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Spanish seniors manifold engaged Southern Regional Conference in Castile/La Mancha on “Older People and the Future of Europe” - attended by 250 participants
Report and photos by Ulrich Winz (Berlin)
Ciudad Real (Spain): The Southern Regional Conference took place in this city of 70,000 inhabitants which has its origins in a settlement (called Villa Real) founded at the behest of King Alfons X in 1255 and has borne its current royal name since 1420. Why was it that this city in particular was chosen as the venue for a conference of the European Senior Citizens’ Union (ESCU) in collaboration with the Partido Popular and the European People’s Party (EPP)?
- Ciudad Real is the provincial capital of Castile/La Mancha, is located in Spain’s heartland more than 150 km south of Madrid and lies on the high speed rail line in the direction of Seville (Andalusia). It has an eventful – and tragic - history: for centuries, Christians, Jews and Moors lived here in the Middle Ages in mutual respect. The names of local districts still refer to their erstwhile residential quarters. Three Catholic churches dominate the town; at least one of the synagogue gates is kept in the museum.
- Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (1547 – 1616), Spain’s national poet, set parts of his parody on tales of chivalry, “Don Quixote”, in what is today the region of Castile/La Mancha, as he was charmed by its capital city, Ciudad Real. (Several towns dispute the place of his birth and baptism.)
- The European anthem with its text by Schiller rings out from the town hall tower at midday, marking Ciudad Real’s call for all men to become brothers.
- And finally the city is an ideal venue due to the huge variety of voluntary work undertaken by its citizens which is recognised as outstanding and exemplary. Young and old stand by each other; Deputy Mayor Rosa Romero Sánchez swears by “her” senior citizens’ forum as a committee which is well qualified to advise the administration.
At the right place
The choice of Ciudad Real to host the conference was thus well made by local ESCU Vice President, Carmen Quintanilla Barba. In her introduction, she declared with reference to the conference theme (see above): “As older people are part of the life and future of Europe, their social involvement must be assured everywhere and the gap with the younger generation needs to be bridged.” Carmen also addressed the conference as a member of parliament and chair of the National Senior Citizens’ Commission (300,000 members) which comes under the auspices of the opposition party, the “Partido Popular” (PP), and is thought to be one of the largest associations in the ESCU.
| ESCU senior citizens’ conference for the SOUTHERN region in Ciudad Real (Spain), 28 February - 1 March 2011 |
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| The conference was opened by Ms. Carmen Quintanilla Barba |
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During the two days of the conference (28th February and 1st March), presentations by politicians and well-known academics provided a wide variety of experience on how the image of age has changed in Spain :
- Close to 250 were in the audience and obtained a wealth of ideas for their work supporting older people to age with their health and dignity intact.
- An analysis was also carried out of the positions and rulings on policy relating to senior citizens. This turned out to be mostly positive.
Admittedly, the high levels of poverty in old age and unemployment (the highest in Europe) – mainly among young people – throws up issues to which even a conference such as this was unable to provide a satisfactory response. The National Statistical Institute considers almost half of over 65-year-olds (mainly those who live alone) as living below the poverty line and the NSI also claims that 1.8 million children are living in poverty.
Dr. Worms: Opening up to new insights
In his opening address, the ESCU President, Dr. Bernhard Worms, (D) described the “Christian concept of mankind, the social market economy and policy-making based on peace, freedom, justice and democracy” as the guiding principles of the European Senior Citizens’ Union. “Working with us means granting peace, giving joy and never losing sight of our responsibility before God,” he added amidst applause. All are called to practise solidarity towards the weakest and to be always open to new challenges – and to new insights.
The revolutionary events in Arab countries have taught us - Worms continued – that human dignity must be taken seriously everywhere, and with respect to all ethnic groups, religions and generations.
This was also relevant to the tribute to members of the armed forces of Spain, Italy, Germany and other countries who had recently lost their lives which the ESCU President paid at the start of the conference prompted by current news reports.
| ESCU senior citizens’ conference for the SOUTHERN region in Ciudad Real (Spain), 28 February - 1 March 2011 |
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| Pictured here are guests of honour from Sweden, Cyprus, Italy and Germany |
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For Vice President Leif Hallberg (2nd from left), from Stockholm, the dramatic events in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and other states are the result of great poverty, from which the people - despite their massive efforts and willingness to work hard – are unable to emerge alone.
With reference to Europe, he called for security for all its citizens - in respect of climate change, organised terrorism, the economy, financial systems and demographic change. As life expectancy is steadily increasing, the steps provided in the Europe 2020 agenda would have to be taken resolutely and the objectives implemented by governments. This includes raising the retirement age, private pensions and the further development of the health system; in short: better social security even beyond people’s working lives. He called on ESCU member organisations and observers to bring their experience in voluntary work to the table in the 2012 European Year of Active Ageing. Sweden’s Christian Democrat senior citizens led by Hallberg are also prepared to do this.
Unlike before, many of his fellow citizens are now increasingly asking the question: “What can I do for society?” The “renaissance of voluntary work”, however, demands expert support and needs to be protected from exploitation.
Hallberg said that in his home country the proportion of the population over 80 years of age will increase by 45 per cent between 2020 and 2040; 2,200 people are already over 100 years old.
With reference to voluntary work undertaken by older people, Ulrich Winz (D) said in his greetings from the Eastern Region of the ESCU: “If our senior citizens organisations succeed in getting people off their sofas and interested in living a life that is vibrant, then they will have honoured their dual responsibility: to the individual who has a right to a useful third or even fourth stage of life, and to society which is enriched – to an indispensable degree – by the active contribution of older people.” Security and the strengthening of democratic structures is the no. 1 priority everywhere. This applies particularly to countries of the former Soviet bloc.
The fact that the PP’s senior citizens are central to social policy-making has been proved through the statutory regulations brought in by the conservative Christian party in its 1996-2004 term of office, according Ana Pastor Julián. These relate to entitlement to care, the criteria for care workers, telephone advice, age-related accommodation and an increase in widows’ pensions.
Spain’s deputy prime minister is appealing to the ruling socialists to increase contributions to the cost of care from 25 to 50 per cent. This would take the burden from families and local authorities. A demand is also being made to stop delaying the introduction of prevention and care legislation which would apply throughout Spain.
The care provided by relatives makes up a substantial part of voluntary work in the whole of Europe and is not valued highly enough, the ESCU President, Dr. Worms, said in response. He expressed his support – as Hallberg had done before – for expert, material and moral support for carers.
| ESCU senior citizens’ conference for the SOUTHERN region in Ciudad Real (Spain), 28 February - 1 March 2011 |
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| The conference venue - hotel Guadiana in Ciudad Real |
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An unusual question
Older people who are active have an easier life, stated Dr. Gonzalo Berzon Zaballo at the start of his presentation which was well received by listeners. The psychologist and gerontologist said he did not ask his patients “What have you got?” (i.e. health care problems) but “What are you doing?”, thus challenging them to consider their daily routine. Coming to terms with their lives, working out plans for the coming year or trying something new – these are all the best medicine for boredom, isolation, loneliness and depression. Being a senior citizen, according to the doctor, means staying involved and acting in solidarity. Most of the more than 8 million Spaniards over eighty years of age are healthy.
In response to this optimistic view, Thanos Michael (Nicosia, CY) highlighted examples of continuing age discrimination in his country. For example, since his 60th birthday, he has not been allowed to give blood and was advised not to purchase a car. In fact, he was advised that he ought to give up driving. As the leader of his senior citizens’ organisation, he is putting up a fight against these outdated ideas and practices.
With reference to this, Engracia Hidalgo Tena called for an awareness-raising campaign to promote greater respect towards older people and to protect pensions in the long term. The Madrid councillor informed the conference that the Partido Popular is supporting the restoration in value of 6 million pension payments frozen by the government, which would relieve the grievous poverty suffered by a considerable proportion of older citizens.
This was a concern that José Luis Méler y de Ugarte also felt obliged to raise. He heads a senior citizens’ umbrella organisation, CEOMA, which has 40 national and regional member organisations, and is calling for an end to “poverty pensions”, greater legal protection for senior citizens and a review of the quality of life of older members of society. He called on participants from near and far – including the Catalonian region of Spain (Barcelona) – to learn “the art of ageing” and to pass on their experience and values to subsequent generations.
According to Concepción Dancausa Trevino, a politician from the Madrid region, in the capital this is being dealt with accordingly by policy-makers, with the result that average life expectancy is 82.6 years in Madrid - one-and-a-half years more than in the rest of Spain. Volunteers take their place in society by working with families and in clubs and centres for senior citizens. She saw the longer working life, the increase in retirement age to 67, lifelong learning and above all the curiosity for modern communications technology as an expression of a change in self-awareness among the 3rd generation and the image of age in society.
Taking the floor, Cesar Antón Beltrán, a politician from Castilla y Leon, expressed his pride in what had been achieved. A law for social services had proved to be exceptionally valuable. Nowhere else was there such a great concentration of senior citizens’ clubs and the senior citizens’ university was proving to be extremely popular.
“Ageing at home”
The psychologist, Natalia Rodlán Fernández, who had been invited to take part by the host, Carmen Quintanilla Barba, proved to be a very inspiring speaker. With her organisation, EULEN, she supports CEROMA and others who are committed to the “social inclusion of older people”. She defended relationships with the older generation which are regulated by social services legislation and expressed her support for the independence and dignity of each individual. She believes that we should want to age at home - in contact with the family (where physically possible), friends and fellow travellers. She is happy to share her experience and attends to the worries of older people, she added. The conference therefore also served as a forum for sharing ideas. EULEN is in contact with 17 million Spaniards.
| ESCU senior citizens’ conference for the SOUTHERN region in Ciudad Real (Spain), 28 February - 1 March 2011 |
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| Young conference assistants with the host, Ms. Carmen Quintanilla Barba, and ESCU President, Dr. Bernhard Worms (D) |
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As the conference was sponsored by the ESCU, EPP and the PP and its National Senior Citizens’ Commission, their leading representatives were given the last word.
The ESCU President, Dr. Worms, spoke for all those who supported the same conditions in Europe in health and social policy. Policy-makers owed it to people of all ages. The European Parliament has recently set course to achieve this and the Europe 2020 agenda can be expected to move Europe closer to this objective. The ESCU will take an active part in the preparation for 2012 Year of Active Ageing and has obtained more ideas for it through this regional conference.
The Secretary General of the European People’s Party (EPP), Antonio López Istúriz, believes thatthe experience and voluntary work of senior citizens are extremely significant “in terms of a better society for all of us”. Dolores de Cospedal, Secretary General of the PP, encouraged older people in their determination to pass on key ethical values and motivation for voluntary work on to the generations to follow; this in particular is how they have become indispensable.
Party Chairman, Mariano Rajoy Brey, described voluntary work as an asset of the greatest importance. We all benefit from the experience of the older generation, he explained, and support their participation in the life of society. By acting unselfishly and in solidarity, they had become the role model for all generations.
With the adoption of a declaration (which we will return to) and the singing of the European anthem, the Southern Regional Conference in Ciudad Real came to an end.
With all due regard for the content and conduct of the conference, from the point of view of the rapporteur it should be noted that the work of older citizens as elected representatives of the people was not discussed. Thus it was regrettable that some areas where senior citizens participate in exercising power and securing the future of Europe at the political level were omitted.
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