Future of senior citizens: protection, participation and promotion

Doc. 8977

8 February 2001

Future of senior citizens: protection, participation and promotion

Recommendation 1428 (1999)

Reply from the Committee of Ministers

adopted at the 738^th meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies (31 January 2001)

The Committee of Ministers has noted with interest Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1428 (1999) on the future of senior citizens: protection, participation and promotion, adopted by the Assembly on 23 September 1999.

At its meeting on 6 October 1999, it brought the Recommendation to the attention of the Governments of member states and assigned ad hoc terms of reference to the competent committee, namely the European Committee for Social Cohesion (CDCS), to give its opinion on the Recommendation.

The CDCS’s opinion, the substance of which is shared by the Committee of Ministers, is forwarded to the Assembly as an appendix hereto.

Appendix

Opinion of the European Committee for Social Cohesion (CDCS) on Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1428 (1999) on the future of senior citizens: protection, participation and promotion

1. The European Committee for Social Cohesion (CDCS) has examined with the closest attention and with special interest Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1428 (1999) on "the future of senior citizens: protection, participation and promotion". It commends the Parliamentary Assembly for having raised in very comprehensive terms the questions concerning elderly people, whose numbers are moreover increasing in the countries of Europe.

2. Greater life expectancy, a welcome development in itself, can and does give rise to many financial and social difficulties. A good image of elderly persons, as advocated by the Parliamentary Assembly, is indeed of the utmost importance in this context. The position assigned to the elderly by younger people will prove the cohesiveness of the social fabric in our countries.

3. Thus it is not possible for the CDCS in its work on social cohesion strategy, to bypass "third" and even "fourth" age questions. In response to the specific terms of reference received from the Committee of Ministers by decision CM/731/061099, instructing it to study the advisability and feasibility of including an activity on elderly people in its programme, the CDCS expresses the hope and the desire to continue and/or develop activities relating to the concerns stated in Recommendation 1428.

4. This Recommendation indicates an excellent general direction for suitable work on the subject. In this respect, the work of the Group of Specialists on improving the quality of life of elderly dependent persons (CS-QV) deals with three main subjects:

- care systems,

- inclusion and participation in society by elderly persons in situations of dependency,

- promotion of measures to delay the onset of dependency.

The current activities, mentioned moreover in paragraph 2 of the parliamentary text - one concerning elderly persons within their family and the other the quality of life of elderly dependent persons - have as their watchwords "protection, participation, promotion" and the dignity of the individual. However, they target specific categories and/or situations of elderly people: dependent persons; intergenerational relations at an informal level, at the level of primary forms of solidarity.

5. In seeking greater cohesion in our societies, pursuant to the decisions of the Second Summit of Heads of State and Government, the CDCS remains convinced of the need to address the questions relating to elderly and retired people, irrespective of whether the retirement age bracket is 50-55 or 60-67 years. Work conducted hitherto has not approached the problem of the retired people whom doctors and demographers alike are tending less and less to regard as elderly. The CDCS will be glad to peruse the text announced by the Parliamentary Assembly (cf. para. 3 of the Recommendation) on "The challenges of social policy in our ageing societies".

6. With reference to paras. 17 and 18 of the Recommendation, the CDCS would assure the Committee of Ministers that its work on the elderly is intended to alert the various players and audiences to the questions regarding old age and a more positive image of the elderly. This is also the spirit which informed the drafting of one of the latest recommendations in the social sector specifically relating to elderly people: No. R (98) 9 on dependence. Continuing this process, in the coming months the CDCS expects, in principle, to be able to declassify the final report of the Study Group under the Co-ordinated Research Programme in the Social Field on "Elderly persons within their family - legal and social responsibilities".¹ The terms of reference issued to the Group of Specialists on Improving the Quality of Life of Elderly Dependent People (CS-QV) expire at the end of 2001. Its work should also lead to the publication of a report.

7. Accordingly, the CDCS does not, for the time being, suggest the commencement of new studies or activities on elderly people before the completion of those currently under way. It nevertheless adheres to the view expressed in para. 3 of this opinion and, on concluding the relevant work in hand, would wish to incorporate into its social cohesion strategy highly important questions such as the place of elderly people in our societies, the transition to retirement, and the various arrangements governing this transition. It will therefore submit to the Committee of Ministers, at a later stage, a proposal for a new activity, meeting member states' expectations in this regard. However, it wishes to underline that the United Nations pays particular attention to the question of the ageing of the population and is organising, in 2002, a special session of the General Assembly on this subject. The CDCS declares that it is available to contribute to the preparation of this event.

¹ The CDCS subsequently agreed to declassify this report.