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I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

The Candidate Countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Georgia, as well as Andorra and San Marino align themselves with this statement.

We welcome the opening of the 14^th session of the Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing, focused on strengthening the protection of human rights of older persons.

Demographic changes exacerbate the significance of ageing, as the world population is expected to continue to grow throughout the 21^st century. As a result, ageing will become a major demographic trend worldwide.

In Europe, people increasingly live healthier and therefore longer. We expect persons aged 65 and above to account for 29% of the population of the EU in 2080, compared to 19% in 2016.

As our life expectancy increases, the EU aspires to build a “longevity society” that values the longer lifetime of older persons, empowers older citizens, and nurtures the welfare and well-being of present and future generations alike.

Two key principles guide our efforts to promote and protect the rights of older persons:

Firstly, the EU’s strategies to tackle discrimination and promote equality are based on intersectionality. Addressing discrimination from the perspective of a single ground fails to capture the diversity of how people experience discrimination in their daily lives. We need a comprehensive approach addressing the intersection of multiple grounds. That is why age is considered alongside other personal characteristics such as sex, racial, ethnic or social origin, religion or belief, political or any other opinion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity. It is key to combat stereotypes, fight age-based discrimination, promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace, and give everyone equal chances to contribute and thrive.

Secondly, intergenerational solidarity and justice demands that all policies, legislation and initiatives must mutually benefit various generations, and encompass different policy areas, including housing and care - examples include intergenerational living and community-based services and care, including adult day services - and participation in public life and decision-making processes, such as enhanced intergenerational dialogue and opportunities for intergenerational learning.

Building on the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and according to the European Pillar of Social Rights, the EU has put in place legislation and initiatives to ensure that older persons can have equal access to essential services such as transport and housing and benefit from the policies in these areas.

In October last year, the European Commission published a Communication entitled “Demographic change in Europe: a toolbox for action”. It outlines the wide range of tools - including regulatory instruments, policy frameworks and funding - available to the EU Member States to manage demographic change and its impacts on the EU's society and economy.

Democracy is a core value and founding principle of the EU. It can only be secured if all citizens can participate in public debates, can freely express their views and have the space and the power to determine their situation and their future. We are implementing initiatives to address the difficulties faced by older persons by supporting them in the exercise of their human rights, including the participation in elections, and to promote active aging, encouraging older persons to stay engaged in their communities and maintain their independence. Due to longer human life expectancy, the risk of partial or total dependency of older persons is growing exponentially. This is why it is essential to protect their human rights and ensure that they are included in all aspects of society.

We welcome the opportunity to discuss the two focus areas of the 14^th session: accessibility, infrastructure and habitat, and participation in public life and decision-making processes, which are both of undeniable importance for older persons and require further attention.

Finally, we note the elaboration of recommendations identifying possible gaps in the international human rights framework, and how best to address them. We thank Brazil and Portugal for facilitating the negotiations.

I wish all of us a fruitful discussion to reach tangible progress in meeting the needs of older persons and the realisation of their human rights.