AARP and European Centre Vienna
High-Level Expert and Policy-Makers Conference

Reinventing Retirement:
Reshaping Health & Financial Security
for the EU 27 and Eastern Europe

sponsored by AARP and
the Austrian Federal Ministry of Science and Research
October 23-24, 2008, Dürnstein, Austria.

Under the Auspices of Agnieszka Chlon-Dominczak, Viceminister of Labour and Social Policy, Poland

Press Release | Presseaussendung

Conference Proceedings

Background:

This conference dealt with reinventing retirement, i.e. reshaping health and financial security as a consequence of population ageing, in countries of Eastern Europe, with a particular emphasis on the new member states of the European Union, and its socio-economic consequences for Western Europe. It provided a platform for high-level experts and policy-makers on/from Central and Eastern European countries to discuss specific aspects of the demographic transitions, and to present and debate new ideas. The event enhanced a better understanding of the socio-demographic challenges both Eastern and Western European countries are facing, and strengthened mutual learning. The involvement of leading international organizations and AARP, as the leading advocate of the interests of older people in the United States, added extra dimensions to this dialog by providing global and American experiences and perspectives.

The conference

• Facilitated a dialogue of Western with Central and Eastern European countries, in particular Poland, the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Romania, Russia, Ukraine, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, the United States, as well as with representatives from the World Bank, European Commission and OECD,
• Investigated the current situation of persons aged 50+ and “unique“ aging patterns and draw lessons for policymakers in Europe and the United States
• Identified and evaluated current ageing trends in Central and Eastern European countries and their social and economic impact on future societies and
• Proposed workable arrangements and policy approaches to improve the situation of persons 50+ in Central and Eastern European countries.

The conference was the fourth in a series of AARP symposia examining how different countries confront and address retirement and the needs and talents of older people.

Aims and objectives:

• Process and outcome indicators and comparative performance/achievement measures. Facts & Figures on Eastern Ageing. Policy recommendations for individual countries.
• Future collaborative work between experts and policy-makers from Eastern and Western Europe, and the United States and expand Trans-Atlantic dialogue on these issues.

Agenda

Detailed Agenda

• Session One:
  Overview on the Macro-economic Context and
  Mid-Term Prospects for CEE Countries
  Session one addressed the prospects for the Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries in the near future, including social policy implications, in particular shifting boundaries between work and non-work (retirement, illness, disability, unemployment) and their impact on economic growth
• Session Two:
  Demographic Developments and Population Changes in the East
  in a Comparative View
  Session two addressed the significant demographic changes impacting the region, from steadily declining fertility rates, increased migration, and more flexible labor markets and the shifting boundaries between work and non-work.
• Session Three:
  Economic Security and Pension Reform and Adequacy in Central and Eastern Europe
  The collapse of socialist cradle-to-grave social safety nets and increased economic dynamism and competition are having serious impacts on the 50+ population throughout this region. Session three discussed how these countries, in particular new member states, address issues of economic security, poverty, and adequate living standards for their older citizens.
• Session Four:
  Poverty and Living Standards of the 50+ Populations in CEE
  This was the continuation of the session three on Economic Security, with particular attention to economic insecurity and old-age poverty, with a focus on women, basic income strategies, and Eastern Europe within and outside the new member states.
• Session Five:
  Public Health and Long-term Care Issues
  Public health and long-term care issues are critical areas of public policy in the region and across borders.  This session discussed the health and long-term care challenges such as the male early mortality crisis in some Eastern European Countries.  The discussion also addressed the developed and richer countries as they increasingly depend on the supply of workers from the less developed and poorer states in the region, and the significant impact on the less developed countries losing a critical workforce.
• Session Six:
  Regional and International Cooperation on Ageing
  In the closing session, experts from leading UN agencies summarized policy responses to ageing in Eastern Europe and CIS countries and new forms of regional and international cooperation on ageing issues within the UN-European region, covering North America, Europe including Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

Speakers

Working language: English

EC Project Team: Jason Allman, Silvia Faessler, Michael Fuchs, Mercedes Gonzalez-Quijano (Org), Annette Hexelschneider, Frédérique Hoffmann, Kai Leichsenring, Andrea Hovenier (Org), Manfred Huber, Orsolya Lelkes, Bernd Marin, Ricardo Rodrigues, Isilda Shima, Pieter Vanhuysse, Asghar Zaidi, Eszter Zolyomi

AARP Project Team: Edward Johns, Jessica Frank, Britta Berge

Contact for substantive matters Isilda Shima
and Bernd Marin (Executive Director European Centre Vienna).