AGE welcomes the support of the EP Intergroup on Ageing for a coordinated and holistic approach to active and healthy ageing

“To do it better, let’s do it together”, declared Mr Lambert Van Nistelrooij, chair of the debate on the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing in the European Parliament on 27 January 2011, which called for a coordination of activities between the EU Partnership and the European Year 2012 on Active Ageing.

The event, organised jointly by AGE Platform Europe and the European Parliament Intergroup on Ageing and Intergenerational Solidarity one day before the end of the consultation launched by the European Commission, brought together a wide range of stakeholders including EU officials from the three EU institutions, public health organisations, trade unions, insurance companies and private sector.

Opening the debate, Mr Robert Madelin, DG INFSO, presented the initiative as a “triple win” situation. “Partnership’ is of key importance to meeting the needs of society and its citizens and this initiative”, he explained “wins on three fronts since it promotes sustainable healthcare systems, improving healthy ageing and opening up new business opportunities”.

“The European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing should seek to promote a broader vision of active and healthy ageing since this is the best way to optimise opportunities for physical, social and mental health that enable older people to take an active part in society without discrimination and for them to continue to enjoy an independent and good quality of life,” stressed Anne-Sophie Parent, AGE Secretary General, when presenting a summary of AGE’s answer to the EU consultation.

“The EU Year 2012 and the European Partnership will play very complementary roles” she explained. “While the objectives of the Year are to get all relevant stakeholders to take a political commitment to act, the Partnership should provide the means and resources to translate these commitments into reality in a coherent and sustainable way. These two EU processes should be mutually reinforcing to avoid a waste of energies and resources,” concluded Ms Parent.