Local and regional leaders warn that short-term policymaking risks undermining the prospects of younger generations, urging the EU to place greater emphasis on intergenerational fairness. This message was at the heart of an opinion adopted on 2 July during the plenary session of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR). The opinion stresses that building a fair and sustainable future is a shared responsibility across all levels of governance, with cities and regions playing a crucial role in creating inclusive and resilient communities by involving young people directly in local decision-making.
The CoR revisited recommendations from the 2022 European Year of Youth, especially those included in its opinion “The Future of Youth Policy in the EU.” Among the most notable proposals was a call for Member States to lower the voting age to 16 in local and regional elections, strengthening democratic participation and encouraging early civic engagement.
Looking ahead, the CoR calls for meaningful involvement in the forthcoming European strategy on Intergenerational Fairness. It advocates for an Interinstitutional Declaration on Intergenerational Fairness and the creation of a legal framework to protect the rights of future generations. The opinion also highlights the urgency of tackling structural socio-economic inequalities that weigh heavily on women, migrants, and people experiencing poverty. Tailored youth policies for rural and peripheral regions, improved access to social protection, and targeted support for young people not in employment, education or training (NEETs) are seen as critical for long-term sustainability.
Members further propose the development of an EU economic model that better reflects intergenerational equity. They stress the need for new indicators beyond GDP — such as the Social Progress Index — to measure sustainability and wellbeing. Reforms to pension systems, ensuring a fair balance between younger and older generations, and a sustainable, equitable tax system that accounts for the impact on young people and future taxpayers, are also highlighted as priorities.
The opinion underlines the importance of foresight in policymaking. It calls for systematic use of long-term planning tools across governance levels to ensure decisions consider their future impact. To this end, the CoR supports introducing a “youth policy test” to assess how new measures will affect younger populations now and in the years ahead.
By pushing for these reforms, the CoR makes clear that investing in younger generations is not only about fairness between age groups, but also essential to Europe’s long-term resilience, sustainability and prosperity.
