Services of general interest can strengthen solidarity between generations and boost the well-being of our societies

A conference held in Brussels by the European Economic and Social Committee and the Basque Government showcased the political and social importance of services of general interest in making intergenerational solidarity a reality in Europe and building a more inclusive society.

Services of general interest and intergenerational solidarity are closely interconnected. At the conference Delivering intergenerational solidarity – the role of services of general interest, held in Brussels on 11 June 2026, participants emphasised that services of general interest such as housing, water and energy supply, and health and social care — among others — can strengthen solidarity between generations and thereby enhance the well-being of our societies.

The event, co-organised by the European Economic and Social Committee’s Section for Transport, Energy, Infrastructure and the Information Society and the Basque Government, brought together representatives from the European Commission, the European Committee of the Regions and organisations representing young people and older persons. Discussions focused on the political and social relevance of services of general interest in advancing intergenerational solidarity across the European Union.

The role of services of general interest in fostering intergenerational solidarity

Services of general interest are services that public authorities of the EU Member States classify as being in the general interest and which therefore form a crucial component of Europe’s economic, social and legal systems. They are subject to specific public service obligations, but they can be provided either by public authorities or by the private sector. They include areas such as housing, water and energy supply, waste and sewage disposal, public transport, healthcare, social services, postal services, as well as youth, family, cultural and communication services.

These services play a key role in giving concrete expression to the principle of intergenerational solidarity. By directly influencing access to resources, opportunities and participation in society for people of all ages, they can help promote fairness between generations, reinforcing social progress and fostering community cohesion.

Services of general interest are therefore fundamental to the well-being of our societies. They constitute a key pillar of the European social model and are closely linked to the promotion of intergenerational solidarity, which is recognised as a legal obligation under Article 3(3) of the Treaty on European Union.

Intergenerational solidarity has multiple dimensions. It entails recognising the reciprocal responsibilities of younger and older generations, while also fostering understanding, respect and shared benefits across society. This principle can be best implemented by building synergies between the preventive, enabling and redistributive functions of services of general interest.

The EESC as a pioneer in promoting intergenerational fairness

In recent years, the EESC has worked intensively on this issue and has emerged as a pioneer among EU institutions in promoting intergenerational fairness. The EU economy can only thrive if all population groups, regardless of their age, are able to participate fully in the EU’s labour market and society, in line with the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights. To this end, it is important to ensure that services of general interest are not merely mechanisms for service delivery, but also instruments for promoting intergenerational fairness.

Against this backdrop, in September 2022, the Committee launched the Youth Test project, which enables youth organisations to participate in the study groups and contribute directly to the drafting of the EESC opinions, thereby ensuring that their perspectives are included in the EU decision-making process.

Building on this work, in September 2024 the EESC issued concrete recommendations on intergenerational solidarity by adopting the opinion Promoting European intergenerational solidarity – towards an EU horizontal approach. The Committee urged the European Commission to put forward proposals related to the labour market, the silver economy, pension systems, health and care services, local development, housing, mobility, climate policy, lifelong learning and volunteering.

Finally, in July 2025, the Committee emphasised the importance of ensuring the appropriate provision of services of general interest for the EU’s sustainable prosperity and competitiveness. In the opinion The role of services of general interest (SGI) for competitiveness, social cohesion and democracy in the European Union, the Committee called on the Commission to take action with a specific action plan on services of general interest.

The Basque Country’s ‘bridge’ between generations

Against this backdrop, the key issue remains that vital question of funding. As negotiations for the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028–2034 progress, policymakers are considering how best to integrate cross-generational fairness in a tangible way into European cohesion and social policies.

At the same time, a number of best practices have already emerged at regional level. For example, the Basque Government has been particularly active on this subject. After closely monitoring the EU’s work in this area and in particular the results of the European Citizens’ Panel, it has adopted a new intergenerational pact.

This initiative, known as Zubiak, Strategy for the Pact Between Generations (‘zubiak’ meaning ‘bridge’ in Basque), provides a model for fostering intergenerational dialogue and social cohesion. Designed to promote empathy, shared responsibility and mutual recognition across generations, the Zubiak strategy is structured around 3 pillars: bridging divides through dialogue; rebuilding the social fabric by establishing safe spaces; and empowering young people by taking their concerns into account.

In 2027, as part of the Zubiak Strategy, the Basque Government will host an international conference on intergenerational solidarity in Bilbao. This will provide an opportunity to take stock of progress and show how discussions have translated into concrete policies that improve people's lives by building more cohesive communities.

The way ahead – Turning the strategy into action

At European level, in recent months, the EESC’s advocacy efforts have borne fruit. In March 2026, the European Commission made a major step forward with the publication of its Intergenerational Fairness Strategy. The next challenge will be to translate this strategy into concrete action across all EU Member States, ensuring that all age groups are taken into account and that inclusion and social cohesion are truly strengthened.

The contributions from the conference will be published on the event website.

Quotes from high-level speakers

‘It is imperative to ensure that decisions taken today do not harm future generations and that greater engagement and solidarity develops between people of different ages. Let me encourage you to maintain this strong momentum, to remain open and creative, and to seize this timely opportunity to act. Organised civil society must be fully involved in policy design. For policies to succeed, social partners and civil society organisations must be consulted at the earliest possible stage.’

Séamus Boland, President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)

‘The Strategy on Intergenerational Fairness is the Commission’s commitment to fair policymaking, fair opportunities, and fair places. We will systematically consider the long-term impacts of all our decisions to make sure that Europe remains innovative, economically resilient, and strategically autonomous, that young and future generations can afford a place to live, and that Europeans can shape new technologies into what we need. I am grateful to those before me who shaped the agenda of fairness between generations. Not least the EESC. Your Youth Test was a blueprint for scrutinising every policy through the lens of its impact on young people.’

Glenn Micallef, European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport

‘Intergeneration solidarity is not a soft aspiration but a legal obligation from the EU Treaty. Yet nowadays it is under pressure and, if we are not careful, current challenges can divide us. In the Basque Country, we believe we need to build bridges between older and younger generations, between the memory of what we have been and the future. This is why services of general interest are so important, because they do not simply fill needs, but they are bridges that build communities.’

Iván Larraza Vila, Deputy Minister for Welfare at the Ministry of Welfare, Youth and Demographic Challenge of the Basque Government

‘The Basque Government’s commitment to Basque society consists in putting people at the heart of public policy. By building a new welfare agenda, we will be able to continue improving areas such as health, education, employment, housing, security, and social services. We will pursue all of this by applying intergenerational solidarity and guaranteeing the economic sustainability of the welfare model.’

Txema Ezkerra Fernandez, Director for Diversity, Coexistence and Intergenerational Solidarity at the Ministry of Welfare, Youth and Demographic Challenge of the Basque Government