Conference on Senior´s issues, Prague

Eurocommissioner, Madam President, Mr Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is my great pleasure to welcome you to Prague for the European Conference on the Care and Protection of Senior Citizens.

The subheading for our meeting reads "The Dignity of, and Threats to, the Elderly" If this conference is to discuss threats to the elderly, then we should acknowledge that they are most under threat from lingering stereotypes in the public's thinking. The media and experts sometimes, and here I must emphasise, injudiciously and in my opinion dangerously, rank the ageing of society as one of the negative trends of our time. Many of the fears of the elderly are reinforced by such statements.

Society considers old age as moving down a slope and links it to the loss of human powers, as an unnecessary stage because of its unproductive nature, and as a burden to the younger generation.

Older people then succumb to these images and become that which society in its prejudices sees them as. Then people turn in on themselves and become lonely, they lack assertiveness, are frustrated, bitter and unfriendly in their own self-defence. The gap - the abyss - between the generations grows, in spite of the fact that each of us has either crossed this abyss or will cross it one day, without even knowing how. Because human life is a continuum. Human life cannot be sliced up like a loaf.

It will take much patient effort to change these prejudices. And in the heads of specialists, academics, doctors and carers. Because in these fields also a high degree of sophistication on the component processes has become established. And the holistic nature of human life is neglected.

That barriers to a fulfilled life in old age arise from this view is perhaps obvious. And not only barriers in attitudes and behaviour towards the elderly, but conscious and unconscious barriers in state legislation.

This is a task which I consider my own, one which arises from my duties. To promote respect for all of human life, and to arrange for its protection through legislation.

And also to influence society - that is, to influence everyone into seeing ourselves in everyone. And that means in the old, the frail, and the dying.

This is a fundamental ethical principle. If it were part of our consciousness, we would not need laws forbidding, determining and always in their own way limiting human life.

The extension of the human lifespan is one the greatest successes of the modern era. A longer lifespan is a hope, a challenge which medical science puts before us. But all of us, including the doctors themselves, decide on whether this opportunity will be fulfilled. Because the mere prolonging of the number of calendar days on this earth cannot be enough. We must work and strive for that which is to fill these days.

And when we speak of the dignity of old age, we must see behind this phrase not only people who are capable of an autonomous, independent life, but often people who are frail, often forgotten by their own family and friends, excluded from employment, public life and the chance to learn, to obtain information in an appropriate way and, as they see fit, to obtain a variety of services, from financial, to social and health needs. The actual ageing of society is not a threat. But we should heed the warning of the social exclusion of an ever greater number of people when compared to the improving conditions for life, health care and an increasing human lifespan.

The conditions of life in old age are affected by changes in society, including changes taking place in households and in the structure of families. I trust that the Prague conference will deal in depth with these changes and will propose measures which are also essential for the care of senior citizens and for their protection.

The question of the ageing of society is not only a challenge in calculating the optimum pension system and the funding of health services for senior citizens. For all of us gathered here, it is a matter of the indispensable strengthening of the human rights aspect and of equal access to services in health, education, social services, transport and housing, all adapted to the needs of disadvantaged senior citizens.

It is not easy for me as a member of the government of the host country to say that it is precisely senior citizens who, according to research, are considered the group in Czech society which is most subject to discrimination. Judge for yourselves:

From Eurobarometer research, published by the European Commission in January 2007, it can be see that almost half of the EU population is convinced that age discrimination is widespread in member states. At the level of the Union as a whole the issue of age is regarded as the fourth most widespread of six discrimination characteristics. Moreover in recent years there has been a rapid increase in Europeans' conviction that the elderly are discriminated against.

In the Czech Republic the situation is even worse: according to the research I have just mentioned, age discrimination is the most widespread and the most rapidly worsening problem of all other causes of discrimination: gender, health problems, sexual orientation, racial origin or religion. In a comparison of the number of people who regard age discrimination as widespread and worsening, the Czech Republic is in a worrying second place among the twenty-seven European countries.

The situation on legislative protection and also on people's awareness of the rights of the elderly is alarming The Czech Republic is the only one of the member states of the European Union which has not yet adopted an anti-discrimination law.

On the other hand, the Czech Republic has a coherent National Programme of Preparation for Ageing for the period 2008 to 2012. In its policy on ageing the government has taken the following priorities into account:

1. Support for the family and an improvement in social services

2. Creation of an environment and a community which are friendly towards the elderly

3. Improvements in senior citizen health and health services for senior citizens

4. Support for the involvement of, and protection of the dignity and rights of, senior citizens

The National Programme of Preparation for Ageing is based on international materials, including the UN Principles for Older Persons and the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing and other documents. The application of this programme is monitored by the Government Council for Senior Citizens and Ageing of the Population. This Council is composed of Deputy Ministers, representatives of employers, employees, specialists, NGOs and of course of senior citizens themselves, who in this way play an important part in dealing with topics linked to ageing. As an EU member state we recognised that the issue of ageing must have a key place in the formulation of state policy. Let us then consider whether an analogous institution should not also be set up at the level of the European Commission. At the very least so information can be gathered and solutions proposed.

The European Union leads the world in promoting standards of equality and rights for all. The aim of the EU in the process of the social and economic integration of the elderly should be the creation of a comprehensive, coordinated and active approach to securing a good life for people in the context of a society which is ageing. For this reason it is appropriate to consider a debate on a convention of rights, responsibilities and the involvement of the elderly.

The EU has the vitality and ability to resolve not only the problems of discrimination, but also the causes of contemporary unemployment, poor living conditions and the subsidiary costs of reforms. For this it can also make use of significant financial resources, particularly from the European Social Fund as the principal EU financial instrument for social integration.

But money does not of itself provide solutions. The European community therefore guarantees the elderly a high level of legal protection. European law ensures equal treatment for people in the labour market and in access to specialist training regardless of age. At the present time a discussion is taking place on a new Community Directive aimed at protecting people from discrimination in areas other than the labour market. It should prevent discrimination especially in:

- Social security, including social insurance and health care

- Social benefits

- Education

- Access to goods and services including housing

The economic and cultural maturity of the countries of the European Union form the basis for the development of systematic Long Term Care, available to all. It is characterised by coordinated linkage of services and measures and the breaking-down of barriers between different departments, institutions and jurisdictions. I consider it essential to support such a concept of long-term care, which emphasises the meaningful existence of every human being. Its basis must be the right to life in a familiar and natural environment. To respect the right to choose a place to live and to die, a home for life. To respect gender diversity and strengthen the protection of older women. To respect also the religious and cultural diversity of the frail and elderly.

By the method of active prevention, to prevent all forms of unsuitable treatment on the part of carers (family members or professionals), neglect, abuse or even cruelty (domestic violence, unjustified restraint) to elderly people. EU countries have varying degrees of experience in securing respect for and the rights of people threatened with neglect or the abuse of their rights. I consider it important to strengthen cooperation and exchange of good practice in dealing with this serious issue in EU countries and to make it one of the topics for cooperation.

Dignity, self-respect and security must not be in doubt for even the most frail and vulnerable senior citizens - for those close to death or suffering from the advanced stages of dementia. They must not become merely the material objects of a kind of low-cost care taken of their most basic biological needs. These people too should be allowed a worthwhile life within the options offered by modern science. Nor should the growing numbers of very old people lead us to considering the legalisation of active euthanasia by medical staff.

Europe's wealth has always been in the potential of its people. The quality of our civilisation has come from supporting and developing opportunity for all; and at all stages of life. This is a value which we must not lose!

Ladies and gentlemen,

This Prague conference follows on from previous conferences of European presidencies, the recommendations and material of European political and specialist gerontological discussions.

In the Declaration which I hope this conference will issue, the challenges to the European community and to all citizens of the European Union are formulated in very clear language.

Old age is not be perceived as a dangerous phenomenon, but as a challenge. Old age is a new source, albeit qualitatively different, of further growth for society. The public activities of the elderly are to be supported in the same way as improved public awareness of ageing and the lives of the elderly. Respect for old age must be increased. We must prevent inappropriate treatment of old people, including neglect, abuse and even violence.

At the level of European institutions a joint concept of long-term care should be developed. It is necessary to consider whether the EU can guarantee unified standards of health care provision for senior citizens in all member states, and if so, how. Within the Union's operating and consultative bodies, but also between countries and regions, there must be efficient exchange of information and practical experience. For this we need to improve our use of the latest technology. As an example the Czech Presidency has come up with the concept of "E-health", which should be supported.

At a time of economic downturn and a reduction in incomes we must ensure adequate funding of the health care and services which are a prerequisite of a dignified life in old age. Within the EU we promote freedom of decision-making for individuals and thereby the principle that services should come to the individual and not the individual to the institution.

The Czech Presidency also emphasises improving the active lives of senior citizens. All activities for the elderly, including those of an educational nature, should also be funded from EU structural funds. Inter alia, these services and activities will also have an impact on improved employment. In those parts of Europe where it is difficult to obtain any kind of work, it is these services for senior citizens which could be a welcome opportunity for maintaining quality of life into the future.

Support should also be provided for scientific research into all aspects of life in old age and into ageing, so that the scope and quality of research projects corresponds to the importance of the changes in contemporary society. We call for support for the development of training in gerontology and geriatrics. Europe must not neglect measures, especially media measures, directed at correcting society's view of the role of older generations and of life in old age.

In conclusion, please permit one personal observation. Old age often brings with it one value of vital importance to developed society. Wisdom. We often speak of wisdom, as part of fairy tales and stories, but in the real world we tend to forget it. In my work, whenever I need to consult on complicated matters with a philosophical or historical dimension, whenever I need to take a decision on a matter involving a high degree of responsibility, I always turn for advice to older specialists. Ideally over sixty… Because only they combine expertise, life experience and detachment with the ability to transform their approach to a higher level. Wisdom is the mother lode of all knowledge and is a gift which crowns the twilight years of our lives. Not everyone will attain wisdom, but if they do, it is a value which is not to be squandered.

Ladies and gentlemen,

I am convinced that the conclusions of our discussions will be listened to with great seriousness by the representatives of European countries and the institutions of the Community. And I believe that they will be adopted and implemented in the legislation of the Community, its countries and in the life of society as a whole. For this reason also allow me in conclusion to wish this conference every success as it deals with questions which affect us all.

I thank you for your attention.