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2nd ESCU Regional Conference “West” in Eupen
“Active Senior Citizens in Europe” –
Results & Outlook
Manifesto passed / Jean-Luc Dehaene delivered a speech
By Hermann Berié and Ulrich Winz
Eupen (Belgium, 17th of March 2009) Diligent conference arrangements paid off – speeches, discussion, atmosphere and resonance from the 300 participants revealed the strong social commitment of the three organising senior citizen associations and their deeply rooted origins in everyday concerns and reinforced many in their activities.
With the theme “Active Senior Citizens in Europe” the organisers, including Elisabeth Dispaux-Cornil, ESCU vice president and many others, grasped the concerns of senior citizens precisely – the wish to contribute to society which is actively pursued despite many hurdles along their path. The conference therefore focused on both analysis and outlook. In a “resolution” senior citizens from Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Germany acknowledged not only their commitment to European integration and the peaceful evolution of our continent but also expressed their desires and indeed their demands directed at EU politicians and their member states as well as regional authorities.
The former Belgian prime minister and present European parliament member Jean-Luc Dehaene delivered a speech on “The Challenges of Social Europe”. In the beginning of his speech he addressed budding Euro scepticism, EU successes were distinctive – peaceful integration of member states, economic prosperity and most currently the joint successful mastering of the worldwide financial and economic crash thanks to the strong Euro. Security – both within the EU and beyond its borders is also an issue. According to Dehaene equally true for European social policy, which has made significant progress in employment, freedom of movement, industrial safety and social security. Further opportunities will arise with the aspired passing of the Treaty of Lisbon since many areas of social politics will no longer be subject to unanimous voting regulations.
Dehaene concluded with an appeal to further strengthen Europe, which can only be achieved through the support of all citizens, while in return Europe can guarantee all citizens peace and prosperity.
The ESCU President, Dr. Bernhard Worms, linked to these statements by elucidating the three major ESCU pillars – experience, solidarity and verity.
- If everyone fulfilled their duties in the eye of the Lord, many human and social crises currently impairing our society would be overcome faster and better.
- If solidarity is to deliver results it must be paired with the readiness to relinquish.
- The flood of information overwhelming us every day – of such broad variety – makes it ever more difficult to perceive the truth.
Due to their lifetimes’ experience and knowledge of Christian values, senior citizens are called upon to “empower and spread truth”.
The entire conference was characterised by these endeavours – both when answering the questions directed to the main speakers and during the panel discussions with the participation of the members of the European Parliament, Mathieu Grosch (cdH-CSP) and Ivo Belet (CD&V) – both representing Belgium – as well as Herbert Reuel (CDU, Germany) and three representatives of civil society. Finally, questions were directed at the Dutch member of the European Parliament, Ria Oomen (CDA) who – just as her colleagues – took a committed stance.
The former Belgian minister, Cecile Goor, presented a resolution prepared by the three Belgian senior citizen organisations, which was passed virtually unanimously.
The resolution expresses the trust of the conference participants in the future of Europe and their request directed at the competent European and national politicians and authorities to strongly integrate senior citizens in European decision making processes. It also advocates prohibition of any form of age discrimination, making the battle against old age poverty the major objective of the “European Year of Fighting Poverty” in 2010, and ensuring satisfactory health care accompanied by reasonable living space and adequate old age pensions.
The ESCU President, Dr. Worms, and the Belgian State Secretary of Household and Family Politics, Melchior Wathelet, called on senior citizens to represent the interests of Europe with full commitment and to stand for the unison of young and old. It is essential to diligently prepare for the European Parliament elections in early July and to crown the campaign with success. The conference was brought to a conclusion with the European Anthem adapted from Ludwig van Beethoven, after a welcome speech by the host city of Eupen, a reception and tour of the city centre, the participants cheerfully set off on their homeward journeys.
Hermann Berié / Ulrich Winz
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