Making sure no generation gets left behind

Future generations have a right to live in a clean, prosperous and fair world. This means that the decisions we take now to achieve this goal, must be made in a way that ensures a fair balance of benefits and burdens across current and future generations. The Commission has adopted its first strategy on intergenerational fairness promoting long-term thinking in governance and ensuring that young people have a stronger voice in shaping policies.

To achieve this goal, the strategy sets out a number of actions including

• developing an intergenerational fairness index to measure how well countries are protecting the future of younger and future generations. This will help to identify opportunities and gaps, inform policy decisions and promote fairness across generations.
• developing a future literacy policymaking toolkit for public administrations across EU countries
• organising a demography forum to exchange on demographic developments
• launching a ‘Voices of the Future’ initiative inviting local and regional authorities to engage in shaping their regions' future

The strategy also provides a common direction for different EU initiatives – from inclusive education to affordable housing – that are already contributing to intergenerational fairness.

It is adopted amidst increasing global efforts to incorporate a long-term approach to planning and policymaking. At the 2024 UN Summit of the Future, the EU and its Member States endorsed the Pact for the Future and the Declaration on Future Generations. 

For more information

Press release - Commission presents first ever Strategy on Intergenerational Fairness

Factsheet

European Citizens' Panel on Intergenerational Fairness 

Joint Research Centre and Intergenerational Fairness

Intergenerational fairness at the EU Policy Lab