23/03/2026
The European Commission’s first Strategy on Intergenerational Fairness marks an important political moment. In a context of geopolitical instability, climate urgency, and growing inequalities, it explicitly recognises that today’s choices shape the opportunities of future generations – and that the cost of inaction is simply too high. The strategy rightly highlights major long-term challenges – from demographic change to the green and digital transitions – and places intergenerational fairness within the EU’s core values. It also contributes to a broader shift towards long-term thinking in policymaking, building on global commitments such as the UN Declaration on Future Generations. However, beyond this strong narrative, the strategy struggles to deliver the level of concreteness it promises.
A familiar toolbox, rather than new solutions
Much of the strategy relies on existing instruments. Tools such as strategic foresight, the “youth check,” and participatory processes are presented as key delivery mechanisms. While useful, these are not new – and their inclusion does not, in itself, amount to a step change in how EU policymaking addresses intergenerational fairness. Similarly, many proposed actions focus on consultation and dialogue rather than structural change. Initiatives like intergenerational dialogues or awareness-raising moments risk remaining symbolic unless they are linked to decision-making power and accountability. In this sense, the strategy reflects a broader tendency in EU policymaking: strong diagnosis, careful language, but limited operational follow-through.
Where the strategy could go further
If intergenerational fairness is to become more than a guiding principle, it needs to be embedded more firmly in the EU’s legal and policy architecture. First, the strategy would benefit from greater legal clarity. It does not clearly define intergenerational fairness, nor does it anchor it as an enforceable principle within EU law or a rights-based framework. This limits its potential impact. Second, it misses a key opportunity to influence upcoming policy processes. While it refers to the Better Regulation agenda, it does not engage with its forthcoming revision – arguably one of the most concrete entry points to systematically integrate long-term considerations into EU policymaking. More broadly, intergenerational fairness remains treated as a complementary lens rather than a binding requirement across major EU instruments, from the Multiannual Financial Framework to social and climate policies.
The real test: moving from principles to practice
The Commission itself acknowledges that intergenerational fairness should not be a standalone policy, but a principle guiding all policymaking. The challenge now is to make this operational. This means aligning regulatory, fiscal, and legislative decisions with long-term commitments – particularly at a time when parallel agendas, such as deregulation efforts, risk undermining them. It also means equipping Member States with concrete tools and guidance to translate this agenda into practice. The strategy is a welcome starting point. But if the EU is serious about fairness between generations, the next step is clear: move beyond narratives and existing tools, and put forward tangible, enforceable measures that shape decisions today in the interest of tomorrow.