Age as an opportunity
June 2007
Policies for Active Ageing and age management have come to
the
top of the European agenda due to the debate on the demographic challenge. "Competence 50+ 2007 - Age as an opportunity", a European policy forum on age management
is to be held soon in Sweden.
As is the case with many other policy areas within the field of employment
and social inclusion, the results of EQUAL are in a good position to contribute
to the debate and to policy making. It is estimated that up to 210 EQUAL
Development Partnerships (DPs), have been active in addressing the needs of
older workers and tackling ageing issues. During the first round, their
activities were enriched and disseminated at the European level via success
stories, practical examples, background analysis, an Age Management Working
Group (see the thematic activities) and
the organisation of a large-scale
conference.
A Swedish DP active in the second round, "Life
competence 50+", has taken the initiative to host, in cooperation with the
Swedish authorities, a major European conference on age management to take
place on 18 to 20 June in Göteborg. The conference, that will showcase
some of the EQUAL results, has an impressive list of speakers and workshops.
A European Age Management Network: the way forward?
The conference is not only showcasing results but also
looking ahead by asking if there is a way forward for a European Age Management
Network built on the experience of the European Social Fund (ESF) EQUAL
programme. Framed by this question, one of the conference seminars seeks to explore whether it be
would both feasible and worthwhile to set up a European network focusing on age
management. The seminar will not only provide an opportunity to present the
findings of some initial research into the "network idea", but also to canvass
ideas and opinions, and gauge levels of interest from the seminar participants
themselves. It is hoped that the seminar will provide a starting point for
discussion – and ideally action – that goes beyond the Competence 50 + 2007
Conference.
Programme and abstract book 
Conference website
Background document: A
European Age Management Network: the way forward?
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