CURRENT AFFAIRS: Fostering intergenerational solidarity – a European reflexion

01/10/2026

The Age of Longevity: Rethinking systems for longer lives: this the title of the United Nations celebration of the 36th International Day of Older Persons on 8 October 2026.

At first glance, longevity means a longer period in which pensions are to be paid and the specific health and social services are to be made available. These costs often fall on the shoulders of younger generations. At the same time, however, an increasing number of older people become experts through lived experiences in their professional lives and in driving civic engagement. From volunteering to mentoring younger generations, older adults offer a wealth of knowledge.

It is in this context that the question of intergenerational solidarity arises. Already in preparation for the announced EU strategy on intergenerational fairness, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has called on the European Commission to adopt a coordinated, cross-cutting EU approach to intergenerational solidarity, which should focus on ensuring the rights of both young and older people as well as their full participation in society and the economy, especially in the fields of the world of work, the silver economy, pension systems, health and care services, local development, housing, mobility, climate policy and lifelong learning, as well as participation and volunteering. Furthermore, the Committee has requested that intergenerational solidarity be established as one of the objectives in the EU's next long-term budget, the 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework.

The long-awaited Strategy on Intergenerational Fairness indeed expresses the European Commission’s ambition to ensure that today’s choices contribute positively also to tomorrow’s opportunities, and that both the benefits and responsibilities are shared fairly across age groups … It further aims to ensure solidarity between generations. (1)

Regarding the implementation of the Strategy, the EESC stresses in its opinion adopted on 23 September 2026 that intergenerational fairness must be made a cross-cutting principle applied to all EU policies and all age groups, with specific and ongoing attention paid to people in vulnerable situations – especially young people and older people affected by poverty, job insecurity or discrimination; people with disabilities; women; people with a migrant background; and those living in rural, remote or deprived areas.

Since neither the EU nor the Member States have instruments to implement the intergenerational fairness principle ‘top down’, the only realistic way of fulfilment is by developing solidarity between generations through dialogue and civil society activities, supported by public authorities. At EU level, it would prove helpful in this regard to establish a European Council for Intergenerational Solidarity, including civil society representatives, experts and representatives of the EU’s advisory bodies (EESC and Committee of the Regions), with a mandate to oversee the implementation of the strategy, make recommendations and ensure the structured participation of all generations.

(1) European Commission, Strategy on Intergenerational Fairness, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:52026DC0110; the strategy focuses on fairness, while Article 3 (3) of the Treaty on European Union states that ‘The Union ... shall promote ... solidarity between generations’.

Krzysztof BALON (Poland)