Treating all generations fairly

16. November 2025
EU Commission

What kind of Europe, fair to all current and future generations, are we striving for? And how can we bring to life the vision of a Europe that is fair to all generations? These questions were addressed by a European Citizens' Panel. On 16 November 2025, the mini-public adopted its recommendations.

150 randomly selected citizens from all 27 Member States came together to discuss what an intergenerationally fair European Union should look like and what actions can be taken to create a future in which all generations can thrive.

Citizens' vision of a Europe

The recommendations reveal a citizens' vision of a Europe that is fair to all generations (the current and the future ones):

1. Learning without age
2. Bridging nations, celebrating cultures
3. Educating all generations for a sustainable food future
4. Strengthening sustainable farming with increased EU support
5. Peace preservation and defense capabilities
6. Food security and sovereignty
7. Improve political education of all generations
8. Improve and balance representation across generations
9. Safe homes, strong communities, dignified living
10. Regulatory restrictions for developers and investors
11. Education for all
12. Promote the value and dignity of human work
13. Clean energy for everyone
14. Environmental accountability committee (EU level)
15. Prevent negative impacts of AI on employment and living standards –
16. Boundaries for responsible AI use –
17. Strengthen practical and life-long learning of democracy –
18. Harmonised EU education with practical training & intergenerational exchange
19. Harmonised tax equity & revenue redistribution –
20. Fair and sustainable EU pension system
21. Cultural and social integration of migrants
22. Local intergenerational pact
23. Linking health, environment & living conditions
24. Reform public health systems

Not harming future generations

'In a period of change and transition, the European Union aims to build on its shared history while looking ahead to a sustainable and inclusive future. To this end, we need to ensure that the decisions taken today do not harm future generations, and that there is increased solidarity and engagement between people of all different ages,' says the Citizens' Panel website.

Against this background, participants were invited to reflect on the following issues:

  • How can we bridge generational divides for the benefit of all by fostering a narrative of solidarity, mutual support and shared responsibility?
  • How can we balance the needs and interests of all age groups, including those of future generations?
  • How can we think long-term to build a fairer and more resilient society?

What was to be expected from the panel

All participants discussed their views together as citizens belonging to different generations, drawing from their rich and diverse life experiences. They looked into visions for a fairer future for all, explored possible pathways to realise those visions, and discuss ideas and actions through which to achieve the greatest impact. Eventually, the citizens were the first to review and respond to concrete policy proposals that policymakers, in collaboration with experts, were designing to promote a European Union that is fairer to all generations.

The outcome of the panel is a list of recommendations that will feed into the Strategy on Intergenerational Fairness.

Timeline

The European Citizens’ Panel on Intergenerational Fairness took place over three weekends between September and November 2025.

  1. 12-14 September

    Session 1 - Brussels

    • Introduction to the "Intergenerational Fairness" topic.  
    • Exchange of first ideas participants find most promising for this exercise.

  2. 17-19 October

    Session 2 - online

    • Stocktake of Session 1 and development of ideas by theme and topic.
    • First phase of developing recommendations.

  3. 14-16 November

    Closing Session - Brussels

    • Drawing conclusions of debates and recommendations to the European Commission.
    • Explanation of next steps – impact on policymaking.

Door to door

In June 2025, the Sortition Foundation completed the selection of participants for the mini-public. Working with local partners across the EU, they knocked on doors of citizens in 150 randomly selected locations in all EU countries.

From the initial pool of interested people, a final group of Citizens' Panel members was selected at random to represent the diversity of the EU population, taking into account gender, education, occupation and the spectrum between rural and urban areas.

Online participation

The EU wanted to hear the views of all Europeans on what a future fit for all generations could look like. How can we bring people of different ages into contact with each other and strengthen relations between older and younger generations? Interested parties could share their ideas and visions on this topic until the end of July 2025.

Learn more