ESO - European Senior Organisation

14/10/2026

Yesterday, your President, Jos Bertrand meets the Romanian social democratic senior organisation A nice initiative from our Romanian delegation in the Socialists and Democrats Group in the European Parliament group

“The European Senior Organisation (ESO) promotes a Europe in which older people are recognised as equal citizens whose rights, experience and contributions are fully valued. Our 2024–2029 programme focuses on combating age discrimination, securing adequate pensions and accessible care, developing age-friendly communities, preventing digital exclusion, and strengthening civil society participation in political decision-making. ESO emphasises that demographic change should be addressed through solidarity between generations, inclusive public services and policies that protect dignity and equal rights at every stage of life. Let’s look together how we can afford this in Europe. Since its creation, the European Union has evolved into a powerful peace project in which Member States have sought common solutions for their national interests, defended democracy and human rights, and fostered solidarity among regions and citizens. This Europe is also of great importance to older citizens, as it creates the conditions and framework for Member States to ensure better social protection, improved living conditions, and greater solidarity and equality. For Social Democrats, this represents the added value that Europe offers us all. Thanks, Victor Negrescu and the whole Rumanian S&D delegation to offer me the opportunity to meet our Romanian member organization. We look forward to our cooperation. Let us work together and with our Members in the European Parliament, to convey this message not only to our own generation but to all generations, in our cities, in our villages and communities.”

12/10/2026

🚨 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗢𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀

Last Thursday, the European Parliament held a plenary debate on the state of play of older persons’ rights and the European Union’s engagement in advancing them.

Members of the Parliament highlighted the work of the 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 (𝗜𝗚𝗪𝗚) 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 and the ongoing process towards drafting an international legally binding instrument that would protect the rights of older persons on an equal basis with everyone else.

🔸 Executive Vice-President of the Commission, Raffaele Fitto, emphasised that the EU is deeply committed to the rights of older people and supports Member States in the process.

🔸 From the Christian-Democrats, MEP Jagna Marczułajtis-Walczak called for "a document that will really protect our rights, because old age awaits all of us", asking the Commission how it intends to implement the future rights.

🔸 MEP Idoia.Mendia said "We need a Convention that ensures effective and universal protection, that combats ageism and removes the barriers that still limit the rights of older people", calling on the Commission to be actively involved.

🔸 Members from all political groups supported the future Convention.

Philippe Seidel Leroy, AGE’s European Parliament Liaison Officer, attended the debate and had the opportunity to present the process to the 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽. A special thank you to the 𝗘𝗣 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘂𝗺 for championing and securing this important debate.

📺 Watch the debate (timestamp: 15:00–16:00): https://multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/fr/webstreaming/plenary-session_20261008-0900-PLENARY

📖 Learn more about the UN Convention on our dedicated webpage: https://www.age-platform.eu/un-convention-on-the-human-rights-of-older-persons/



photo credits: © European Union 2026 - Source : EP

01/10/2026

Happy International Day of Older Persons!

The International Day of Older Persons was designated by the United Nations General Assembly in 1990 to raise awareness of age-related discrimination and recognise the essential contribution of older persons. Today, 1 October, ESO wishes to thank those who, through their work, care, struggles and commitment, have helped build our welfare state, and to reaffirm that older persons are rights-holders and protagonist of their own life.

Ageing with dignity is a right, not a privilege.

15/08/2026

The ESO (European Senior Citizens' Organisation) mourns the loss of Prof. Dr. Klaus Hänsch, a committed European and a prominent Social Democrat.

Klaus Hänsch made a significant contribution to European politics over many years. He served as a Member of the European Parliament from 1979 to 2009, dedicating himself with great passion to European integration, democracy, and a strong, united Europe. He served as President of the European Parliament from 1994 to 1997.

His political work was characterized by a pragmatic approach, clarity, and a willingness to engage in dialogue. He excelled at bridging differing viewpoints and keeping the shared European ideal at the forefront, even in difficult political situations.

For him, Europe was not merely a political project but a shared responsibility and a vital foundation for peace, democracy, and cohesion.

His long-standing commitment within the European Parliament and his dedication to the European ideal have left a lasting legacy. Klaus Hänsch rendered exceptional service to Europe; he will be remembered by us as a dedicated European and a committed democrat.

Marie-Jeanne Zander, represented ES at his funeral service and, gave a final tribute from our European Senior Citizens' Organisation, in the book of remembrance.

We bid him farewell with deep appreciation and gratitude for his years of dedication to a democratic and united Europe.

Wir trauern um Klaus Hänsch.

Über drei Jahrzehnte, von 1979 bis 2009, hat er sich als Europaabgeordneter der SPD für die europäische Integration eingesetzt. Europa war für ihn ein politisches Versprechen, das es galt, einzulösen.

Als Präsident des Europäischen Parlaments von 1994 bis 1997 hat er das EU-Parlament in einer entscheidenden Phase, wenige Jahre nach dem Fall der Berliner Mauer, geprägt und gestärkt. Als Präsident hat er 1994 die frei gewählten Europaabgeordneten aus Ostdeutschland begrüßen dürfen, nachdem ostdeutsche Bürger:innen erstmals an den Wahlen teilnehmen konnten. Ein besonders bewegender Moment für ihn, wie er beschrieb.

Wir verlieren einen großen Europäer und Sozialdemokraten. Unsere Gedanken sind bei seiner Familie.

06/03/2026

On March 4, the European Commissionmission has present its European Intergenerational fairness strategy

ESO-PES seniors chaires completely the analyses from the European parlements Intergenerationnal forum.

We regrets that the Commission and her DG for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture did not properly consider the proposals from the older citizens’ organizations AGE Platform Europe. They call for an intergenerational fairness strategy built on a balanced set of policy instruments that benefit all generations : children, young and older citizens. A European AGE equality strategy, an European senior strategy or an European Action Program against ageism would fill a gap in this regard, alongside the already existing Child Guarantee and Youth Strategies. These proposals were presented to the Commission services during the public consultation process.

We regret that the DG for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture hasn’t taken this formal consultation seriously.

An intergenerational fairness strategy must connect generations, foster solidarity, and under no circumstances polarize between generations.

ESO - European Senior Organisation expects an urgent adjustment to this strategy in consultation with organized civil society, and that this organized civil society, including older people's organizations, will be closely involved in the follow-up of the strategy.

ESO also ask an urgent dialogue between Commission and civil society organisations representing the older citizens on this issue.

Please find our contribution to the European Commission public consultation on our website www.socialistseniors.eu

Party of European Socialists
Young European Socialists
Socialists and Democrats Group in the European Parliament
PES Group in the European Committee of the Regions

The EP Intergenerational Forum is committed to building a Europe that turns increasing longevity into an opportunity to create societies where all generations can thrive, in full respect of their rights and are enabled to participate in society.The EP Intergenerational Forum welcomes the publication...

06/03/2026

What can we, seniors, expect from European and international policy? The Flemish organizations of ESO - European Senior Organisation, S-Plus vzw, and ABVV Senioren were guests at the European Parliament in Brussels at the invitation of Tobback, MEP from Socialists and Democrats Group in the European Parliament . Together with Rob , Minister of Consumer Rights and Equal Opportunities, Marc Angel, Member of the European Parliament, Pascal Smet Member of the Brussels voor Vooruit Parliament and member of the PES Group in the European Committee of the Regions, and Magda De Meyer, President of the Vlaamse Ouderenraad, and Jos Bertrand , President we explored how Europe and the UN can contribute to better senior policy.

17/02/2026

Tomorrow the first talks on an United Nations treaty for older persons rights will start in Geneva. As ESO - European Senior Organization, we have been working towards this for years together with AGE Platform Europe and the other European senior organizations. With ESO - European Senior Organisation we make a warm appeal to the UN member states to involve the older citizens and their organizations in discussions and decisions.

Our vice-president Marianne De Mestral from our Swiss member organisation will represent ESO in the civil society conference. Please find hereby the declaration from ESO by the beginning of the UN convention.

Party of European Socialists FEPS Mayores Socialistas AG SPD 60 plus Pensionistenverband Österreichs S-Plus vzw ABVV Senioren

21/12/2025

New Year's message for ESO 2026.

Dear friends,

2025 is behind us and it was a very busy year. It was the first year of a new mandate in the European institutions. With ESO, we transformed our 2024 elections memorandum into a genuine work programme for 2024-2029, bringing together our priorities for a European policy on older people, solidarity between generations, and addressing the challenges of an ageing population. We established contacts with the new S&D group in the European Parliament and with our sister organizations in the PES, and also made our first contributions to the European Commission's public consultations: the Union’s multiannual budget (MFF), the new action programme for the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights, and the European Intergenerational Fairness Strategy.

We were active in our European party, the PES, preparing and participating to the Amsterdam congress. We also contribute actively in AGE-platform Europe, the umbrella organization for older people in Europe. We are committed to the interest group for intergenerational solidarity in the European Parliament, where we were able to organize a first meeting with our other European political senior citizens' organizations: ESU, affiliated with the EPP and the European Green Senior Citizens, affiliated with the European Green Party.

2026 presents big challenges: peace, democracy, solidarity, equality! Four fundamental principles of the socialdemocratic movement are under increasing pressure.

As older generations, we learn that European integration was and is the best guarantee for peace and protection of fundamental rights. European integration, through the European Union and the Council of Europe, offers a framework that should help its member states to better develop their social missions. As we are committed to this, we also need to inform our member-organisations and their members - more than ever - about this European added value. That will be our most important task in 2026, and this concerns all our representatives and activists.

In 2026, we will also continue working on the implementation of our action program and help shape the European political agenda: the multi-annual budget, the European fairness strategy, the European housing plan, the European social agenda, the humanization of the digital agenda, a European action plan against ageism and age discrimination and a European strategy for older people, a balanced intergenerational fairness strategy, a European care guarantee.

We also look forward to the next steps in 2026 toward a UN Convention on the Rights of the older persons. This global approach will also demand our attention.

There's a lot at stake in 2026! Not only for our older generations, but also, and especially, for our younger ones. The policies we implement today will help shape their future. All the more reason to work together. We are committed to do this, first of all with our PES-family, and with the civil society movements.

On behalf of all the activists in ESO—Frieda, Anthony, Marianne, Gyorgyi, Mariqueta, Steven, Jan, Juan, Philippe, Hilde, Sabine, Carlo, Marie-Jeanne, André, and Maria Luigia —I wish us and all of you a happy, peaceful, healthy, and above all, combative 2026!

Brussels, 22 December 2025

Jos Bertrand - President ESO

11/12/2025

Working together for seniors interest. This week, the 3 political european seniororganisations ESO - European Senior Organisation , ESU the Eurooean Seniors Union from the EPP and the European Green Seniors met together with Idoia Mendia Cueva (MEP S&D) , Michał Szczerba (MEP PPE) and Goran Bosanac (MEP Greens) . Together with AGE Platform Europe wil will join our forces in order to have senior intrests and intergenerational solidarity on the European agenda.