HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"L 183/28
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
13.7.2011
RECOMMENDATIONS
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION
of 11 July 2011
on the research joint programming initiative ‘More years, better lives — the potential and
challenges of demographic change’
(2011/413/EU)
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
life of older people, by integrating them better in the
economy and society and by helping them stay inde
pendent for longer, thereby increasing quality of life for
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European
older citizens and their carers, improving sustainability of
Union, and in particular Article 181 thereof,
social protection systems (pensions, healthcare and long-
term care systems) and creating a large new market
opportunity for innovative solutions for ageing well.
Whereas:
(5) The
Europe
2020
strategy
has
identified
demographic
(1)
The number of Europeans aged over 65 is expected to
ageing as both a challenge and an opportunity for
rise significantly by 42 % from 87 million in 2010 to
smart, sustainable, and inclusive growth, and the
124 million in 2030 ( 1 ). This continued increase in life
flagship initiatives ‘A digital agenda for Europe’ ( 4 ), ‘Inno
expectancy is a major achievement of the recent past.
vation Union’ ( 5 ), ‘An agenda for new skills and new jobs’
However, at the same time it risks putting an additional
and ‘European platform against poverty’ where this topic
strain on the economy, society and the sustainability of
has been addressed as a priority. Flexicurity policies
public finances.
within the European Employment Strategy recognise
the necessity of a comprehensive approach in human
resources policies and need for lifecycle approach to
(2) As
a
consequence
of
ageing
populations,
the
need
for
work in order to foster labour market participation and
public provision of age-related transfers and services
to remove existing obstacles.
will increase. The fiscal impact of ageing is therefore
projected to be substantial in almost all Member States.
Overall, on the basis of current policies, age-related
public expenditure is projected to increase on average
(6) The
Commission
proposed
on
6
September
2010
to
by about 4 percentage points of GDP by 2060 in the
designate 2012 as European Year for Active Ageing
EU, especially through pension, healthcare and long-term
which will seek to support Member States in their
care spending (in the care sector further compounded by
efforts to help older people to stay in the workforce
the shrinking and often insufficiently skilled
and share their experience, keep playing an active role
workforce) ( 2 ).
in society and live as healthy, independent and fulfilling
lives as possible ( 6 ).
(3) The
reduction
of
the
working-age
population
by
about
50 million people between 2010 and 2060 and the
corresponding increase in dependency ratios, occurring
to a large extent already before 2030, could cause a
(7)
There is an urgent need to strengthen the knowledge
base on the process of ageing itself and on effects of
decline in GDP growth unless this can be compensated
ageing for society and economy, in order to support
by rising participation and employment rates in all
evidence-based policymaking.
segments of the labour force and increased productivity

growth ( 3 ).
(4) Given
the
shrinking
and
ageing
population
there
are
large (8) In
order
to
address
the
abovementioned
challenge
and
benefits to society by extending the active and healthy
capitalise on the opportunities, a concerted action is
needed to facilitate high quality research collaboration
aimed at providing research evidence to underpin inter
( 1 ) Europeans aged over 65 will almost double over the next 50 years
ventions.
— from 87 million in 2010 to 153 million in 2060 — Eurostat,
Europop 2010 population projections.
( 2 ) Ibidem.
( 4 ) 9981/1/10 REV 1.
( 3 ) COM(2009) 180 final: Dealing with the impact of an ageing popu
( 5 ) 14035/10.
lation in the EU (2009 Ageing Report)
( 6 ) Council conclusions (EPSCO December 2010) 18132/10.

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EN
13.7.2011 Official
Journal
of
the
European
Union L
183/29
(9) At
its
meeting
of
26
May
2010
( 1 ), the Competitiveness
3. Member States are encouraged to include the following
Council identified and substantiated a set of potential
actions, as part of the strategic research agenda and of the
joint programming initiatives (hereinafter JPIs),
implementation plan:
including ‘More years, better lives, the challenges and
opportunities of demographic change’, as areas where
joint research programming would provide a major
(a) identifying and exchanging information on relevant
added value to the current, fragmented efforts by
national programmes and research activities;
Member States. It therefore adopted conclusions recog
nising the need to launch a joint programming initiative
on the subject and inviting the Commission to contribute
(b) reinforcing joint foresight exercise and technology
to its preparation.
assessment capacities;
(10) Member
States
have
confirmed
their
participation
in
such
a JPI by the sending of formal commitment letters.
(c) exchanging information, resources, best practices,
methodologies and guidelines;
(11) Joint
programming
of
research
on
demographic
change
and population ageing would provide for coordination of
(d) identifying areas or research activities that would benefit
research in this area, contributing significantly to
from coordination or joint calls for proposals or pooling
construction of a fully operational ERA on ageing and
of resources;
strengthening Europe’s leadership and competitiveness of
research in this field.
(e) defining the modalities for research to be undertaken
jointly in the areas referred to in point (d);
(12) In
order
to
achieve
the
goals
set
out
by
this
recommen
dation, Member States should ensure cooperation and
complementarity with major related initiatives — the
(f) considering the changing needs of elderly people as well
Ambient assisted living joint programme ( 2 ) and the
as the needs of their formal and informal carers when
Active and healthy ageing innovation partnership,
defining the objectives for ageing research programmes;
R & D supported by the framework programme,
notably in the fields of ICT, health, social science, as
well as other research initiatives such as SHARE
(g) sharing, where appropriate, existing research infra
ERIC ( 3 ), and ERA-AGE II ( 4 ).
structures or developing new facilities such as coor
dinated databanks or the development of models for
studying ageing processes;
(13) In order for the Commission to be able to report to the
European Parliament and to the Council, Member States
should report regularly to the Commission on the
progress made on this joint programming initiative,
(h) encouraging better collaboration between public and

private sectors, as well as open innovation between
different research activities and business sectors related
to demographic change and population ageing;
HAS ADOPTED THIS RECOMMENDATION:
1. Member States are encouraged to develop and maintain a
(i) exporting and diffusing knowledge, innovation and inter
common vision on how cooperation and coordination in the
disciplinary methodological approaches;
field of research at Union level can help meet the challenge
of the demographic change and capitalise on the oppor
tunities it presents.
(j) creating networks between centres dedicated to demo
graphic change and population ageing research.
2. Member States are encouraged to develop a common
strategic research agenda establishing medium to long-term
4. Member States are encouraged to maintain an efficient
research needs and objectives in the area of demographic
common management structure in the field of research on
change. The strategic research agenda should contain an
demographic change and population ageing, with a mandate
implementation plan establishing priorities and timelines
to establish common conditions, rules and procedures for
and specifying the action, instruments and resources
cooperation and coordination and to monitor the implemen
required for its implementation.
tation of the strategic research agenda.
( 1 ) 10246/10.
( 2 ) Co-decision report, press release — http://www.europarl.europa.eu/
5. Member States are encouraged to jointly implement the
sides/getDoc.do?language=en&type=IM-PRESS&reference=
strategic research agenda via their national research
20080121IPR19252
programmes in accordance with the guidelines for
( 3 ) http://www.share-project.org/t3/share/fileadmin/press_information/
SHARE_ERIC-EN_upload.pdf
framework conditions in joint programming developed by
( 4 ) http://futurage.group.shef.ac.uk/
the Council high level group on joint programming.

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L 183/30
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
13.7.2011
6. Member States are encouraged to cooperate with the Commission with a view to exploring possible
Commission initiatives to assist Member States in developing and implementing the strategic research
agenda and to coordinate the joint programme with other Union initiatives in this field such as the
Active and healthy ageing European innovation partnership and the Ambient assisted living joint
programme.
7. Member States are encouraged to report regularly to the Commission on the progress made on this joint
programming initiative through annual progress reports.
Done at Brussels, 11 July 2011.
For the Commission
Neelie KROES
Vice-President

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