Treating all generations fairly

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. Based on these, the European Commission developed a strategy for intergenerational justice.

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.

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.

EU Commission strategy

On 6 March 2026, the European Commission presented its strategy for intergenerational justice. The initiative aims to ensure that today's political decisions improve opportunities for future generations. In this non-binding document, the Commission calls on EU Member States to focus their policy measures more on their long-term consequences. The aim is to ensure that future generations do not have to bear the costs of today's decisions.

To support the strategy, the Commission intends to use an AI-based tool called the ‘Futures Balance Tool’. This tool will be used to analyse the impact of new policy measures on young people. In addition, existing youth dialogues, which aim to enable young people to participate more actively in EU politics, are to be continued. The European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies is also to develop recommendations for fair AI and digital policies. Another goal of the strategy is to reduce inequalities and open up better opportunities for young people, especially those who experience discrimination.

Index for opportunities and differences between generations

According to a Eurobarometer survey from 2023, less than half of Europeans believe they have equal opportunities in life. The Commission is therefore planning to create an index to measure opportunities and differences between generations. It also wants to promote research on intergenerational justice as part of the EU's Horizon Europe research and innovation programme. There are also plans to establish dialogue formats between different generations, in particular to give young people a greater voice.

Furthermore, the strategy aims to reduce territorial inequalities. Young people in rural areas or disadvantaged neighbourhoods should have better access to public services, transport and digital infrastructure. To this end, the Commission intends to launch the ‘Voices of the Future’ initiative, which will promote dialogue with local and regional authorities on these issues.

A progress report on the implementation of the strategy is to be published in 2028.