agenda for the recovery of the economy and the labor market
In the current context of financial crisis and demographic changes , it is essential to establish the foundations for a more sustainable economic model , able to deal successfully with the challenges of globalization , climate change and an aging population with better regulation and financial control.
In order to achieve this goal it is necessary to promote the coordination of national economic policies and adopt a new common European strategy for growth over the next 10 years: 2020 , which will take the place of the Lisbon Strategy and the objective of which will be the improvement of the Treaty of Lisbon to eliminate any defects .
The purpose of the 2020 Strategy , also known as the EU 2020 or 2020 Strategy, is to establish a social market economy, innovative , sustainable and comprehensive.
The emphasis will be on the European economic model through three channels:
1)Economic sustainability: in a context of globalization and emerging economies, the European economy must base its comparative advantage on competitiveness, innovation and knowledge ;
2)Social sustainability : The new strategy is to promote employment, increase the level of participation , training and the level of employment. Another important aspect to achieve the equality between men and women in the workforce and reduce poverty;
3)Environmental sustainability: the European economy needs to move towards an economic model based on a low level of carbon emissions in this way in order to combat climate change and create new sources of economic growth.
The debates on the Council's strategy of Spring should serve before being approved by the European Council in June 2010 . The European Commission has opened a public consultation in November 2009 to obtain the views of citizens and stakeholders on the future priorities of UE.In occasion of such consultation , the Commission published a first overview ( very short ) of the many responses , and various NGOs ( including AGE) have criticized this aspect because they do not go beyond the pure economic approach neglects the central dimension . On March 3 , the Commission published a much more complete analysis
The February 11, 2010 , the Heads of State and Government met in an informal European Council to study the orientation of the new strategy . During the meeting, Commission President Barroso presented their priorities with some facts and figures on the current position of Europe and stressed , among other things , the rapid increase of the aging population, the situation of the environment and of the economy . After the meeting, the European Commission will present briefly the complete proposals for a new strategy before the Spring European Council scheduled for 25 and 26 March.
AGE collaborates with other social NGOs to actively follow the debate on the European 2020 Strategy and ensure that the main social issues occupy a proper place and be treated appropriately in the context of aging, health, and intergenerational solidarity.
At a meeting of the Board of Commissioners at the end of February on the proposals
Commission for the Strategy, AGE has proposed the inclusion of an initiative on active aging inside of the goal of full growth with concrete goals and recommendations for actions at European and national level .
Which manifests that it is hoped that the strategy allows to achieve a 2 % growth in the bosom of the European Union .
The Commission considers that the struggle for growth and jobs requires a distribution or allocation between the highest political level and mobilization of all parties involved in Europe. He made an appeal to the Heads of
State and Government to implement this strategy and adopt the European Council on 25 and 26 March with the aim to adopt detailed measures , directives and integrated national targets by June.
In response to this communication , AGE has welcomed the objective of reducing the number of people at risk of poverty up to 20 million and reaching an employment rate of 75 % in 2020, but invites us to translate these into concrete goals that can eliminate any inequality in terms of gender and age. AGE also points out the need to develop a Plan of Action on active aging to coordinate all initiatives and policy measures related to climate change and to promote
active participation of the growing number of citizens over 50 years.
Interview with MEP Kinga Göncz,
As an MEP, in your opinion, how could the Parliament dominate and promote greater social cohesion inside the new 2020 strategy sustainable growth and jobs ?
The European Parliament is the representative body of the people in Europe. Our main objective is therefore to promote greater social cohesion.
The European Parliament should make sure that the EU 2020 strategy includes tools and social objectives and adequate working to create jobs and safeguard the welfare state in Europe. The new strategy for jobs and growth, the objective of which is the creation of competitive economies and sustainable development, should concentrate equally on strengthening
European welfare state , the fight against poverty, social exclusion and on on the elimination of inequalities in income.
What can the Intergroup on Ageing and Intergenerational Solidarity way?
And what are the major challenges posed by the aging and elderly people to those facing this strategy?
The Intergroup has to make sure that the interests of the elderly are well represented in the programs and policies in Europe. The constant exchange of views between MEPs and policy makers and stakeholders helps to propose new ideas and actions in the context of policies relating to older people. I am one of the vice-presidents of the Intergroup and pretend to draw the public's attention on the need to combat discrimination against the elderly, in particular within
banking and insurance. I think it is extremely important to promote active aging and help people to take advantage of the current advances in ICT and quality health care and long-term care .
2020
Poverty reduction and the objectives of full employment are more than welcome , but we need a plan of action on active aging to address the challenge of demographic change in its proposal launched yesterday , the European Commission has finally decided to follow social council NGOs to introduce a strong social dimension in their Europe 2020 strategy, which is to define the broad outline of the work priorities of the European Union for the next decade . We welcome the ' goal of reducing the number of people who are at risk of poverty by 20 million euro and reach an employment rate of 75 % by 2020 , but when the European Council and the Member States prepare the detailed parameters of the strategy, we strongly recommend that translate these goals into concrete objectives broken down by age group and sex. This is essential to promote growth for all and to ensure that the most vulnerable - children, young people and older people are not left behind, said Anne - Sophie Parent , Director of AGE Platform Europe . The Commission put forward proposals very innovative under the inclusive growth , including a European platform against poverty. Now we count the Member States and the European Parliament to add a little ' meat to these bones , and agree a concrete set of detailed parameters , guidelines and national targets to ensure that all will benefit from this new strategy , including the most vulnerable , added Ms Parent. The first task of this platform should be to develop a European action plan against poverty and inequality that should guide the open method of coordination on social protection and social inclusion in the next decade in order to ensure that it delivers results concrete by 2020. Given that demographic change is a major challenge for the EU and its Member States, AGE strongly believes that there is a real need for an Action Plan on Ageing under the inclusive growth objective to coordinate all initiatives and policy measures related to aging and to promote the activation of the growing number of citizens aged 50 +
sources and Answers:
(risposta di AGE
http://www.age-platform.eu/images/stories/...nuary_2010x.pdf)
(
www.europolitics.info/pdf/gratuit_en/267584-en.pdf)
