During the most recent debate at the European Parliament’s plenary session in Strasbourg, a discussion took place on healthy lifestyles and active aging in the EU. PiS MEPs Elżbieta Rafalska and Ryszard Czarnecki spoke during the debate.
Elżbieta Rafalska stated that it is a good thing that we are living longer and that this is a significant achievement of civilization. She noted that over the past five decades, life expectancy for both men and women has increased by 10 years, and according to projections for 2070, the average life expectancy for men will be 86 years and for women 90 years. She emphasized that a healthy lifestyle has the greatest impact on staying healthy, active, and independent for as long as possible.
She addressed one of the key elements of a healthy lifestyle: physical activity. “Physical activity is an essential part of life. Physical activity, physical performance, and biological fitness all depend on physical fitness,” the Polish politician noted. She noted that if we are not physically fit, we will be dependent on others, whether that be a family member or the state’s care system. “We can’t start working toward a healthy, active old age at 50 or 60—it has to begin earlier,” she argued. She mentioned that promoting physical activity must start with the youngest people possible, and that this activity must then be sustained for as long as possible.
Ryszard Czarnecki, referring to the topic of the debate, cited Finland’s current president and former Member of the European Parliament Alexander Stubb as an example of someone leading a healthy lifestyle; in 2021, Stubb placed sixth at the World Triathlon Championships, and two years ago became the European champion in the same discipline.
“In this debate, we should pay special attention to older people,” said the former vice president of the European Parliament. He noted that providing special care for seniors is not only the responsibility of national governments—not to mention the European Union—but also of local governments. “Each of us will one day be a senior citizen, and a sign of humanity on the part of those in power is not only whether they think about such people, but what they do for them. This is so that these people can be a full-fledged part of society, especially since they have worked for years to ensure our well-being,” commented the MEP.
