Addressing loneliness: cementing measures for demographic cohesion

Key points

The EESC

• calls on the Commission to adopt a European strategy addressing loneliness during its 2025-2029 term of office, which would consolidate knowledge on loneliness, analyse and assess existing measures, incorporate an intersectional approach, address the root causes of loneliness through a preventive approach, raise awareness and eliminate stigma, alleviate the pressure on health systems and mobilise financial support;

• highlights the fundamental role that civil society organisations play in the fight against loneliness, and recognises that the social partners can also contribute in this regard.

• calls for specific measures against loneliness to be developed at EU level as part of the European strategy for older persons (opinion SOC/757) and the future European strategy for intergenerational equity (opinion SOC/800), including national plans;

• believes that Strategies should address loneliness at all stages of life, focusing on key life transition periods. They also need, high-level leadership and to involve all stakeholders concerned, including public administrations (in particular local authorities), organised civil society, social partners, the social economy and the media;

• calls on the European Commission to continue the pilot project on loneliness, launched at the request of the European Parliament in 2022;

• calls for the loneliness dimension to be included in the future Youth Check initiative;

• encourages the European Committee of the Regions to become involved in the proposed strategy.