ACTIVITIES :: e-Inclusion :: Joint Programming Initiative "More Years – Better Lives"
Commission's Recommendation on "More Years, Better Lives - The Potential and Challenges of Demographic Change"
The European Commission has adopted a Recommendation on the Joint Programming Initiative "More Years – Better Lives, the challenges and Opportunities of Demographic Change".
The Joint Programming Initiative "More Years – Better Lives, the challenges and Opportunities of Demographic Change" aims to bring together national research initiatives under a common strategic research agenda addressing demographic change. This will in turn complement the active and healthy ageing European innovation partnership and the ageing related activities in the Seventh Framework Programme (FP 7), the Ambient Assisted Living Joint Programme and the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme.
WHAT IS THE ISSUE?
The basic data about the ageing of Europe's population are well-known. They show an imminent and significant change in society and economy for which the EU is still not well-prepared:. The ratio of people aged over 65 to working people (aged 15-64) will drop from approximately 1:4 in 2008 to 1:3 in 2020 and 1:2 in 2050, straining intergenerational solidarity; the rising cost of ageing will have a significant impact on public finances; and while the 50+ have an estimated disposable income and wealth of some €3 trillion and incomes of pensioners have been rising, disparities are huge with 19% of the elderly at risk of poverty, a figure that is rapidly increasing especially in the EU-10.
The demographic challenge can only be tackled by a coherent combination of social, economic, health, innovation and digital policies. Acting today can translate into a considerable triple win in terms of better quality of life, cost of care that is sustainable for society as a whole, and new jobs and business thanks to a growing ‘silver economy'. Demographic ageing has been identified in the Europe 2020 Strategy as both a challenge and an opportunity for smart, sustainable, and inclusive growth. Its flagship initiatives “A Digital Agenda for Europe” and “Innovation Union” each address demographic ageing as a priority.
Major European and global societal problems such as population ageing cannot be successfully tackled through the isolated effort of individual national research programmes. A large coordinated European effort is urgently needed.
The large majority of public civil Research and Technology Development spending is programmed, executed and evaluated at national level. Today less than 15% of public civil research is coordinated at European level.
WHAT EXACTLY WOULD CHANGE?
A new coordinated approach would be implemented through close cooperation between national research programmes. This should help identifying and responding more effectively to common challenges in the area of the ageing population.
Member States would jointly engage in the definition, development and implementation of a common Strategic Research Agenda to address the challenges of an ageing society through generation of new knowledge needed to understand the ageing process and how to best keep older people active and integrated in society as well as remaining independent for as long as possible.
WHO WOULD BENEFIT AND HOW?
Stakeholders from participating countries (policy-makers, industry, care and service organisations, etc.) and mostly citizens by developing new innovative solutions and policies to active ageing, accommodation of older people in the workplace, improved efficiency of care systems, better quality of life for older people and their carers and social inclusion.
More efficient sharing and harmonised implementation of best practices.
More effective use of Europe's limited public research funds.
WHY DOES ACTION HAVE TO BE TAKEN BY THE EU?
Because this action tackles a European-wide issue that cannot be successfully resolved by individual countries. Joint Programming makes possible for several European countries to elaborate and implement a common research agenda, thus preventing fragmentation and duplication of efforts.
Because this allow for taking advantage of the critical mass provided by a large concerted action at EU level and creation of world-class knowledge.
WHEN IS THE PROPOSAL LIKELY TO COME INTO EFFECT?
There is no pre-definite moment of entry into effect, as the process of coordinating research agendas is gradual and decided by the Member States.
However, the set up of a management structure by the participating countries was already done beginning of 2011. Participating Member States have already started working jointly towards a common research agenda and will continue to do so during the time necessary to adopt this Recommendation.
Last update: 13/09/2011
