The “EU-Health” project, co-financed by the EU under the BUILD program, brought together experts and institutions to discuss how knowledge, nutrition, and resilience can shape a fairer and healthier European society for the aging population.
In the auditorium of the General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE), an event that transcended a conventional conference took place this week. The Union of Working Consumers of Greece (EEKE) and the Institute for Innovation and Development Studies jointly organized a discussion titled “Health Rights of the Elderly,” setting the stage for a broader dialogue about health, welfare, and active aging in Europe.
The event was part of the project “Epistemological Enrichment of European Health Rights of the Elderly (EU-Health)”, implemented by EEKE in collaboration with the Institute for Innovation and Development Studies. Its aim is to raise awareness among elderly citizens about their health rights within the European Union, improving access to healthcare services while promoting the empowerment of families and health science students to act as informed advocates.
The initiative forms part of the BUILD program (“Building a robust and democratic civic space”), co-funded by the European Union, the Bodossaki Foundation, and the NGO Support Centre Cyprus. BUILD seeks to safeguard fundamental EU rights and strengthen civil society organizations in Greece and Cyprus, fostering participation and transparency across borders.
Throughout the event, speakers presented the project’s key outcomes, emphasizing how knowledge and education can improve both the physical and mental well-being of older adults. Beyond health literacy, the discussion revealed a deeper vision: to transform awareness into agency — turning informed citizens into active participants in shaping a more equitable European health culture.
Among the distinguished speakers was Professor Panagiotis Trivellas, Director of the Laboratory of Organizational Innovation and Management Systems (ORIMAS Lab) at the Agricultural University of Athens, and Scientific Director of the THALLA Project (Thriving Agroecology Living Lab). Professor Trivellas introduced the concept of Living Labs as bridges between science, policy, and society, presenting THALLA as a pioneering case study on how participatory innovation can address food security and climate change challenges through co-created policy frameworks and community resilience models.
Associate Professor Aimilia Papakonstantinou, also from the Agricultural University of Athens and a member of the THALLA research team, focused on the nutritional needs and dietary challenges faced by the elderly. She emphasized that nutrition goes beyond biology—it represents an act of social inclusion and dignity.
Meanwhile, Dr. Anna Anastasopoulou, researcher and collaborator at ORIMAS Lab, presented a multi-layered approach to enhancing the resilience of the elderly, combining interventions at individual, organizational, and societal levels. Her analysis underlined the need for a new intergenerational framework within European societies, where well-being becomes a shared responsibility rather than an age-bound concern.
The discussions converged on a common understanding: that knowledge and awareness are the cornerstones of democracy and social resilience. Projects like EU-Health and THALLA illustrate how scientific research and civic engagement can work hand in hand to redefine aging not as decline, but as participation and empowerment.
In a continent growing older by the day, the message of the event resonated clearly: health is not a privilege, but a right that demands awareness, engagement, and collective commitment.