aria Petkova, Director of Tulip Foundation, took part in a thematic seminar on Age-Friendly labour markets and social protection systems, organized by AGE Platform Europe in partnership with the Committee of Regions on 15 March in Brussels. The purpose of this first seminar of a series of initiatives was to raise questions and collect recommendations from a panel of key stakeholders – European commission, national governments, business representatives, trade unions, academics, nongovernmental organisations. The seminar took place in the frame of the European Year of Active Ageing and Solidarity between generations - 2012.

Arnoldas Abramavicius, Committee of the Regions’ Commission for Economic and Social Policy; Klaus Dauderstädt, (DE), President of CESI Social Affairs Committee and President of the German Social Security Trade Union; Brenda Gietema, (NL) Dutch Ministry of Employment and Social Affairs, and Coordinator of the ESF Age Network; Henri Lourdelle, European Trade Union Confederation, Policy Advisor on Social Protection; Florence Descamps (FR), ADECCO interim agency, in charge of age management issues; Ralf Jacob, Head of Unit Active Ageing, Pensions, Healthcare, European Commission Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion; Frido Kraanen (NL), Director Cooperative, PGGM, Sustainability (CSR); Eva Maria Welskop-Deffaa, (DE) Head of Department for Gender Equality/Equal Opportunities in the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, Chair of the Management Board of the European Institute for Gender Equality as well as experts from AGE Europe Platform took part of the seminar.

Two more seminars will be organised during the year which will focus on the impact of the crisis on older people and the creation of Age-Friendly EU by 2020.