Strasbourg, 16/04/2002 (Agence Europe) - Last week the European Parliament adopted a resolution at the second United Nations Assembly on Ageing (8-9 April Madrid see EUROPE 8-9 April page 12) that appealed for an international action plan and an EU commitment to a society for all ages.
Parliament is calling for: older citizens to be taken into consideration in all policies and Community programmes on social and economic issues and in development co-operation; preserving and strengthening the European social model, particularly the social protection systems founded on solidarity between the generations; priority to be given to activities that aim to promote the integration of older people in danger of being left isolated; measures for reducing inequality, fighting against poverty amongst the aged, improving the situation of elderly women in the face of inequalities in the awarding of pensions and the situation of the very old; working towards making income and revenue that is available to the elderly and pensioners linked to developments in society; the elderly to have access to education and knowledge in order to preserve their physical and mental wellbeing.
The EP is calling on the Commission to put forward a programme of specific actions on ageing, such as a European exchange programme for the elderly, and designate responsibility to someone for these issues at the Employment Directorate General, as well as adopting an Opinion on the needs of the elderly in the context of co-operation and development. The EP is also eager to ensure that the EU has a legal base in order to promote measures that are really effective for helping the elderly.