Berlin, 11. - 13. September 2002

Statement by Mrs. Ingjerd Schou, Minister of Social Affairs, Norway

Madame President,

I would like to congratulate you upon your election to the important task of chairing this Conference, as a follow up to the Madrid Conference on ageing earlier this year. I wish you luck in your efforts in guiding us to make the right priorities for Europe.

I also thank the German Government for hosting this important Conference.

The carrying out of the commitments in the Regional implementation strategy will show if we, the participating countries, succeed in our promise to fulfil our obligations. I am pleased to see that we have come to an agreement on very important issues and approaches concerning a society for all ages.

Madame President,

To focus on activity and employment and call for good care for those who are sick and frail is the right approach. The responses to demographic changes should be based on a holistic approach, mainstreaming ageing in all policy fields.

I think time has come for a change in the way we look at ageing. I think it is also important to stress that ageing is a process, and that being old depends on individual circumstances as well as on the environment.

We have had a tradition of seeing elderly people as frail and helpless and in need of a considerable amount of care and health services. And we have a tendency of seeing old people as a group and not as individuals. We have seen demographic change as a big challenge to economic and social development, and considered old people to be a burden to society. But the fact is that people have different needs and abilities independent of any age. Therefore we must focus on people’s abilities, rather than the limitations. Instead of regarding elderly people as a burden, we should look at them as a resource.

We know that most people who reach pension age are far from frail. They are expected to live an active life both as part of the work force, as participants in political life and in voluntary work. In Norway many people leave the labour market before the official pension age, under well-paid early retirement schemes.

Madame President,

My Government recognises that we need a high level of work participation to maintain all the important functions in our welfare society. For the future it will be vital to encourage people to work longer.

We know that in the years to come there will be a decrease of the labour force. Meanwhile, the need for labour will increase in several sectors. This is a great challenge. Activity and participation is of importance for society and for the individual itself. We therefore need senior citizens to work longer. This will mean higher income and social participation for the individual. We know that people outside the labour market have a higher risk of poverty and dependency on public support. It is also important to maintain the feeling of self-esteem and dignity at higher age. We therefore have at least two good reasons to arrange for a good and long working life for our citizens.

People of 50+ are healthier, have better housing facilities, higher education, and relatively higher income than previous senior generations. They also represent a lot of experience and knowledge of importance for the society. Today, many of them feel excluded from the labour market, however. Their message is that they want to be respected, they want to be included in the labour force and to continue to be active participants in society.

They are many, they are resourceful and they speak out loud, and we actually see the birth of a new movement, representing this senior generation. They represent a new challenge to our society, and we shall have to take them seriously. As a consequence, the Norwegian Government and the social partners last year agreed to make common efforts to create a more inclusive labour market, the so-called National Agreement on Intent.

Madame President,

My next concern are those who will need all our care. We must not forget that we will meet with a greater proportion of very old people. This will have consequences for all sectors of government policy. Shortcomings in the environment and in care can increase dependency in old age. We shall have to meet this challenge with a great deal of devotion as well. Without respect for the dependent elderly, there will be no society for all ages.

This is our concern. Active life for old persons with disabilities requires accessibility to the physical environment, information and communication in accordance with the standard Rules adopted by the UN General Assembly. We must secure the old and the disabled health- and care services of good quality and secure dignity. I am glad the regional implementation strategy also focuses on these matters.

Madame President,

In my view the most important challenges are, first

-economic and social development as a prerequisite for a healthy and active old age, secondly

-a society for all ages accessible for persons with disabilities and finally

-old persons should be treated as a resource and not as a burden for society.

I therefore welcome the declaration and the regional implementation strategy, and I hope they will be used as guidelines for the future work on these questions in our region.

Thank you Madame President.