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Active ageing and solidarity between generations The European Union’s (EU’s) population structure is changing and becoming progressively older – there were slightly more than 87 million persons aged 65 and over on 1 January 2010 in the EU-27, some 17.4 % of the total population. These latest figures can be compared with data from 1 January 1985, when there were 59.3 million persons aged 65 and over in the EU-27 (12.8 % of the total population). A steady increase in life expectancy across the EU during the last century led to increased longevity, while in more recent decades – from the 1970s onwards – the EU has experienced falling fertility rates. These two developments impact upon demographic ageing, a process that has become established in the EU in the last 30 or 40 years and which is expected, by many, to become further entrenched during the next half century, as the absolute number and the relative importance of the population of older persons continues to grow. These demographic changes will lead to significant challenges for families and individuals – for example, it could become commonplace for people to move into retirement while still having one or both of their parents alive. These profound changes present a key challenge to society, with the ageing of the population having serious implications for public policies and budgets. At the current moment in time, there are severe constraints on fiscal policies and a strong need for fiscal consolidation over a number of years in the EU, aggravating adverse budgetary developments arising from ageing. At the same time, changes in the demographic profile of the EU will also impact on labour and product markets, families and individuals. In order to tackle the challenges posed by population ageing, a long-term view seems necessary, well beyond the orizon of electoral cycles. Many of the challenges that arise from population ageing are universal and include.... > Lire le rapport     By tmm Date 06-02-2012