On the 24th of June in Brussels, EFFE participated in a Policy Breakfast hosted by the European Parliament Interest Group on Europe for All Ages, co-chaired by MEPs Idoia Mendia (S&D, Spain) and Michal Szczerba (EPP, Poland). This Interest Group was created in 2024, after the campaign of AGE Platform Europe to address longevity, healthy-ageing and intergenerational solidarity at the European Parliament’s level. Gathering about 30 MEPs, this platform for policymakers and civil society aims to explore future policies at EU level that build bridges between generations. EFFE participated in several events of this Interest Group since the beginning, bringing its perspectives on care and employment.
Participants discussed how demographic change can be transformed into an opportunity for innovation, economic resilience, and solidarity across generations. This event came at a crucial moment, as the European Commission is preparing its first Strategy on Intergenerational Fairness, aiming to ensure that all generations are included in future EU policies. This Strategy is due to be published during the first semester of 2026. Moreover, last March, the Commission introduced the Union of Skills, a plan to improve high quality education, training, and lifelong learning for all generations, to ensure that the workforce’s competences are responding to current competitiveness priorities. EFFE is closely following all the files related, making sure that homecare-related challenges are addressed.
In a video message, the European Commissioner in charge of Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, Roxana Mînzatu, called civil society to actively contribute to the elaboration of the future Strategy.
Normunds Popens, Deputy Director-General at the DG Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (European Commission) highlighted that mismatches between workforce’s skills and the real needs make upskilling and reskilling measures in Member States particularly urgent.
Maciej Kucharczyk, Secretary General of AGE Platform, called to come from a negative image of ageing to a perspective unlocking all the potential of the older generation, especially their valuable experience for younger generations. EU and national policies should ensure freedom to choose the place where to age.
Michal Drozdowicz, Director of the section of Social Politics, Employment and Equal Opportunities in the Permanent Representation of Poland to the EU, presented the outcomes of the finishing EU Polish presidency which supported older people and silver economy. He identified remaining issues, particularly the limited development of occupational safety and health (OSH) measures and lifelong learning in some sectors such as healthcare and long-term care.
Miron Podgoran, Member of the Cabinet of the Commissioner Roxana Mînzatu, highlighted the positive results of the EU Care Strategy and Child Guarantee, and called to tackle remaining challenges.
EFFE was pleased to participate in these discussions and to further identify key aspects of the future Intergenerational Fairness Strategy. Next months will be crucial to ensure a comprehensive Strategy which targets all groups and sectors.