News
Save the date
Next ESO seminar and general assembly is on 27 and 28 November 2017, Brussels.
New president.
Marcel Geivaerts unfortunately resigns as president.
ESO has elected Jos Bertrand as new president.
S-Plus interviewed Marcel Geivaerts and Jos Bertrand. Click here for interview.
Socialists of all ages, unite!
While age groups are far from being homogeneous excluding de facto a "one size fits all approach", we, Socialists of all ages, believe that Europeans, old and young face many common challenges. Because we believe in a society of equals, we want to provide answers to all generations.
As the Young European Socialists (YES), the European Senior Organisation (ESO) and the Party of European Socialists (PES) we reaffirm the commitment for solidarity between generations.
The full text can be read here
European Pillar of Social Rights
ESO responded to the Commission's consultation on e Social Pillar.
The document can be read here
ESO seminarTTIP – Blessing or Curse?
Monday 20 June 2016
Next ESO seminar and general assembly on 27 and 28 Novmeber 2017, Brussels
ESO general assembly and seminar 'Social Protection and Participation in an Ageing Europe'
ESO thanks all members and participants for taking part in the general assembly and seminar 'Social Protection and Participation in an Ageing Europe' on 16 and 17 November. We had the pleasure of welcoming some new people from Linx+ and SP 60+ at our assembly. Moreover, Nina Zivanovic of YES and Aurelien Mazuy of Rainbow Rose gladly presented their organisation to our ESO-members, and we are looking forward to a fruitful co-operation between our organisations in the near future.
We also thank the speakers at our seminar 'Social Protection and Participation in an Ageing Europe' Katharina Nevedalova, Vice-President of PES, John Crombez, party-chairman of sp.a, professor Kim De Witte and Anne-Sophie Parent, Secretary-General AGE Platform Europe for their excellent presentations
The power point presentation Pension reform in Europe of Kim De Witte can be found here
Last but not least, we thank PES for their support and help in facilitating this seminar.
Looking forward to seeing you at our next ESO activity.
ESO meeting in Brussels
On Monday 16 November ESO holds its second general assembly of 2015. This is followed the next day by our seminar Social Protection and participation in an Ageing Europe.
Venue assembly:
NVSM
Grey room 6th floor
Sint-Jansstraat 32
1000 Brussels, Belgium
Venue seminar:
PES
3rd floor
Troonstraat 98
1050 Brussels, Belgium
Programme:
ESO's general assembly is planned on Monday 16th of November from 14:00-17:00 (on invitation)
On Tuesday 17th of November you are kindly invited to our seminar Social Protection and participation in an Ageing Europe. Click here for the programme.
Practical information:
Practical and technical information about accommodation, transportation, etc. can be found here
Registration:
To join our ESO meeting you will need to confirm your attendance by mailing to ESO@socialistseniors.eu by the end of October.
ESO @ PES Congress Budapest
From 11th June till 13th June PES organised it’s congress in Budapest, Hungary. ESO took this opportunity to hold its own general assembly there and attend the conference Social Protection and the EU 2020 strategies organised by NYOSZ, our Hungarian member organisation.
The congress was a big success for ESO. We were able to network and meeting new people. An important opportunity for ESO to get noticed within the big PES family. ESO HQ would like to thank it’s member organisations for their support and PES for organising this splendid congress.
Next ESO meeting @PES congress
ESO’s next general assembly and seminar will be held during the PES congress in Budapest, Hungary on 11th- 13th of June 2015.
Venue:
Budapest Congress Center
1-3 Jagelló út, 1123
Budapest, Hungary
Programme:
ESO’s general assembly is planned on 11th of June from 14:00-17:00 (members only)
On the 12th of June we are kindly invited by our Hungarian senior association, NYOSZ , to join the conference on Social, Politic and European Strategy 2020 organized by Lajos Korózs (Socialist member of Parliament) in the Hungarian Parliament.
Registration:
To join our ESO meeting you will need to register here using following link and also confirm your attendance via ESO@socialistseniors.eu (Should the link not function, please copy and paste it and open it in your browser).
You may also find more information on the programme of the PES congress here
Information on technical details (accommodation, transportation, etc) can be found here
New email for ESO
You may contact ESO now using ESO@socialistseniors.eu
ESO tweets
A step forward for ESO. We are on Twitter now @ESO_PES
ESO mourns Eric Lentze
Yesterday, we at ESO were deeply saddened to learn of Eric Lentze’s death. On 21 January 2015 he suddenly passed away at the age of 73. Eric joined ESO in 2011 as treasurer, unfortunately only for a short time as he took a time-out in order to take care of his lovely wife and older brother. Nevertheless, we know Eric as a passionate jovial gentleman, and respected board member. Eric was also a trusted and engaged member of PVDA study group Europe. It is also to his credit that, though his time-out, he always kept in touch with ESO. Eric was a remarkable man. Knowing him personally as I did for these couple of years, I am well aware of the difference he made in the lives of many people, both here at ESO, and more importantly in his private live. Many will miss him.
ESO has lost a cheerful and dear friend. Our thoughts are with Eric’s family during this difficult time
With our deepest and heartfelt condolences
Steven Vanden Broucke
Secretary-general
ESO wishes you joyful holidays and a happy New Year
We would also like to inform you that the ESO secretariat will be closed during the holidays. We will be back in office from 5th January 2015
Welcoming our new members
At our general assembly we had the pleasure announcing 3 new member organisations: UNISED from Italy, OPSD from Rumania and the Federation of Elderly of the PSOE from Spain. We warmly welcome them to the ESO family.
ESO seminar and general assembly: A social Europe in the context of populism and nationalism 8th & 9th December 2014
Last week we organized our second seminar and general assembly for 2014. We gladly thank all participants, representing different nog’s and (political) intuitions from the UK, Malta, Italy, Ireland, Belgium, Rumania, Germany, Bulgaria and the Netherlands. And of course a special thanks to our four speaker Frank Vandenbroucke, Conny Reuter, Vincent Stuer and Marley Morris for their excellent contributions. We are looking forward to seeing you back again in 2015.
The PowerPoint presentations of Frank Vandenbroucke and Vincent Stuer can be downloaded here.
Report European Commission on EY2012 ready
Report from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the implementation, results and overall assessment of the 2012 European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations. Click here
ESO mourns Ruth Brand
On 13 August Ruth Brand passed away at the age of 85, in Essen/Germany. She was a strong, joyful and enthusiastic woman. Always happy to help and participate. Ruth was not only an engaged member of ESO but was also active in SOLIDAR and AGE. In her last few years she campaigned on the issues of violence and discrimination against elderly people. We will remember her as a guiding light in building a Social Europe.
ESO has lost a kind and dear friend. Our thoughts are with her son Christian and family during this difficult time.
The funeral card can be downloaded here
Towards a new social Europe
28th and 29th of April ESO held its congress and general assembly in Brussels. We hereby would like to thank all participants and key-note speakers. It’s always appreciated that presentations are followed by interesting discussions.
Our speakers:
Jul Geeroms (VLORA)
Ann Linde (PES)
MEP Kathleen van Brempt (sp.a)
MEP Saïd El Khadraoui (sp.a)
Sophie Rosseels (VUB)
Sarah Dury (VUB)
Paul Callewaert (NVSM)
The powerpoint presentations can be downloaded ESO documents/Presentations
ESO is on Facebook
PES Manifesto: Towards a New Europe/h2>
“The PES Manifesto for the European Elections 2014 was unanimously adopted today at the PES Election Congress in Rome 1 March. All PES Member Parties at the Congress voted on the text in an open ballot.
"Conservatives and liberals have made a big mess of managing Europe and the crisis. Every unemployed person knows it, every woman that has had her rights stripped away knows it and every youth whose future is in jeopardy knows it. Our job is to get the biggest turnout possible to make sure that finally, the conservatives know it too. With these ten key points to guide us and with Martin Schulz as our Common Candidate we will succeed”, Sergei Stanishev PES President stated in his opening speech.
http://www.pes.eu/
Interview Martin Schulz en Marcel Geivaerts (EN/NL)
Europe: The Social Challenge
Defining the Union’s social objective is a necessity rather than a luxury
“For over fifty years we have been debating whether European policy requires an active social dimension. This question was already raised in the 1950s, before the establishment of the European Economic Community of six countries, and it is still around today, in a Union of twenty-seven Member States. […] The ongoing crisis may present an opportunity to put ‘social Europe’ firmly on the agenda […]”
Inaugural lecture by Frank Vandenbroucke on the occasion of his appointment as an Affiliate Professor to the Den Uyl Chair at the University of Amsterdam, 7 June 2012.
Vandenbroucke_2012_OpinionPaper11.pdf
Ensuring a society of all ages – brochure
As follow-up of the UNECE Ministerial Conference on Ageing, which took place from 18-20 September 2012 in Vienna, Mr. Dirk Jarré realized this brochure: Ensuring a society of all ages. From policy declaration to action.
The aim of the brochure is to promote the implementation of the outcome of the UNECE Ministerial Conference on Ageing. In this respect the four policy goals of the Ministerial Declaration are supported by “best-practice-examples” from all ECE-Member States. Each example will provide the reader with an internet link for more in depth information in relation to the subject matter.
The publication can be downloaded under:
www.unece.org/.../Vienna_2012_booklet_final.pdf
Next ESO congress
Dear ESO members ours next ESO congress and general assembly will be held in Brussels on 2 and 3 December 2013. More information asap.
The EU explained: Public health
While the organization and delivery of healthcare is the responsibility of individual countries, the EU brings added value in helping countries achieve common objectives. EU health policy generates economies of scale by pooling resources, and helps countries to tackle the common challenges, including health threats such as pandemics, the risk factors associated with chronic diseases or the impact of increased life expectancy on healthcare systems.
You may download the publication here
ec.europa.eu/health/health_policies/docs/improving_health_for_all_eu_citizens_en.pdf
Global AgeWatch Index 2013:
Insight report, summary and methodology
The Global AgeWatch Index is the first-ever overview of the wellbeing of older people around the world.
As the number and proportion of older people increases at an unprecedented rate, this ground-breaking report illustrates how the world is adapting to this new reality by ranking more than 90 countries in terms of how their older populations are faring.
The report can be found here
www.helpage.org/global-agewatch/reports/global-agewatch-index-2013-insight-report-summary-and-methodology/
ESO Conference
ESO conference: Solidarity between the Generations successfully held in The Hague.
An overview (click here - docx - 18kb )
ESO congratulates SPD
SPD celebrates its 150 year birthday on 23 May 2013. A memorable day for SPD60+, loyal member of ESO, and part of SPD. With great pleasure ESO offers her congratulations, and may SPD continue doing its splendid work.
For more information click here
ESO congress in Malta
President of Malta, George Abela invites ESO for a meeting
ESO present at PES congress, Brussels 29 September 2012
The PES Congress is a major gathering of European socialist, social-democrats and labour members. It meets twice every five years and brings together delegates from PES member parties, numerous guests and PES activists.
The responsibilities of the Congress include: deciding on the political orientation of the PES, electing the President and adopting changes to the statutes and to the membership status of parties.
For more information on the PES congress click (here)
S-Plus attends UNECE NGO-forum on Ageing
The NGO Forum on Ageing, on Tuesday 18 September 2012 in Vienna, is considered as an integral part of the Ministerial Conference on Ageing of the UN Economic Commission for Europe, 19-20 September 2012. This important conference addresses the topic “Ensuring a society for all ages: promoting quality of life and active ageing”.
The NGO Forum aimed at advancing the UNECE Regional Implementation Strategy for the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (UNECE RIS/MIPAA) during the third implementation cycle 2013-2017.
S-Plus together with around 130 non-governmental organizations played an important role in this conference. We examined the various thematic issues of the Ministerial Conference as well as the draft of the Ministerial Political Declaration, putting them critically into relation with our own experiences on the ground, our concepts on effective policy implementation and our understanding of quality services for the elderly.
The results of this analysis is the “NGO Political Declaration” which highlights weaknesses as well as the strengths of the Ministerial Political Declaration – both were presented on the second day of the Ministerial Conference.
This Forum was organized and conducted under the patronage of the hosting Austrian Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Consumer Protection in collaboration with the Austrian Federal Ministry of Science and in cooperation with the Secretariat of the UNECE.
Click here for NGO Political Declaration (pdf)
Click here for Ministerial Political Declaration (pdf)
http://www.unece.org/pau/ageing/ministerial_conference_2012.html
ESO Congress, Brussels, 8-9 November 2012
The ESO Congress is a meeting of European social-democratic senior organizations. It meets twice every year.
Aim of the Congress:
• to promote and safegaurd the social, cultural and economic interests of senior citizens in Europe
• deciding on the orientation of ESO
• adopting changes to the statutes
The next ESO Congress will take place in Brussels, on 8-9 November 2012
Registration OPEN DAYS now open.
This year’s OPEN DAYS will take place in Brussels from Monday 10 October until Thursday 13 October.
European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Age
Rapport over de openbare raadpleging over het "European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing"
Click here for more information
Seniors and the EU: the perfect match?
Conference 7th of April 2011, NVSM Sint-Jansplein 1, 1000 Brussel
Click here for the day schedule [word doc 570kb]
S-Plus gaat voluit voor Europa
"Kras januari 2011"
Click here for the article [pdf 325kb]
“The PES Manifesto for the European Elections 2014 was unanimously adopted today at the PES Election Congress in Rome 1 March. All PES Member Parties at the Congress voted on the text in an open ballot.
"Conservatives and liberals have made a big mess of managing Europe and the crisis. Every unemployed person knows it, every woman that has had her rights stripped away knows it and every youth whose future is in jeopardy knows it. Our job is to get the biggest turnout possible to make sure that finally, the conservatives know it too. With these ten key points to guide us and with Martin Schulz as our Common Candidate we will succeed”, Sergei Stanishev PES President stated in his opening speech.
http://www.pes.eu/
“For over fifty years we have been debating whether European policy requires an active social dimension. This question was already raised in the 1950s, before the establishment of the European Economic Community of six countries, and it is still around today, in a Union of twenty-seven Member States. […] The ongoing crisis may present an opportunity to put ‘social Europe’ firmly on the agenda […]”
Inaugural lecture by Frank Vandenbroucke on the occasion of his appointment as an Affiliate Professor to the Den Uyl Chair at the University of Amsterdam, 7 June 2012.
Vandenbroucke_2012_OpinionPaper11.pdf
The aim of the brochure is to promote the implementation of the outcome of the UNECE Ministerial Conference on Ageing. In this respect the four policy goals of the Ministerial Declaration are supported by “best-practice-examples” from all ECE-Member States. Each example will provide the reader with an internet link for more in depth information in relation to the subject matter.
The publication can be downloaded under:
www.unece.org/.../Vienna_2012_booklet_final.pdf
You may download the publication here
ec.europa.eu/health/health_policies/docs/improving_health_for_all_eu_citizens_en.pdf
Insight report, summary and methodology
The report can be found here
www.helpage.org/global-agewatch/reports/global-agewatch-index-2013-insight-report-summary-and-methodology/
An overview (click here - docx - 18kb )
For more information click here
President of Malta, George Abela invites ESO for a meeting
For more information on the PES congress click (here)
Click here for NGO Political Declaration (pdf)
Click here for Ministerial Political Declaration (pdf) http://www.unece.org/pau/ageing/ministerial_conference_2012.html
• to promote and safegaurd the social, cultural and economic interests of senior citizens in Europe
• deciding on the orientation of ESO
• adopting changes to the statutes The next ESO Congress will take place in Brussels, on 8-9 November 2012
Registration OPEN DAYS now open.
Click here for more information
Click here for the day schedule [word doc 570kb]
S-Plus gaat voluit voor Europa
"Kras januari 2011"Click here for the article [pdf 325kb]
