The European Commission presented a new Eurobarometer survey in which it assures that Europeans are ready for 'active ageing'. In particular, over 60% believe that we should be allowed to continue working after retirement age and one third says that they would like to work longer themselves. For most citizens, people aged 55 years and older play a major role in key areas of society.

According to one of the latest Eurobarometer surveys presented by the European Commission, although the typical pensionable age is 65 years, the average exit age from the labour force in 2009 was about 61.5 years. Nonetheless, the 42% of Europeans believe that they will be capable of doing the work they are currently doing beyond the age of 65. One third of Europeans say that they would like to continue working after they reach retirement age. In addition, Eurostat recently published its data showing that the share of persons aged 55 and over in the total population increased between 1990 and 2010 in all Member States and also the employment of the older population.

Europeans consider that active ageing is not just about employment. Around one quarter of Europeans (including those over 55) say they are engaged in voluntary work. 36% of Europeans over the age of 55 have provided such support. 15% of respondents over 55 take care of an older family member and 42% have done so in the past. The European Year 2012 for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations, which was presented in January 2012, seeks to raise awareness of the contribution of older people to society and to promote measures that create better opportunities for older people to remain active.

On the other hand, the survey also shows how definitions of 'young' and 'old' differ significantly across countries. In Malta, Portugal and Sweden, people under 37 years are considered young, whereas in Cyprus and Greece people are considered young up to the age of 50. On average, Europeans believe that we start being regarded as old just before 64 and are no longer considered young from the age of 41.8 years. Perceptions also vary with age and sex – women feel that old age begins slightly later than men.