“Senior Citizens of Europe – Mainstays in a changing world”

ESCU celebrates its 10th anniversary

MADRID. It was under this slogan that the European Senior Citizens' Union (ESCU) celebrated its 10^th anniversary on 10^th October. It is also the title of our manifesto, which was unanimously adopted. The ESCU was founded on 7^th November 1995, also in the Spanish capital. At the anniversary party in Cortes, President Dr. Bernhard Worms welcomed representatives from 17 of the currently 20 member countries covering 35 associations with around 400,000 members. Also in attendance were public figures from the European Union and the European People’s Party (EPP) as well as the host country and its capital city.

Delegates and guests began by remembering the hugely respected “Founding Father of the ESCU”, Dr. Stefan Knafl from Austria, who died in June last year at the age of 77 (as reported in “Souverän” at the time.) He served as ESCU President until 2001 and after that as Honorary President.

In his speech, Dr. Worms – also referring to the manifesto – described human value as an ESCU principle which was sacrosanct. As well as safeguarding marriages and families, this also includes the best in medical treatment and care, as well as sensitive care for the terminally ill. The President expressed the ESCU’s intention to help promote the active cooperation of 3 or even 4 generations in all countries. He explained that it was essential to have the debate about what we consider to be decisive values. Dr. Worms appealed passionately to the assembly to pursue - relentlessly and irrespective of any setbacks - the strengthening of the European Union as the only appropriate solution in the aftermath of world war.

EPP General Secretary Lopez-Isturiz upheld the ESCU’s policy based on social responsibility as one which enables senior citizens to "speak with o n e voice”. Die ESCU was a "source of food for thought which also holds Europe together”. The Spanish ESCU Vice President, Carmen Quintanilla-Barba, moderator of the event, welcomed the President of her Partido Popular (People’s Party), Mariano Rajoy Brey. He described a strong economy in all countries as being pre-requisite to the welfare of senior citizens, from whose experience incidentally there was much to learn. His political work was directed towards the participation of the elderly in the development of society. For the former President of the Swedish Christian Democrats, Alf Svensson, compared to its tradition over centuries of “war after war”, the EU is a success which is not to be underestimated and one which must remain irrevocably on course.

Central themes of the “Senior Citizens of Europe…” Manifesto

• Today’s generation of senior citizens are the ones who made Europe a reality, and we’ll continue to expand it with all the strength we can muster. At the same time, we are committed to retaining our home nations, their own ways and languages and the regional and national traditions of all the peoples of Europe!

• We live in a world of changing values and beliefs. Not everything that is “modern” is good. We senior citizens feel obliged to pass on Christian values and to be a mainstay and a foothold for the next generation…

• We, who have overcome dire living conditions, must extend hope, courage and confidence.
• As the war generation, we have to overcome barriers, recognise historical debts and hold out a hand to each other to bring about reconciliation.

• We are committed to equality for all generations in contributing to development in the 21st century - paying close attention to ecological matters.

• The senior citizens’ associations affiliated to the ESCU regard their voluntary work as fundamental to all the work a country needs to function.

• Our voluntary involvement in non-socialist society will be reviewed by the EPP and integrated into policy.

• Today lifelong learning is essential, therefore we will also respond to the demands of our information-based society.

By Ulrich Winz