On the first day of the European Parliament’s October plenary session in Strasbourg, a debate was held on intergenerational justice in Europe. PiS MEP Jadwiga Wiśniewska spoke during the discussion organized in connection with the International Day of Older Persons.
The Polish politician noted that Europe is at a crossroads today. She emphasized that European societies are aging at an unprecedented rate. She highlighted the declining birth rate, the growing elderly population, and the increasing difficulties faced by pension and care systems, which simply can no longer keep up with these changes.
Jadwiga Wiśniewska also highlighted the alarming demographic projections. As she emphasized, by the middle of this century, one in three residents of the European Union will be over 65 years old.
“If we want true intergenerational justice, we must support families and create conditions that enable seniors to remain economically active,” she noted. She noted that the European Union needs workplaces that are inclusive of all generations, the development of intergenerational work teams, and, above all, a resolute fight against age discrimination. “We see this phenomenon in many areas of life—not only when older people apply for jobs, but also when they try to take advantage of modern forms of education and training,” she noted.
The Member of the European Parliament added that discrimination against older people also manifests itself in a failure to recognize their problems, a disregard for their needs, and the belief that the needs of seniors are less important than those of the younger generation. “We urgently need a dignified policy for seniors,” she concluded.
