European Seniors’ Summer Academy 2026

Seniors at the Heart of Europe’s Future

Nicosia, Cyprus | 24–26 September 2026

Europe’s demographic transformation is changing the way our societies live, work and organise themselves. Longer lives, declining birth rates, labour shortages, migration and the growing risk of loneliness are among the defining challenges facing Europe today.

But demographic change is not only a challenge. It is also an opportunity to recognise the enormous contribution that older people make to our communities — as citizens, volunteers, family members, mentors, professionals, carers and active participants in democratic life.

This will be at the heart of the European Seniors’ Summer Academy 2026, which will take place in Nicosia, Cyprus, from 24 to 26 September. Under the theme “Ageing is Living: Demographic Change in Europe and Cyprus”, the Academy will bring together around 70 leaders from senior organisations across Europe, alongside Cypriot representatives, policymakers, academics and civil society experts. The event will provide a unique opportunity to exchange experience, develop ideas and strengthen the voice of older citizens in Europe’s response to demographic change.

Seniors are part of the solution

The European Seniors’ Union believes that older people must not be viewed simply through the lens of ageing, care or dependency. Seniors are active citizens with experience, skills, knowledge and a strong commitment to their communities.

Senior organisations are particularly important in this respect. They give older people a collective voice, encourage participation and volunteering, create opportunities for intergenerational exchange and help combat social isolation. The Academy will therefore explore not only what Europe can do for its ageing population, but also what older citizens and their organisations can contribute to Europe.

This perspective is particularly important as Europe seeks answers to labour shortages, demographic change and the pressures created by migration. The Academy will examine, among other questions, how senior citizens can contribute to integration and intergenerational cohesion — including through volunteering, mentoring, community initiatives and innovative forms of cooperation between generations.

Migration and demographic change

One of the Academy’s two central themes will be the relationship between migration and demographic sustainability.

Across Europe, ageing populations and declining fertility are creating significant labour shortages, particularly in sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, construction and care. Migration can form part of the response, but it cannot be considered a simple solution. It must be managed responsibly, taking into account economic needs, social cohesion, security and democratic trust.

Cyprus provides a particularly relevant setting for this discussion. As an EU border state in the Eastern Mediterranean, it is directly exposed to migration pressures while simultaneously experiencing the demographic changes affecting Europe as a whole.

The Academy will bring together different perspectives on these questions, including a high-level panel featuring Níkos Nourís, former Minister of the Interior of Cyprus, and Fernand Boden, former Minister of Luxembourg and Chairman of Luxembourg CSV-Seniors, alongside ESU representatives.

The discussions will address questions such as whether migration can help alleviate labour shortages, how Europe can reconcile solidarity with national responsibility, and how integration can contribute to stronger and more cohesive communities.

Tackling loneliness — and rebuilding connection

The second major theme of the Academy will be loneliness and social participation.

Loneliness affects people of all generations, but older people can be particularly exposed to it as a result of living alone, changing family structures, urbanisation and increasing digitalisation. Its consequences go far beyond feeling isolated: loneliness can affect mental and physical health, social participation and quality of life.

Senior organisations have a vital role to play.

Through volunteering, social activities, intergenerational programmes and community engagement, they can create spaces where people meet, participate and feel that they belong. In this sense, senior organisations are not simply representatives of older people: they are important actors in building stronger communities for everyone.

The Academy will explore these issues with leading academics and practitioners, including Dr Jasper De Witte of KU Leuven, who will address the understanding and prevention of loneliness in ageing societies, as well as experts examining its health consequences, social determinants, digitalisation and the importance of intergenerational solidarity.

Leading voices from Europe and Cyprus

The Nicosia Academy will feature a distinguished group of speakers from politics, academia, civil society and the senior movement.

Among the highlights will be a keynote address by Geertrui Mieke De Ketelaere, who will explore the provocative question “Alone Together? Seniors, Loneliness and the Rise of AI Companions” — examining how rapidly developing technology may affect human connection and the experience of ageing.

The opening programme will also bring together senior representatives and prominent Cypriot and European figures, including Annita Demetriou, President of the House of Representatives of Cyprus. The Cypriot Parliament confirms that Ms Demetriou was re-elected President of the House for the 2026–2031 parliamentary term in June 2026.

Alongside political leaders, academics and experts, the Academy will give a central place to the experience of senior organisations themselves. Participants will exchange examples from their countries and work together on practical responses to demographic change, loneliness, integration and social participation.

From ageing to active citizenship

The title of the Academy — “Ageing is Living” — captures an essential message: longer life is one of Europe’s greatest achievements, and older age should be understood as a stage of life characterised by opportunity, contribution and participation.

For the European Seniors’ Union, this means putting seniors at the centre of discussions about Europe’s future.

Older citizens have witnessed enormous social, economic and political change. They possess experience that can help younger generations navigate today’s challenges, while their continued participation strengthens democracy and civil society. Whether through volunteering, mentoring, caring for family members, supporting newcomers or participating in senior organisations, millions of older Europeans already make a substantial contribution to the common good.

The challenge is to ensure that this contribution is recognised, supported and fully integrated into public policy.

A European meeting of experience and ideas

Over three days in Nicosia, the European Seniors’ Summer Academy will provide a space for precisely this kind of exchange. Plenary sessions, high-level panels, workshops and interactive discussions will allow participants to share national experiences and develop practical ideas.

The Academy will also underline the importance of cooperation between generations. Europe’s demographic future cannot be addressed by one generation alone. It requires solidarity between young and old, between newcomers and established communities, and between citizens, civil society and public authorities.

The message from Nicosia should therefore be clear: seniors are not on the margins of Europe’s future — they are among the people shaping it.

The European Seniors’ Union looks forward to welcoming senior leaders and partners from across Europe to Cyprus for three days of debate, exchange and inspiration — and to strengthening together the role of older citizens in building a more inclusive, connected and resilient Europe.