Europe's Political Economy

Investing in health promotion and disease prevention would keep people healthy and active for longer, reducing healthcare expenditure in the long term.

Healthcare innovation can boost economic growth while helping to deliver better health care to more people in a more sustainable manner.

ICT can help promote active and healthy ageing and also improve the sustainability of solutions, but cost is an issue with public budgets under strain.

Promoting healthy and active ageing can help boost innovation in Europe, producing economic growth that can help the continent to emerge from the crisis as well as relieving pressure on public purses, heard participants in a Policy Dialogue.

The ageing of society ranks among the greatest social and economic challenges facing Europe, said John Dalli, European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy, in a Policy Briefing.

Creating an environment conducive to active and healthy ageing requires psychological change as well as new physical infrastructure, said speakers at a Policy Dialogue.