated the aim of his mandate: “to strengthen communication between different generations in our society (...) and to ensure in whatever we do, in the decisions that we are taking now today, we protect also the rights of future generations”.
For him, “the decisions we take now must become a legacy, not a burden, for those who come after us”.
He placed this aim in the context of European texts, citing Article 3 of the Treaty on European Union, which refers to solidarity between generations, as well as the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU.
In view of the ageing population, the climate crisis, public debt and social inequalities, he reiterated the need to “renew” the social contract between generations, which he considers to be “broken”.
A second session is scheduled for October. At the end of the third and final session, to be held in November, the citizens will adopt a set of concrete recommendations. These will be forwarded to the European Commission and will be taken into account in the preparation of the strategy.
Plenary sessions can be accessed via live streaming on the EU’s citizen participation platform. (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)