Practical information
- Composition of the study group & calendar
- Administrator in charge: Valeria Atzori / Assistant: Clelia Campos Garay
Summary
There are currently 9.4 million people over the age of 65 in Spain, equivalent to 20% of the population. This figure is set to rise to 26.5% by 2035 and 31.4% by 2050. Spain is and will remain one of the EU's oldest countries. The figures are similar across the European Union, with more than 100 million older people and a statistical increase comparable to that of Spain. The demographic challenge must therefore be one of the key drivers of European policy, especially given the state of play in Spain. There is a need for a social but also an economic approach to long life. As a group, older people and pensioners account for 25% of Europe's GDP, and their numbers are set to grow; they also account for 40% of European wealth, and their consumption capacity is even higher. The economic approach to long life is therefore very important (travel and tourism; restaurants and gastronomy; shopping, food, care, sports, other leisure activities, etc.) and should be taken into account at European level, as it is a growing niche of economic market activity.
The opinion would analyse the social, demographic and economic impact of ageing of the population and present recommendations for a European Strategy for Older Persons