We’re all getting older. It’s a fact of life. Many of us are getting far older than ever before. Most children born in the European Union today can expect to live to over 100 years old. Rather than simply worrying about ageing societies, we should happily celebrate these longer lives and do everything we can as policymakers to ensure people can make the most of them.

Older people have much to offer society, from professional skills to use and pass on to knowledge and perspectives to develop and share. Yet this contribution is too often missed because of age-based discrimination.

Ageism holds many older people back from fully participating in public, economic and social life. From candidates passed over for jobs to inaccessible public services, many older people are left out just because of their age.

This exclusion affects us all. Societies globally are living through what has been called a “loneliness epidemic”. In 2022, 13 per cent of people in the European Union reported feeling lonely most or all of the time. New living patterns, technologies such as social media, and ill health all contribute to loneliness. Younger people are also increasingly affected. Indeed, mental health is a growing concern across all ages.

That is why we need inter-generational solidarity more than ever. Inter-generational solidarity is not something abstract. It is about building relationships, communities, and places where different generations can come together. It could mean mentoring at a workplace or school or a community activity where younger people help the older master digital skills.

An ageing-friendly society that builds inter-generational solidarity can turn the tide against loneliness and towards community.

To help us get there, the next European Parliament must end practices such as mandatory retirement and other forms of age-based discrimination holding older people back. Instead, we need to support initiatives that act as transitions between work, learning, culture and recreation and create opportunities for inter-generational exchange.

Rather than leaving people behind, we need to bring people together. No matter their age.

Rasmus Nordqvist
Committee member of the European Green Party.
He is currently a candidate in Denmark for the upcoming European Parliament elections.