Allianz: Dealing successfully with demographic change

Politicians, business experts and academics in discussion at the 2nd Berlin Demography Forum

Berlin, 15-1-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — The second Berlin Demography Forum, which is taking place today and tomorrow at the ESMT European School of Management and Technology, focuses on issues relating to “Generations – Learning – Prosperity”. How can solidarity between the generations be strengthened and which strategic adaptations are necessary to preserve and foster social and personal prosperity? These are among the questions that national and international experts from the areas of politics, industry, academia and civil society will be debating at the Berlin Demography Forum. The aim is to arrive at concrete recommendations for action. Among the participants are the Federal Minister for Family Affairs, Dr. Kristina Schröder, Yves Leterme, Deputy Secretary-General of the OECD, Prof. Bert Rürup, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the DIW (German Institute for Economic Research), the French Minister for Health and Family Affairs, Dominique Bertinotti, and Professor Elsa Fornero, Italian Minister for Labor, Social Policy and Equality.

Michael Diekmann, CEO of Allianz, opened the Berlin Demography Forum today by issuing a clear challenge to politicians: “Just like climate change, the issue of demography must become a permanent focus of international and national political debate. We need to act now. As with climate change, waiting will only make things more painful.”

In her keynote speech Dr. Kristina Schröder, German Minister for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, emphasized the importance of cross-generational exchange: “We tend to attribute the wealth of ideas, the creativity and the courage that are necessary to bring about social change primarily to the younger generation. However, social progress depends on both the experience of the old and the pioneering spirit of the young. This is exactly what the 2nd Berlin Demography Forum is all about: the participation of old and young, life-long learning from early childhood through to old age, and prosperity through innovation on the one hand and passing on experience on the other. Families provide the stable core of our society. It is within families that people find support, protection and backing that extends well beyond the capabilities of the state solidarity system. At the same time, demographic change is changing the relationship between women and men in partnerships and within the family. The German government is using its demographic strategy to take account of this.”

On today’s agenda there is also the keynote speech of Yves Leterme, Deputy Secretary-General of the OECD, the “Young Expert Panel” where young academics will hold discussions with representatives of the 80+ generation, and the international panel “Demographic change as global challenge”. In addition, in the “Berlin impulse” panel six academics will set out propositions that will subsequently be commented on by politicians Sabine Bätzing-Lichtenthäler (member of the German Parliament, SPD), Dr. Heinrich Kolb (member of the German Parliament/deputy chair of the FDP), Bettina Jarasch (Berlin chairperson Bündnis 90/Die Grünen) and Erwin Huber (member of the State Parliament of Bavaria, former Bavarian Minister of State, CSU).

On Thursday, the participants will be able to attend the executive panel “European Demography”, where the Italian Minister for Labor, Social Policy and Equality, Professor Elsa Fornero, the French Minister for Health and Family Affairs, Domnique Bertinotti, and the Polish Deputy Minister for Labor and Social Affairs, Radoslaw Mleczko, will take part alongside Cornelia Rogall-Grothe, State Secretary in the Ministry for the Interior (Berlin).

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Allianz CEO Michael Diekmann: “Just like climate change, the issue of demography must become a permanent focus of international and national political debate.”

German Minister for Family Affairs Dr. Kristina Schröder: “Social progress depends on both the experience of the old and the pioneering spirit of the young.”

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