Bridging generations: discover how EU-funded projects are advancing intergenerational fairness

The European Commission has launched a first-of-its-kind strategy on intergenerational fairness, establishing a framework to ensure that today's policy decisions do not disadvantage future generations while strengthening solidarity across age groups. Introduced by Commissioner Glenn Micallef in March 2026, the strategy presents an intergenerational fairness contract built on fair policy making, fair opportunities and fair places and proposes to mainstream intergenerational fairness across EU policies. 

Among the initiatives aligned with this agenda are four HaDEA-managed projects that exemplify how research and innovation can build intergenerational resilience. 

SERENA addresses a critical yet often overlooked dimension of intergenerational fairness: protecting vulnerable children. This Horizon Europe project works to improve access to health and social care services for children who have experienced maltreatment, including physical, sexual and psychological abuse. By identifying barriers to care and developing EU-level recommendations, SERENA aims to reduce the long-term consequences of abuse on victims, families and society.  

WELL CARE, funded under Horizon Europe, supports the mental health and wellbeing of informal carers and long-term care workers who support older adults and people with chronic conditions. Through transdisciplinary collaboration involving carers, researchers and NGOs, WELL CARE develops evidence-based support measures, strengthens care partnerships and promotes good practices across Europe.  

TRACTION demonstrates how cultural heritage can become a vehicle for social inclusion across generations. This Horizon 2020 project uses opera as a path for radical social transformation, working with marginalised groups, such as migrants, rural communities and young offenders, to co-create new artistic works that matter in this day and age.  

4P-CAN, funded under Horizon Europe, tackles cancer prevention through personalised approaches that engage citizens. Bringing together 17 organisations from 11 countries, the project focuses on modifiable risk factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity and environmental pollution. In two regional living labs in Romania and Bulgaria, set up by 4P-CAN, citizens can share their attitudes, perceptions and behaviours related to cancer prevention and a healthy lifestyle. This will ultimately increase risk-factor awareness and promote behaviour change.  

Together, these projects demonstrate how the EU’s health portfolio underlines intergenerational fairness, from protecting children's wellbeing to supporting caregivers, bridging social divides through technology and preventing disease across populations. 

Relevant links

Strategy on intergenerational fairness

European research and innovation for intergenerational fairness

Background   

Horizon Europe is the research and innovation programme of the EU for the period 2021-2027. The aims of Cluster 1 ‘Health’ include improving and protecting the health and well-being of citizens of all ages by generating new knowledge, developing innovative solutions and integrating where relevant a gender perspective to prevent, diagnose, monitor, treat and cure diseases.  Horizon 2020 was the predecessor of Horizon Europe, and it ran from 2014 to 2020. HaDEA manages the legacy Horizon 2020 projects to ensure the completion of this framework programme and supports the auditing process of the finished projects.