FERPA is the European Federation of Retired and Elderly People, which advocates for policies that promote social security, healthcare, and inclusion for retired and elderly citizens. It lobbies the European Union and national governments on these issues. The EU has prioritized active aging policies to increase employment among elderly workers. This includes goals to raise the employment rate of those aged 55-64 to 50% by 2010 and gradually increase the average retirement age by 5 years. National governments and social partners are implementing initiatives to shift from a culture of early retirement to delayed and more gradual retirement, through subsidies for employers, training programs, flexible work arrangements, and awareness campaigns on non-discrimination of older workers.

1. Active Seniors in Virtual Workspaces: Methodologies in Social Innovation eSangathan Conference Brussels, 18 September 2008 Bruno Costantini General Secretary of FERPA

6. Employment rate of people over 55 (Source: EUROSTAT) 46.6 45.3 44.2 42.5 41.7 40.2 38.8 37.8 37.1 36.6 36.4 36.3 EU (15) 44.9 43.7 42.6 41.0 40.3 38.7 37.5 36.6 36.2 35.8 35.7 EU (25) 44.7 43.5 42.4 40.7 40.0 38.5 37.7 36.9 36.5 36.2 36.2 EU (27) 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996

7. Average retirement age (Source: EUROSTAT) 61.4 61.1 60.9 61.3 60.8 60.3 EU (15) 61.0 60.9 60.5 61.0 60.4 59.9 EU (25) 61.2 61.0 60.5 61.0 60.1 59.9 EU (27) 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001

15. Thank you very much