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¿QUIÉN ES QUIÉN? / WHO IS WHO?
¿Qué objetivo o reto le parece a usted más
importante del Plan de Acción de la
II Asamblea Mundial sobre el Envejecimiento?
grante de la estrategia global de las políticas de
refuerzo mutuo lanzada en Lisboa.
q Mientras las condiciones y oportunidades
para los ancianos actuales son una preocupa-
ción importante en cualquier momento, amol-
darse bien al envejecimiento de la población es
un problema para las personas de todas las
edades. Un enfoque del curso vital puede ayu-
dar a desarrollar respuestas políticas adecua-
das. También se acentúan las múltiples venta-
jas para las personas y la sociedad de un marco
político de envejecimiento activo, que permita a
las personas seguir siendo activas y participar a
medida que envejecen.
q También debe prestarse la debida aten-
ción a la diversidad que existe a escala global.
La realidad del envejecimiento depende del
contexto socioeconómico y cultural en el que
viven las personas. Estas dimensiones también
desempeñan un papel importante en cómo es-
tablecen los países sus respuestas prioritarias a
los retos que suscita el envejecimiento. A su
vez, es posible que las respuestas políticas ac-
tuales y futuras sean diferentes en cada país. A
pesar de tales diferencias, los países pueden
aprender y beneficiarse de la experiencia de
unos y otros. Para aprovechar esta oportunidad
deberían reforzarse los mecanismos internacio-
nales que mejor puedan informar las políticas
públicas en todo el mundo.
Europe's response to ageing is an integrated part
of the overall strategy of mutually reinforcing
policies launched at Lisbon. We are currently
tackling a number of challenges: adjusting well to impacts on other major developments. Europe's response
an ageing and shrinking workforce; ensuring adequate,
sustainable and adaptable pensions; and achieving high
quality health and long term care for ageing Europeans.
Moreover, there are crucial gender dimensions to
population ageing, which cut across all policy areas.
Women still provide the bulk of care for children and
dependent older people. In most EU countries women
furthermore represent the main labour force reserve for
mobilisation in response to ageing. Significant
differences in average life expectancy of the genders
imply that older women form the bulk of the population of
older people in all EU Member States.
Europe, which is among the most aged regions of the
world and European countries, will continue to be at the
forefront of ageing experience for several decades to
come. Yet, ageing is no longer primarily a concern for the live. These dimensions also play an important role for
developed world. In the 21st Century ageing will become a
universal trend and emerge as a major challenge to
societies in most parts of the world.
While conditions and opportunities for the presently
old are an important concern at any time, adjusting well
What objective or challenge seems
most important to you in the Action Plan of
the II World Assembly on Ageing?
to population ageing is an issue for men and women of all ANNA
ages. A life course approach considering the specific
needs of women and men can help the development of DIAMANTOPOULOU
adequate policy responses. Issues of reconciliation of
work and family life for both men and women, the Comisaria de Empleo
provision of adequate care for children and older people, y Asuntos Sociales
the improvement of employment opportunities for women de la UE
and the prevention of poor health and income for older
women take on particular importance. The multiple INGENIERO CIVIL por la Uni-
benefits to individuals and society from a policy versidad de Tesalónica y
framework of active ageing, which enables women and máster en Desarrollo Regio-
men to continue to be active and to contribute as they nal por la Universidad de
age, are also emphasised. Atenas, comenzó su carrera
poítica a los 26 años como
The Commission will shortly adopt a Communication, gobernadora de Kastoria,
"Europe's response to World Ageing - Promoting donde se preocupó espe-
economic and social progress in an ageing world" in view cialmente de los problemas
of the 2nd World Assembly on Ageing, ambientales de una región
cuya economía se basaba
While the main chapters are devoted to locating fundamentalmente en el co-
European ageing in the context of world ageing. Beyond mercio de pieles. Poco des-
the EU experience of responding to ageing, the pués, fue nombrada Secreta-
Communication considers ageing issues in relation to the ria General de Educación y
applicant countries and to the developing countries de la Juventud, cargo desde
around the world, with a view to offering some ideas for el que impulsó el turismo
the new international plan of action on ageing. As such I rural con programas espe-
hope that the Communication can serve as a good basis ciales de formación.
for the EU position for this very important conference. PRIMERA PARLAMENTARIA
de la circunscripción de Ko-
The proposed approach to ageing is based on three zani, elegida en 1996, fue
main points: nombrada Ministra adjunta
de Desarrollo encargada de
q Ageing is not a separate issue to be tackled in la división de Industria, du-
isolation from other ones. It is the outcome of a rante su mandato se produ-
combination of several societal developments and it jeron importantes proyectos
should be viewed as a phenomenon that interacts with and de privatización de empre-
sas con problemas, sobre
to ageing is therefore developed as an integrated part of todo de construcción naval.
the overall strategy of mutually reinforcing policies Tres años después, en sep-
launched at Lisbon. tiembre de 1999, es nom-
brada Comisaria de Empleo
q While conditions and opportunities for the presently y Asuntos Sociales.
old are an important concern at any time, adjusting well
to population ageing is an issue for people of all ages. A
life course approach can help the development of
adequate policy responses. The multiple benefits to
individuals and society from a policy framework of active
ageing, which enables people to continue to be active and
to contribute as they age, are emphasised.
q The existing diversity at global level should also be
given due attention. The realities of ageing depend on
the socio-economic and cultural context in which people
how countries form their priority responses to the
challenges raised by ageing. In turn current and
prospective policy responses are likely to differ among
countries. Despite such differences, countries can learn
and profit from each other's experience. To take
advantage of this opportunity international mechanisms
that can best inform public policies around the world
should be strengthened.
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