Event highlights
AGE Platform Europe – the largest European Union network of older people’s organizations – gathered on 2 October 2025 at UN City in Copenhagen, Denmark, for an in-depth stakeholder engagement with WHO/Europe. This was part of a broader effort to test and refine the forthcoming WHO European Strategy on Ageing is Living (2026–2030).
Bringing together civil society voices from across Europe, the workshop tackled a vital question: How can we ensure that the actions in the new Strategy reflect the lived realities of older people – and truly drive change?
Building on a previous engagement in early 2025, this focused meeting allowed participants to dive into the proposed actions and provide critical input on how they can be implemented equitably, meaningfully and with impact.
AGE Platform Europe’s involvement is essential to ensuring that the Strategy is grounded in real-world priorities and that older people’s organizations are not just consulted but are also actively shaping solutions – from strengthening prevention and care to creating age-friendly environments and tackling ageism.
Top priorities reaffirmed by participants included:
- embedding mental and brain health in all preventive services
- developing integrated, person-centred long-term care
- expanding age-friendly environments through housing, transport and community programmes
- strengthening action on ageism through advocacy, education and grassroots initiatives.
“This dialogue reflects our commitment to keep older persons’ voices central to health and care transformation,” said Natasha Azzopardi-Muscat, Director of Health Systems at WHO/Europe. “The path to implementation must be inclusive, grounded and accountable.”
Maciej Kucharczyk, Secretary General of AGE Platform Europe, added, “We value this opportunity to ensure that civil society – and especially older people’s voices – are embedded at every step of the process. It’s not just about consultation, it’s about co-creation.”
This was one in a series of stakeholder engagements in 2025 to test and co-develop the Strategy’s core proposals, bringing Member States, experts and communities together to build a shared path toward healthier, more inclusive ageing for all.