The Commission presents the first Strategy on Intergenerational Equity

The European Commission adopted this past March 5th  its firstStrategy on Intergenerational Equityto deepen long-term thinking in EU policy-making, giving greater weight to the views and concerns of young people. The EU’s overall goal is to ensure that today’s decisions are taken with an eye to the future, ensuring a fair balance between benefits and burdens across all generations.

The Strategy is aligned with global efforts for a long-term approach to planning and policy, such as theUnited Nations Declaration on Future Generations. It is based on the concept of an ‘Intergenerational Contract’, founded on three pillars:

• Fair policy-making, through the application of a ‘youth check’ and foresight tools;
• Fair opportunities, to address the risk of age discrimination;
• Fair places, so that the region in which you are born does not define your future.

Adopt a long-term perspective, analysing how complex challenges such as demographic change, geopolitical shifts, changes in the labour market, climate change, digitalisation and artificial intelligence, among many others, affect both present and future generations. The Strategy recognises that these challenges illustrate both the scope and urgency of this issue.

To achieve this objective, the Strategy sets out a series of actions, including: 

• An intergenerational equity indexto identify opportunities and gaps, inform policy decisions and promote equity between generations;
• A forward-looking multilingual policy packageto support the development of future literacy in the public administrations of EU Member States;
• Organising ademography forumto exchange information on demographic developments;
• Launchingthe Voices of the Future initiative in collaboration with the Committee of the Regions, inviting local and regional authorities to participate in shaping the future of their regions.

The Strategy also provides a common direction for the various EU initiatives that already contribute to intergenerational equity, emphasising its cross-cutting nature. Competitiveness and the promotion of a strong European Social Model are prioritised. From inclusive education and affordable housing to strong care systems and environmental justice, the Strategy contributes to integrating intergenerational equity across all policy areas.

At the global level, the EU and its Member States supported theUnited Nations Pact for the Future and the Declaration on Future Generations, which underline the importance of multilateralism and the promotion of a rules-based international order.

A progress report in early 2028 will contribute to the United Nations Future Generations process.

Background

In the 2024-2029 Political Guidelines, Commission President Von der Leyenannounced that the EU must ensurethat decisions taken today do not harm future generations and that there is greater solidarity and commitment between people of different ages. In this context, Commissioner Micallef, responsible for Intergenerational Equity, was tasked with preparinga Strategy on Intergenerational Equity to define how we can strengthen intergenerational communication and ensure that the interests of present and future generations are respected in all our policy and legislation.

The Strategy on Intergenerational Equity was developed through research and participation, drawing on evidence and methods fromthe EU Policy Labof the Joint Research Centre and aEuropean Citizens’ Panel. The latter brought together 150 randomly selected citizens from the 27 EU Member States, who made 24recommendationsto promote intergenerational equity. European Citizens’ Panels are part of the EU’s tools for promoting intergenerational dialogue. Other examples include theEU Youth Dialogueand theEU Child Participation Platform.

In September 2024, world leaders adopted thePact for the Futureand theUnited Nations Declaration on Future Generations.

Further information: European Commission