Regional Implementation
In many parts of the ECE region, one person in five is aged over sixty. By 2050, this will have grown to one in three. Europe is at the top of the league in many old age statistics. In the European Union in particular, some member states have the lowest birth rates and the highest percentage share of older persons worldwide. Thus is comes as no surprise that the UNECE region, which already has a declining population and a clear shift in population age groups, decided to devote increased attention to the subject of population ageing as it affects the region and embarked on a regional implementation strategy parallel to and in closest cooperation with work on the drafting the Madrid International Action Plan on Ageing. This project, aimed at formulating an International Action Plan with a distinct regional orientation, was strongly supported by the German Government. Germany made a significant contribution to the realisation of the project both in term of funding and expertise.
In the Regional Implementation Strategy formulated in Berlin, the UNECE member states reached agreement on a concrete catalogue of measures in the form of ten Commitments. A guiding principle of the Berlin Strategy is the concept of mainstreaming the issues of demographic change into all political sectors. Since the issue of ageing populations involves so many new challenges, classic ageing policy tools and mechanisms no longer suffice. A cross-cutting approach is called for, reflecting the slogan of the UN during the Social Summit in Copenhagen of "A Society for all Ages".
Without the knowledge and experience of older people, not only the continuity but also the innovative capacity of society is lost. For this reason, the integration and participation of this growing group is anchored is one of the strategy's commitments.
The nations of the UNECE are not a homogenous group. But the ECE as a region does mirror a distinct and evolving economic area. Support for fair and sustainable and equitable economic growth consistent with the ageing of populations is therefore one of the further main demands of the strategy. From the economic viewpoint two further aspects are notable: on the one hand the adaptation of social security systems to changing demographic factors is a vital task for all governments. The sustained prevention of poverty, provision of adequate social services for all groups of society and the creation of a legislative framework for state or private retirement schemes are further goals. In this context international comparison and the evaluation of various model solutions are important to all the member states. On the other hand, not only a clear reduction of the number of unemployed, but also an enhanced utilisation of the expertise of older employees in particular is prerequisite for the labour market to react to the economic and social consequences of demographic change. The member states of the UNECE call not only for a raising of the average retirement age, but also for a flexible approach to transition into retirement.
New requirements are also emerging in the field of education. The concept of life-long learning, including training and further training measures, should lead to the updating and improving of the qualification and employability of older persons.
In the area of health and well-bring, the UNECE states have formulated a clear commitment. Here the focus is on social, economic and environmental measures for present and future generations, the objective being equitable access to and appropriate financing of health and social services. The Implementation Strategy also makes an appeal to central and local governments and other agencies involved to give people the opportunity to live a healthy life.
The equality of the sexes in an ageing society is another central concern of the strategy. In this context attention is given not only to equal rights and self-fulfilment opportunities for women, but also to the scope for men to take on more responsibility within the family.
Families play a central role in the Berlin strategy. The past decades have witnessed pronounced structural changes in families. Appropriate support services are required to secure the existing solidarity within the family. Mechanisms for a just distribution of burdens are called for to offset in other areas the special burdens borne by families.
The Commission
for Social Development will decide on how the International Action Plan
on Ageing will be further developed and the steps then taken by the UNECE
will be influenced by this decision. But an implementation can only come
to life as a result of measures at the national level. The fulfilment
of a national action plan is thus one of the most important tasks of the
new German government. This responsibility is also anchored in the Coalition
Agreement of October 2002.