Spotlight on AGE- The European Older People’s Platform

Who are we?

AGE, the European Older People’s Platform, is a European non-profit network bringing together European, national and regional non-profit organisations of older people or working with and for older people.

Who do we represent?

AGE gathers 140 associations from 27 EU Member States: 19 Observer Members (NGOs outside EU, regional and local authorities, research centres etc.) Our membership is composed of senior associations and other civil society organisations working with and for older or retired people, to give a strong and credible voice to their views, interests and needs. Our membership represents more than 25 million older people across Europe.

What is our mission?

AGE aims to voice and promote the interests of the 150 million older people in the European Union, and to raise awareness of the issues that concern them most.

Among our guiding principles is the conviction that a change of attitudes is needed to achieve a society for all ages and to ensure that the rights of all age groups including older people are not only protected but that they are also enhanced. Solidarity between generations should also be sought in a way that recognises older people’s contributions to society.

What is our vision?

AGE’s vision is of a European society all ages where individuals enjoy equal rights in terms of their living conditions, their economic situation, their participation as citizens and their access to fundamental goods and services. The achievement of age equality will not only benefit older individuals as citizens and give the proper value to their wisdom and experience; it is also in the interest of society in general.

What do we do?

AGE works at European level to raise awareness of the opportunities and challenges that arise from the ageing of our society, to shape appropriate policy responses and to promote the interests and involvement of the older citizens of Europe.

AGE seeks to influence EU policies so that they can adequately reflect the interests of all older people. AGE is involved in a range of policy and information activities to put older people and ageing issues on the EU agenda and to support networking among older people’s groups. AGE’s work focuses on a wide range of policy areas that impact on older and retired people. These include issues of anti-discrimination, employment, social protection, social inclusion, transport, built environment, new technologies, health and long-term care. For instance, AGE formulates position papers on relevant EU initiatives, outlining specific policy views and recommendations. These are developed and endorsed by its’ membership. AGE believes that there is a need for a greater recognition and understanding at the European level of the impact of European policies on older or retired people. These groups of citizens must have greater opportunities to promote and defend their rights and interests. AGE works for a more effective civil dialogue at European level and seeks to ensure that this dialogue recognises and takes account of the requirements of older and retired people. AGE closely co-operates with the European Parliament’s Intergroup on Ageing.

How do you get involved?

Our website has a wealth of information available to the public on the various ageing policy areas including, health and long-term care. In November 2008, the AGE website had 23.000 visits with an average of 766 hits per day. AGE publishes a monthly electronic newsletter called “CoverAGE” that is available online and free of charge. A section called “NGO and Others” allows non-members of AGE to contribute to the newsletter with their ideas, projects or other activities that may be relevant for our membership. AGE also cooperates with other EU-wide networks and international organisations setting up events, publishing common statements, etc. to put older people’s issues high on the EU agenda.

For further information

AGE-The European Older People’s Platform, Rue Froissart 111, 1040 Brussels, Belgium,

T: +32 (0) 2 280 14 70 F:+32 (0) 2 280 15 22

E : info@age-platform.org

www.age-platform.org

On health and long-term care issues contact: Isabel Borges, Policy Officer and Project Manager isabel.borges@age-platform.org