Mikołajczyk, Barbara --- "Legal basis of active ageing: European developments" [2018] ELECD 1196; in Doron, Israel; Georgantzi, Nena (eds), "Ageing, Ageism and the Law" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2018) 73

Book Title: Ageing, Ageism and the Law

Editor(s): Doron, Israel; Georgantzi, Nena

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN: 9781788972109

Section: Chapter 4

Section Title: Legal basis of active ageing: European developments

Author(s): Mikołajczyk, Barbara

Number of pages: 25

Abstract/Description:

The current demographic situation in Europe is the reason why the issue of active ageing has become a subject of interest of both leading European organizations, namely the Council of Europe and the European Union. As they are organizations of integrational character, they may affect the internal policy of Member States towards older citizens. Taking steps aimed at the creation of adequate conditions which would allow older citizens to remain active, independent and in good health for as long as possible appears essential because European States are failing to utilize the potential of older persons adequately, despite economic and social needs. The author is of the opinion that all activities by the above-mentioned organizations in this area should be based on the assumption that older generations do not constitute a burden, but rather that they can contribute significantly to society. Therefore, she focuses on reviewing and assessing the European legal output referring, directly or indirectly, to active ageing from the perspective of human rights law. She also analyses legal instruments preventing age discrimination, promoting intergenerational solidarity as well as awareness of threats posed by ageism. It transpires that both organizations have proposed some interesting solutions in this area, but simultaneously the legal foundations of active ageing which were worked out are deficient, especially in the field of protection against age discrimination and ageism, and they lack a single consolidated strategy for older persons.