AGE welcomes the launch of Commission’s Social Agenda Package on 2 July which contains 19 initiatives, a number of which hold direct relevance to older people’s interests.

Renewed social agenda

The “umbrella Communication” on the "Renewed social agenda: Opportunities, access and solidarity in 21st century Europe” outlines the rational and structure of the renewed social agenda, provides an overview of existing and new measures and instruments in the context of social Europe and the Renewed Social Agenda and presents the Commission’s vision for future initiatives.

Renewed social agenda: Opportunities, access and solidarity in 21st century Europe

Renewed social agenda: Opportunities, access and solidarity in 21st century Europe - Impact Assessment (Summary)

Longer and healthier lives

The proposal for a Directive on the application of patients’ rights in cross-border healthcare aims at clarifying and promoting the right of patients to gain access to healthcare in another EU country by ensuring high quality and safe cross border healthcare throughout Europe. A Communication also provides ’A Community framework on the application of patients’ rights in cross-border healthcare’. Nevertheless, AGE hopes that the November Communication will include elder abuse as it was disappointed in the Spring that the Communication did not materialise, given the conference and expert report on the extent of this problem.

The European Health Strategy 2008-2013

Community strategy 2007-2012 on health and safety at work

Combating poverty

The Commission Staff Working Document on the "First biennial report on the situation of social services of general interest in the EU" provides an analysis of the role and situation of social services of general interest in Europe as well as the challenges that are faced.

Social Services of General Interest - Commission Report

Strengthening Instruments

The Communication on "A renewed commitment to social Europe: Reinforcing the Open Method of Coordination for Social Protection and Social Inclusion" revises the EU’s system for coordinating national policies to tackle poverty and guarantee social protection.

Communication on "A renewed commitment to social Europe: Reinforcing the Open Method of Coordination for Social Protection and Social Inclusion"

"A renewed commitment to social Europe: Reinforcing the Open Method of Coordination for Social Protection and Social Inclusion" - Impact Assessment (Summary)

Fighting discrimination

The legislative proposal for a Council Directive implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation seeks to complete the existing European legal framework to combat discrimination by providing for protection in areas other than employment. However, AGE is disappointed that the proposal for a directive is weak on detail and is concerned that it fails to adequately address the rights of older people to equality, in particular on areas where there are exemption clauses. AGE now needs to reflect on the detail of the directive proposal. The Communication on "Non-discrimination and equal opportunities: A renewed commitment" sets out the Commission’s overall policy approach to tackling discrimination as follow-up to the 2007 European Year of Equal Opportunities. Many AGE members took an active role in this European Year and AGE needs to also reflect closely on this Communication.

Communication on the Fight against Discrimination

The Fight Against Discrimination - Directive

The Fight Against Discrimination - Impact Assessment (Summary)

The International Agenda

A follow-up to the Commission’s 2006 Communication on decent work and the progress made since.

Decent work for All

More details

Click here for more details on the elements of the Social Agenda Package.
 

Useful Documents 
 
AGE initial reaction to Social Agenda Package