COUNCIL OF EUROPEAN MUNICIPALITIES AND

REGIONS

• COUNCIL OF EUROPEAN MUNICIPALITIES AND REGIONS?

• OUR ACTIVITIES AND POSITIONS ON INTERGENERATIONAL DIALOGUE

• Who we are

• How we work

• Where we come from

• What we do

world level

European level

national level

local and regional level

• Who we are

• How we work

• Where we come from

• What we do

PresidentWolfgang Schuster

PolicyCommittee

Executive Bureau

Secretariat General

• Who we are

• How we work

• Where we come from

• What we do

50s

60s

70s

80s

90s

2000

• Who we are

• How we work

• Where we come from

• What we do

• Influence European law and policy in the fields of competence of local authorities

• Promote good practices and exchange experiences at local and regional level

• COUNCIL OF EUROPEAN MUNICIPALITIES AND REGIONS?

• OUR ACTIVITIES AND POSITIONS ON INTERGENERATIONAL DIALOGUE

CEMR thematic network “Intergenerational dialogue”

•What? a network of municipalities with great experience in this field (as identified by CEMR national associations) – from 10 countries

•What for? To allow local representatives and experts to exchange on Intergenerational dialogue issues and active ageing and to make recommendations for future EU policies

Participation to the EY2012 Coalition

•What? a network of 40 organizations (including CEMR)•What for? To coordinate actions and exchange best practices.

- CEMR feeds the Coalition’s work with examples of best practices from its members. - CEMR spreads information to its members on European-scale events and activities.

Active ageing and twinning•CEMR studies on Citizenship issues:• 2010: seminars in Estonia, Malta, Germany

on what Town twinning and European citizenship are and mean

• 2011: launch of a large-scale online consultation on the same issues (respondents: general public)

• Automn 2011: Congress on Citizenship and Twinning organised in Rybnik, Poland

CEMR’s White Paper for an active European citizenship

White Paper for an active EuropeanCitizenship•CEMR’s position paper on all Citizenship issues - > includes an important focus on “An Intergenerational society for cohesive development”• Young and elderly people suffer similar

difficulties: stereotypes, lack of consideration and a difficult access to the employment market

• Intergenerational dialogue = essential for passing on knowledge, values and memory

White Paper for an active EuropeanCitizenship•Local & regional authorities = an important role to play in promoting a mix-aged society• They can organize activities which include

young and old generations and develop the active participation of all in society

(e.g. discussion panels on topics affecting the quality of life of citizens of all ages, coaching sessions to give students practice with job interview…)

White Paper for an active EuropeanCitizenship•Local & regional authorities = an important role to play in promoting a mix-aged society• Town twinning = a particularly efficient tool

to foster joint activities involving young and senior citizens

White Paper for an active EuropeanCitizenship•Local & regional authorities = an important role to play in promoting a mix-aged society• Town twinning = a particularly efficient tool

to foster joint activities involving young and senior citizens

• One example of the good practices highlighted in CEMR’s “Twinning practical handbook”…

Intergenerational dialogue in Twinning •Twin towns: Vlist (Netherlands) – Bac (Serbia) “Renovating a new centre for older people”• Project: create a new retirement community

for elderly people in the town of Bac• Vlist civil servants lend their technical

expertise to Bac municipality to support and improve the quality of life of older people (struggle against poverty, improving conditions, provide adequate access to employment / volunteering activities)

Intergenerational dialogue in Twinning •Twin towns: Vlist (Netherlands) – Bac (Serbia) “Renovating a new centre for older people”• Media campaign in Bac to recruit volunteers

objective: involve young people to get involved in an activity that would help them gain new skills and feel more involved in their own community.

Thank you for your attention!

Paldies!