Brussels, 19 March 2025

FAFCE has made its contribution to the consultation of civil society organised by the European Commission about Intergenerational Fairness. EU Commissioner Glenn Micallef has been asked tasked with designing a Strategy to strengthen communication across generations. First, a consultation of the civil society will be organised from February 2025. This consultation of citizens will last a few months before the writing of the Intergenerational Fairness Strategy by the Commission.

Read here the contribution of the European Federation of Catholic Family Associations :

 

Support family networks to reduce loneliness

A particular attention should be drawn to loneliness.

Loneliness affects mental and physical health; it reduces social cohesion and weakens community trust. Loneliness should be considered both for its individual as well as societal consequences.

There are ways to tackle social isolation and solitude. One of it is the solidarity between people of different generations.

Networks of families have the availability to gather people from different households and different generations, who can help those in need or who struggle to connect with resourceful persons.

Family networks are places where experience-sharing and emotional support can give stronger resources to families facing difficulties. Stronger families make stronger communities, which makes stronger society. As FAFCE Board resolution mentionned “family networks are agents of change » and “family is the antidote to loneliness”. We have to mention the Commission’s Communication on Mental Health from 2023, in the view of the link between loneliness and mental health.

Furthermore, the pivotal role of elderly within families and as grandparents must be recognised. Grandparents are key in the knowledge transfer to youth, especially in soft skills such as communication and critical thinking. Many of us have received many soft skills and life lessons from grandparents. Finally, grandparents have a crucial role in allowing parents to remain committed to work life.

 

Have your say in the public consultation to the Intergenerational Fairness Strategy. You need to register to the official website of the European Commission in order to submit your contribution. The title of your contribution must have at least 15 signs. The main text of your contribution may have up to 1.500 signs.

Link here : https://citizens.ec.europa.eu/intergenerational-fairness_en