"Europe must respond to demographic change through intergenerational solidarity rooted in territorial cohesion — ensuring that young and older people can live with confidence, dignity and opportunity in every region, city, town and village" was the key message of Sari Rautio, President of the EPP-CoR and Vice-president of EPP Women, at the Spring Conference 2026 on Intergenerational Solidarity in Budapest.
Speaking during the workshop on “Lifelong Learning & Employment — keeping seniors active + opportunities for youth”, President Rautio underlined that demographic change must be addressed not only at European level, but also through the realities on the ground.
“For us in the EPP, intergenerational solidarity is not a secondary issue. It is not a technical topic on the margins of politics. It is one of the defining political questions for Europe’s future. Because when we speak about intergenerational solidarity, we are speaking about the kind of Europe we want to build: a Europe that protects dignity, rewards responsibility, supports family life, and gives both the young and the old confidence in the future.”
President Rautio stressed that demographic change is experienced first and foremost in local communities — in schools, housing, labour markets, care systems, and access to services. She called for European responses that reflect territorial reality and protect the ability of people to build a future in the places they call home.
“Demography is always territorial. It does not affect every place in the same way. Some regions are growing, others are shrinking. Some cities attract talent and investment, while other territories are losing both. That is why the European answer cannot be based on abstract averages. It must be rooted in territorial reality.”
Looking ahead to the post-2027 European framework and the next Multiannual Financial Framework, President Rautio emphasised that regions and cities must retain the capacity to respond concretely to demographic change.
“Europe’s future will not be secured by declarations alone. It will be secured if our regions, cities, towns and villages remain places where people can live with confidence. That is where demographic renewal, intergenerational solidarity and territorial cohesion come together — as one European project.”
For President Rautio, the topic is also directly linked to territorial cohesion and the “right to stay” — the freedom of citizens to remain, work, raise a family and grow older with dignity in their own region.
“Territorial cohesion is not just a budgetary concept. It is a political promise: a promise that no citizen should feel forced to leave their region because services, jobs, housing or connectivity have disappeared. In Europe, freedom must also mean the freedom to remain.”
Background:
The conference in Budapest aims to strengthen dialogue between generations, promote active ageing, lifelong learning, social inclusion and fair opportunities, and contribute to the Budapest Declaration on Intergenerational Solidarity. The Declaration calls for demographic change to be recognised as a strategic priority across European and national policymaking, including social affairs, labour markets, education, healthcare, housing, regional development and digitalisation.