WRITTEN QUESTION E-1742/03 by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission. Programmes for senior citizens.
Date: 2003-05-26
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU programme, age discrimination, elderly person, marginalisation, population ageing, social integration

C 11 E/222

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

15.1.2004

Due to the information received by the Commission, Cedefop will be republishing the above post without
a requirement for ‘native speaker knowledge’ in the job advertisement.

The Commission will remind the Directors of Community decentralised organisations of this topic and ask
them to inform promptly their services.

(1) Regulation (EEC) No 337/75 of

the Council of 10 February 1975 establishing a European Centre for the

Development of Vocational Training, OJ L 39, 13.2.1975, Article 7, § 4.

(2004/C 11 E/248)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1742/03

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(26 May 2003)

Subject: Programmes for senior citizens

Over the next few years the problem of the progressive ageing of the EU’s population will in particular
affect Italy, which has one of the world’s lowest birth rates and which is also likely to suffer from the
budgetary point of view. It is forecast that, by 2020, 37 % of the EU’s population will be over 60 years of
age.

Specific action therefore needs to be taken in order to integrate older people into society in such a way
that they are able to work beyond the current retirement age, thanks to the availability of training at every
stage of their working lives.

However, although the EU institutions have long been engaged in action to combat discrimination against,
and the marginalisation of, the elderly and the disabled, specific programmes designed to counter such
tendencies have yet to be implemented, despite the fact that Article 25 of the EU Charter of Fundamental
Rights and Articles 13, 136 and 137 of the EC Treaty indicate that priority is to be given to enabling those
categories of people to play a full role in cultural life and in the life of society.

In view of the above, would the Commission answer the following questions:

1. What action is to be taken for the benefit of older people?

2. Are there any examples of good practice on the part of individual EU Member States?

3. Can the Commission provide an overview of the situation?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(10 July 2003)

Member States have committed to collaboration on ageing issues in the context of sound public finances,
employment, social protection and health care while maintaining these as national policies. The Union’s
response to ageing (1) is developed as part of the overall strategy of mutually reinforcing policies launched
at Lisbon and elaborated at subsequent European Council meetings. The Union approach aims at
mobilising the full potential of people of all ages. This results in an orientation towards active ageing
policies. Core active ageing practices include life long learning, working longer, retiring later, being active
after retirement and engaging in capacity enhancing and health sustaining activities. Such practices aim to
raise the average quality of individual lives and at the same time, at societal level, contribute to larger
growth, lower dependency burdens and substantial cost savings in pensions and health.

Extending working life by improving the incentives and opportunities for older workers is a priority in the
European Employment Strategy and the European strategy for adequate and sustainable pensions. Under
the Open Method of Coordination on poverty and social exclusion the position of older people is fully

15.1.2004

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 11 E/223

taken into account and this is reflected in the National Action Plans and the Joint Report on Social
Inclusion (2). Recent policy initiatives include: the adoption of a specific employment guideline on active
ageing from 2001; the 50 % employment rate target by 2010 for workers aged 55-64 agreed at the 2001
Stockholm European Council; the pension objectives agreed at the Laeken European Council 2001; the
Joint Report on labour-force participation and active ageing (2002); the 2002 Barcelona European Council
agreement to raise the age at which people stop working by five years by 2010 and the Commission’s
decision to introduce a new structural indicator on the average effective exit age in the 2003 synthesis
report.

The EUR 100 million Community Action Programme to combat Discrimination (2001-2006) deals with
aspects of age discrimination. It currently contributes over 85 % of the running costs of the European
Platform of Older People’s Organisations (AGE) and supports a large number of studies, projects and
awareness raising initiatives which either focus on age discrimination or include it in their scope. The
EUR 75 million Community Action Programme on Social Inclusion (2002-2006) offers support for the
exchange of learning and best practice between Member States in relevant areas, including policies and
programmes that enhance the inclusion of older people.

The Joint Commission/Council Reports on adequate and sustainable pensions (3) and on health care and
care for the elderly (4), which were presented to the European Spring Council in Brussels in 2003, depict
how Member States in two crucial policy areas are dealing with the wider social and work life related
implications of ageing through mutually reinforcing employment, social protection and economic policies.
These reports as well as the Joint Report on Social Inclusion (2) highlight some examples of good practices.

(1) COM(2002) 143 final.
(2) Council of the European Union 15223/01.
(3) Council of the European Union 7165/03.
(4) Council of the European Union 7166/03.

(2004/C 11 E/249)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1743/03

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(26 May 2003)

Subject: Creation of a place of worship

italici

The Comunità templi
[Italic Temples Community] cultural association, whose membership
comprises both church and lay people, has put forward plans for a project involving the construction of
a sanctuary within a cave located in a small village (Schiavi D’Abruzzo) as a faithful copy of the sanctuary
of Lourdes in France. The project, which has been approved by the Vatican authorities, is strictly religious
in nature and it is intended to send out a message of openness and dialogue between different cultures and
religions.

Furthermore, the construction of the sanctuary will also involve developing a full range of infrastructure
(including roads,
Italy
concerned. All of this will create new jobs, not least on account of the presence of a major archaeological
site of great historical significance.

lighting and parking areas), which will

further enhance the part of central

In view of the above, would the Commission answer the following questions:

1.

Is funding available for places of worship?

2. Are there any similar initiatives within the EU?

3. Can the Commission provide an overview of the situation?