The Demographic Challenge Facing the EU: : Roads to Sustainability in an Ageing Europe

The pandemic put all underlying structural problems about the living conditions of older persons in Europe on display. The inadequate protection afforded to older persons during this crisis reflects the weak position of this group. Additionally, the growing ageing population in EU entails an urgent challenge to the union. In this chapter, I argue for what policies the EU needs to implement to ensure an equitable society for all ages, both in times of crisis and otherwise. Three different recommendations are also provided; (1) establish commissions for the rights of older persons that implement the evidence-based knowledge that already exists about older persons’ conditions, (2) contribute to the jurisprudence instituting the rights for the older persons, including codifying these rights in an international convention, and (3) give special priority to its work for advancing a social market economy by implementing the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights as a central element in EU law and policy for older persons