Putting the “Age” into Agenda: How Demographic Ageing Became an Issue of EU Concern

The European Union has declared 2012 as the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations with the goal of raising awareness about the growing ageing population and to promote a more active lifestyle for older generations. This European Year highlights a different aspect of the demographic change going on in Europe, when usually most attention is placed on the declining fertility rate. But why is the EU addressing this issue now? Has the ageing population always been a concern? This paper will work towards answering those questions and will provide a historical overview of how this issue has emerged on the EU agenda by using a five-step policy process