EPSU contribution to European Innovation Platform "Active and Healthy Ageing"

(Brussels 9 February 2011) EPSU (the European Federation of Public Services Unions) contributed to the European Commission consultation on the European Innovation Platform "Active and Healthy Ageing".

EPSU´s reply was presented at a hearing of the Intergroup on Ageing and Intergenerational Solidarity, organised by AGE and hosted by MEP Lambert van Nistelrooij on 27 January 2011 in the European Parliament.

In EPSU’s view there are two main issues covered by the European Innovation Platform "Active and Healthy Ageing" that concern trade unions and the interests of workers and employees in the health care and social services sector:


• Integrated service provision


• Sustainability and efficiency of health and social care systems

In its contribution EPSU highlights different initiatives involving social partners to address challenges of the ageing workforce in the health and social services sector by measures of retention and recruitment.

EPSU underlines the need to


• develop solutions for all under the European Innovation Platform "Active and Healthy Ageing", paying more attention to the less well off/excluded and to address rather than to widen existing health inequalities


• involve all stakeholders including health care professionals and carers


• reflect the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in the European Innovation Platform "Active and Healthy Ageing"

EPSU´s contribution concludes on proposals as to which manner European institutions could be instrumental with regard to a range of measures of support and coordination when implementing the European Innovation Platform "Active and Healthy Ageing".

It has also been uploaded to the website of the Intergroup on Ageing and Intergenerational Solidarity.