The French Confederation of Retired Persons calls on candidates

On the eve of the European Elections that will be held on 26 May 2019 in France, the Confederation, representing more than one and a half million pensioners, shared their expectations for the new European Parliament in an open letter to candidates.

In an email addressed to political parties and journalists, the Confederation emphasized the undeniable contribution senior citizens make to the economic and social life. In accordance with the European Pillar of Social Rights adopted in Gothenburg, Sweden on 17 November 2017, the 200 million people aged 50+ in Europe must be recognized for their capacity to actively participate in society and enabled to do so.

Thus, the French Confederation of Retired Persons calls for:

  • A formal recognition of the full citizenship of older people, their rights and needs, through their participation in decisions that affect them and through the official recognition of the representativeness of organizations that have a voice;
  • Support for their professional commitment through measures to encourage them to remain in employment, access lifelong learning, benefit from gradual career ends and cope with the constraints linked to care responsibilities;
  • Measures to ensure that all people have incomes compatible with full social integration, nutrition, housing and care provision that promote healthy and active ageing;
  • Access for all seniors to goods and services, whether through the adaptation of transport and housing, accessibility to digital services, or the maintenance of traditional access (telephone, postal mail) to public and care services.
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European Parliament endorses EU directive for web accessibility of public websites

On 26th October 2016, the European Parliament approved the EU Directive on the accessibility of the websites and mobile applications of public sector bodies. The new rules establish a set of criteria and technical provisions to enable everyone, including people with disabilities (in particular vision or hearing impairments), to have access to online data and services provided by public sector bodies.

Read more on the European Commission website

This rewards AGE Platform Europe’s campaign, started several years ago together with the European Blind Union (EBU), the European Disability Forum (EDF) and the European Organisation representing Consumers in Standardisation (ANEC), in favour of a binding legislation on web accessibility. Our common objective was to ensure that public sector websites and websites delivering basic services to citizens are made accessible to all.

Useful links :

  • European Parliament adopted report
  • European Commission press release
  • Web accessibility: It is time to make everyone benefit from the digital revolution (press release)
  • Inaccessible Websites : Time to Act ! (press release)
  • Joint call to the Council on the Web Accessibility Directive
  • AGE becomes partner in a new project on online public services for older persons
  • Help improve accessibility of websites through crowd sourcing