The second EU Day of Solidarity between Generations will take place this Thursday, 29th April. The aim of the day is to help to raise public and political awareness on the important role that enhanced intergenerational cooperation can play in providing sustainable responses to future economic and social challenges. A group of European NGO's is also using the day to launch a new document which proposes that 2012 be designated European Year of Active Ageing and Intergenerational Solidarity. The full publication is available here

In cooperation with the European Commission, thirteen NGOs under the leadership of the European Older People’s Platform (AGE) have  organised a campaign seeking to reinforce social links between generations as well as to initiate a shift in policy-making to promote greater solidarity between generations.

Objective:

Encourage the European policy-makers to put intergenerational solidarity high on the EU agenda and to support the proposal to make 2012 the European Year on Active Ageing and Intergenerational Solidarity as proposed by Commissioner Špidla in 2008.

Running activities:

• The coalition is encouraging their members and the other European organisations to mark the Second EU Day of Intergenerational Solidarity (29 April 2010).
• Launching joint publication "INTERGENERATIONAL SOLIDARITY - THE WAY FORWARD. Proposals from the NGO Coalition for a 2012 European Year for Active Ageing and Intergenerational Solidarity" on the need for developing an intergenerational approach in many aspects of our everyday life: employment, housing, pensions, social protection, health, environment, poverty and social exclusion, transport, family policy, citizen-based initiatives, migration, gender equality. It will include recommendations addressed to public authorities and other actors working at local, national and European level. The publication will be presented at a conference on active ageing and intergenerational solidarity, which will be organised by the Spanish Presidency in Logrogno on 29-30 April 2010 to mark the EU Day on Solidarity between generations.
• The coalition has also sent a joint letter to the new Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, László Andor, asking him to propose that 2012 is declared EU Year of Active Ageing and Intergenerational Solidarity.

For further information please go to the AGE website