A society for all ages. Challenges and opportunities

Population ageing has become an increasing concern for Governments in the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) region. In most countries, the period which has seen the high proportion of working-age population, the time of the so-called "demographic bonus", is gradually coming to an end. While the degree and timing of this process may vary greatly, the change is common to all countries, posing challenges as well as holding opportunities.

In 2007, UNECE members States took stock of the implementation of the commitments made in 2002 when they adopted the Regional Implementation Strategy (RIS) for the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA). What is the real situation five years on? Have Governments been able to take the actions necessary to prepare and adapt their societies for demographic change? To review this and to identify priorities for the future, the Governement of Spain and the UNECE organized a Ministerial Conference on Ageing in León, Spain, from 6 to 8 November 2007. This volume includes the material presented and adopted at the Conference.

• Primary Source