About
The ILC Europe Network was launched in December 2021 to address longevity and population ageing in Europe.
The Network is represented by academics, practitioners, civil society representatives and business leaders with a focus on helping societies address longevity and population ageing in positive and productive ways. The Network works together to organise policy and research events, share good practice, and engage with policymakers across the continent.
ILC-UK is a founding member of the ILC Europe Network. The Network operates under the auspices of the International Longevity Centre Global Alliance.
Members
The ILC Europe Network is comprised of academics, practitioners, civil society representatives and business leaders, all focused on helping societies across Europe address longevity and population ageing in positive and productive ways. We have 123 members across 100 organisations in 22 countries. Click here to become a member.
Where are our members based?
Engagement
Commission Vice-President Dubravka Šuica responds to ILC Europe’s letter on toolbox for demographic change
8 November 2023
We were pleased to receive a response from Vice-President Dubravka Šuica and her support for our work and the Healthy Ageing and Prevention Index.
Letter to Vice-President Dubravka Šuica on toolbox for demographic change
20 October 2023
Dear Vice-President Šuica,
I am writing to you regarding the European Commission’s recent publication, Demographic change in Europe: a toolbox for action, on how to manage the EU’s ageing population. While it’s promising to see action on demographic change, we believe a core part of the strategy needs to focus on promoting healthy ageing across the life course.
Commission Vice-President Dubravka Šuica responds to ILC Europe
17 December 2021
We were delighted to get a quick and comprehensive response to our joint letter from Vice-President Dubravka Šuica.
Open Letter to Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission
18 November 2021
Dear President,
The International Longevity Centre-Europe (ILC Europe) – a European network of thought leaders focussed on the impact of longevity on society – would like to express our support for the European Commission’s work on adapting European policy to the reality of an ageing population, and the publication of the EU Green Paper on Ageing.
European Commission must develop concerted response to ageing
18 November 2021
The European Commission must press ahead with plans to respond to the challenges and opportunities of an ageing Europe, argues the newly formed International Longevity Centre-Europe Network (ILC Europe Network).
Projects
Going for gold: How do countries compete when it comes to healthy ageing?
Sports and fitness play an important role in people’s ability to live well and for longer: a 2022 Harvard study suggests that exercising more than the recommended amount could extend a person’s life and reduce the risk of an early death. Furthermore, physical activity is associated with improved overall health in those people who survive to older ages. Added to this, preventative health interventions such as immunisation are important mechanisms to ensure people remain healthy and protected against disease right throughout their lives.
Painfully unaware: Improving older people’s understanding of shingles vaccination in an ageing society
While the pandemic has helped to raise awareness about life course vaccination, complacency remains with other routine immunisations. One UK study found that older adults are almost 50% more likely to say that they will get a flu vaccine than a shingles vaccine during the year. This is despite that shingles-associated mortality increases with age, and that a person’s quality of life can be reduced significantly by debilitating nerve pain that can last up to several years after the disease.
Shifting the narrative: Inspiring increased vaccine confidence across Central and Eastern Europe
COVID-19 has highlighted the vast differences in attitudes towards vaccination across Europe. COVID-19 vaccination has been significantly lower in parts of Central and Eastern Europe in comparison to Western Europe, while cases of diseases like measles are rising in countries such as Romania due to a lack of confidence in childhood immunisation. Getting to the root cause of vaccine hesitancy is key to strengthening people’s confidence and improving the low levels of uptake in the region.
Events
Upcoming events
Awards ceremony – Going for gold: How do countries compete when it comes to healthy ageing?
Date: Tuesday 16 July 2024
Time: 2:30pm (for 3:00pm start) – 6:00pm CEST
Location: Maison du Danemark, Champs-Élysées, Paris
Join ILC-UK and the ILC Europe Network for the Going for gold awards ceremony ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Past events
Healthy ageing and longevity in Europe: How do we prepare for the 100-year life?
Date: Wednesday 6 March 2024
Time: 1.00pm (for 1.30pm start) – 5.30pm CET
Location: Silversquare Europe, Square de Meeûs 35, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
With the European Parliament elections taking place in June 2024, we hosted our inaugural event to establish a set of key priorities and policy recommendations for the 2024-29 Parliament and Commission.
Healthy Ageing and Prevention in Europe: How do European countries compare?
Date: Tuesday 24 October 2023
Time: 1:00pm – 2:15pm BST / 2:00pm – 3:15pm CEST
Location: Virtual
In this webinar, we used the Healthy Ageing and Prevention Index to explore what health and wellbeing looks like in different European countries. This webinar has been used to inform a policy document to advocate better commitments from European policymakers on healthy ageing and prevention.
Blogs
Europe is ageing – addressing the challenges now ensures longer, healthier, and happier lives for all
11 December 2023
Europe is steadily ageing – by 2100, one in three Europeans will be over the age of 65. Many Europeans may be living longer lives but might not be living healthier lives or working for as long as they would like. In his blog Patrick Swain, ILC’s Research and Development Manager, highlights how addressing the challenges of demographic change through positive and productive ways is crucial.
Videos
Keynote speech – Dubravka Šuica, European Commission Vice-President for Democracy and Demography: Healthy ageing and longevity in Europe: How do we prepare for the 100-year life?
Webinar – Healthy Ageing and Prevention in Europe: How do European countries compare?
Become a member
To become a member of the ILC Europe Network, click here.
To find out more about the ILC Europe Network, please contact Patrick Swain.
Follow us on X (formerly Twitter) to keep up to date with our latest activities: @ILC_Europe