ESU’s Summer Academy 2025 – Meeting Report
“Demographic Changes in Europe – Consequences for Seniors and Challenges for European Governance”
From 12–14 September 2025, Bruges hosted the European Seniors’ Summer Academy under the theme “Demographic Changes in Europe – Consequences for Seniors and Challenges for European Governance.”
For three days, senior representatives, policymakers, academics, healthcare professionals, economists, and civil society experts gathered to debate ageing populations, policy responses, inequalities, and opportunities for older citizens across Europe.
Organisers & Partners
The Summer Academy was organised by the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies, in cooperation with CEDER, the research department of CD&V (Belgium). Additional support came from CD&V Seniors and the CDA research department.
- The Martens Centre provided intellectual leadership, shaping expert contributions and connecting them to European policy debates.
- CEDER ensured strong regional perspectives and local coordination.
Agenda Highlights
The programme spanned three intensive days:
- Day 1: Opening & context, demographic trends, digital inclusion, political participation.
- Day 2: Healthcare and long-term care, economic and financial wellbeing, silver economy.
- Day 3: Intergenerational dialogue, best practices, policy responses, closing reflections.
High-Level Contributions
Key voices included:
- European Commissioner Dubravka Šuica (video message)
- ESU leadership, including President Stefaan Vercamer and Vice-Presidents
- Experts from the Martens Centre, national governments, regional authorities, and civil society
- AGE Platform Europe on ageism and intergenerational fairness
Key Themes & Findings
- Demographic change is uneven across Europe, requiring tailored responses.
- Digital inclusion is vital for access to services, civic engagement, and social participation.
- Pensions, lifelong learning, and flexible retirement are central to seniors’ economic wellbeing.
- Healthcare and long-term care systems must innovate and secure sustainable financing.
- Intergenerational fairness is essential to break down age divides.
- Inclusive ageing policies must tackle inequalities across regions and groups.
Policy Recommendations
The Academy’s debates led to clear calls for action:
- An EU Action Plan to Combat Ageism as part of a wider Intergenerational Fairness Strategy.
- Systematic integration of demographic considerations into all EU policies.
- Strengthening participatory democracy with structured input from seniors.
- Introduction of intergenerational impact assessments for EU proposals.
- Mobilising cohesion funds and innovation tools to support regions in demographic decline.
- Launching a European Pact on Intergenerational Solidarity.
Conclusions & Outlook
The 2025 Summer Academy reaffirmed that demographic change is not only a challenge but also a strategic opportunity:
- To empower seniors and safeguard dignity,
- To strengthen intergenerational solidarity,
- To shape Europe’s governance for the future.
The European Seniors’ Union (ESU) will compile the Academy’s conclusions into a policy document, to be presented to the Presidency and the Executive Committee at their next meetings on 5 November 2025 in Ciudad Real, Spain. The next step is clear: translating insights into measurable, institutionalised policy outcomes.