Europe's future begins with fairness, not only between nations, but between generations. Today, Commissioner Glenn Micallef unveiled the Intergenerational Fairness Strategy, a 12-page roadmap aimed at securing sustainable, future-focused policymaking across the European Union.

Focusing on today's youth and the elderly they will become, the strategy looks beyond short-term fixes to ensure that fairness becomes the cornerstone of Europe's long-term vision.

The PES family has always been at the forefront of championing intergenerational fairness, bringing together the energy of youth and the wisdom of experience to build a Europe that works for everyone. From the European Youth Guarantee to the European Green Deal, the Nature Restoration Law, Erasmus+, and quality apprenticeships, we are committed to listening to young people, amplifying their voices, and turning their insights into lasting policy. With Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu and Commissioner Glenn Micallef as strong allies, we aim to strengthen our efforts to safeguard the education, jobs, and wellbeing of young and older people whilst ensuring fairness across generations.

From solidarity to fairness

The strategy is a project of cooperation, reflecting the ideas and recommendations of citizens, stakeholders, and communities, seeking to restore trust and shaping a sustainable and equitable future. Fairness, as Commissioner Micallef explained, is about guaranteeing every decision taken today protects opportunities for tomorrow.

Giacomo Filibeck, Secretary General of the Party of European Socialists said:

"This strategy will ensure that every policy we shape is infused with fairness across generations. It's about governing today with tomorrow in mind - crafting decisions that serve people now and safeguard their future."

Key actions for a fairer future

To achieve its goal, the Strategy outlines several key actions. These include establishing:

• Intergenerational Fairness Index to identify opportunities and gaps, guide policy decisions, and promote fairness across generations;
• Introducing a Multilingual Future-Oriented Policymaking Package to strengthen future literacy within public administrations across EU Member States;
• Organising a Demography Forum to foster exchange on demographic developments;
• Launching the Voices of the Future Initiative, in partnership with the Committee of the Regions, to encourage local and regional authorities to actively shape their regions' future.

The Strategy places strong emphasis on fostering long-term thinking in policymaking, shifting the EU's focus from short electoral cycles to delivering durable, forward-looking progress. It also seeks to amplify youth voices, ensuring that young people are meaningfully involved in shaping the policies that define their futures.

Advancing fairness in policy, time, and space

At the heart of the document lies a framework for embedding fairness structurally across the EU's actions:

• Fair policymaking: integrating intergenerational perspectives across all EU policies, from climate to social justice, using youth checks and UN-inspired evaluation tools.
• Fair opportunities: to address the risk of age discrimination.
• Fairness in space: bringing cities and regions into the effort to ensure no one is left behind.

This mainstreaming approach will guide future European strategies, including upcoming initiatives such as the new anti-poverty strategy, ensuring that every policy decision considers the impact on both present and future citizens.