The first Forum of Seniors’ Organizations from the Eastern Partnership

An ESU delegation participated in the first Forum of Senior Organisations of the Eastern Partnership and European Union – EU countries, organized by Tatsiana Zelko and her Сеньоры Беларуси in cooperation with the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Facility on 24-25 April in hotel Monastyrski in Minsk (Belarus) . The Eastern Partnership (EaP) is a joint initiative of the EU and former post-Soviet states on the Eastern border of the European Union. It aims to deepen and strengthen relations between the European Union (EU), its Member States and its Eastern neighbours. Delegations of the six eastern European countries involved in the partnership (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine) participated in the Forum.

During two days seniors associations, human rights initiatives, grassroots’ movements were presenting a variety of good practices. The delegations from the EU brought information on pension systems in EU countries and the possibilities for older persons to participate in social and political life. Both our delegation and the delegees of seniors’ organisations from all over our eastern neighbours were amazed by the dynamic environment in which fruitful debates were concluded.

The interaction between all attendees made the Forum a genuine success as all participants expressed their satisfaction on mutual learning and the enrichment of exchanges. It is key for our organizations that we keep up the dialogue with people all over our continent. Albeit some differences, we all share the belief that our participation in society is necessary to improve the living standards of all our fellow seniors. Therefore all participants showed their hope to continue the newly established relations in the future.

Thanks our great host Tatsiana Zelko, we were able to be given a glance on the situation of our neighbours from the East. We would like to express our gratitude towards her for the relentless efforts she has conducted.