Demographic changes in the workplace represent a challenge, as people over 60 begin to outnumber young workers. The project “CE-Ageing Platform”, however, created a strategy for cooperation to minimise the negative effects of this change in Central Europe (CE).
- 22 May 2015
The project proved that finding solutions and answers to the challenges of an ageing society requires effective and sustainable co-operation among governments, social partners and organisations at national and international level.
The project was set up to enhance cooperation among stakeholders and partners in order to foster economic growth, regional development and social cohesion. “[The project] is built on the belief that challenges faced in the cross-cutting issue ‘ageing’ can only be solved by working together,” says Mirna Prebanda of the Chamber of Labour Upper Austria.
Framework for influence
It established a platform that improves framework conditions by adapting policies, governance processes and mechanisms to demographic change in the field of regional and urban development, health, education, labour market, migration and social policy.
The CE-Ageing Platform allows the 13 project partners, from eight countries, to learn from previous activities and results as well as those actions implemented by the project.
Strategies for action
The main activities carried out include a joint transnational CE-Ageing Platform Strategy that serves as a guideline for the CE-countries/regions for responding to demographic change, thematic workshops, regional ageing strategies, regional training concepts, cross-generational human resources development strategies, work-life balance projects, and age and diversity management projects.
A joint “Forum on Ageing in Central Europe” was organised, with annual conferences held in Slovakia, Slovenia and Italy, The project also set up a web-based “CE-Platform on Ageing” database of active ageing practices, regional pilots and general information on CE countries regarding ageing strategies, action plans and government resolutions.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “CE-Ageing Platform” is EUR 2 172 985, of which the EU’s European Regional Development Fund is contributing EUR 1 721 611 from the Operational Programme “CENTRAL EUROPE” for the 2007 to 2013 programming period.