The Committee of the Regions, AGE Platform Europe and the European Commission have issued a brochure presenting EU funding possibilities for regional and local initiatives to promote active ageing and solidarity between generations. The brochure aims to make a particular contribution to the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations 2012.

The Committee of the Regions, AGE Platform Europe and the European Commission have issued a brochure, which shows what resources are available and invites regional and local stakeholders to make the best possible use of them, preferably working in partnerships involving several countries. The brochure presents numerous examples of projects which have received EU funding and short presentations of the most relevant EU funding programmes to support new active ageing projects.

Although the majority of initiatives to promote active ageing organised throughout 2012 and onwards will be taken without financial support from the EU, in some cases EU funding will play a role. Some of the main available EU funding instruments which can be used to fund projects to promote active ageing and intergenerational solidarity are included in the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7), the Programme for quality of life of older people through the use of new information and communication technologies (AAL), the Grundtvig action programme in the field of lifelong learning, as well as the European Social Fund (ESF) or the Cohesion Funds, among others.

The brochure on EU funding possibilities to promote active ageing aims to make a particular contribution to the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations 2012. The goal of these action is to create more opportunities for older people to stay longer in work, to contribute to society as volunteers and carers and to remain independent for as long as possible. This requires policy makers and stakeholders to work together to improve conditions in areas as diverse as employment, health care, social services, adult learning, volunteering, housing, IT services and transport.