The Conference of European Churches (CEC) has stressed that "every phase of life has its own value" with the release of a new paper on Europe's ageing population.

A generation ago, less than three per cent of Europe's population was over 65 but the numbers are growing and by 2050, the number of over-65s across the continent could be as high as 20 per cent, with only half of the population of working age.

In response to this development, the Executive Committee of the Church and Society Commission of the CEC has adopted a position paper on "Ageing and the Care for the Elderly".

The paper, prepared by the CEC's Working Group on Bioethics and Biotechnology, asks how old age should be regarded, what status the elderly should have in society, and the best way to care for them.

As part of its answer, the paper emphasises "human dignity, based on the belief that all human beings are created in the image of God".

"We are critical of contemporary trends to value people primarily for their youth, attractiveness, health, economic productivity and independence," the Church and Society Commission states.

The paper continues: "These trends lead to the concerns expressed by the term 'ageism'. We think that all people and also our societal institutions should work to oppose these trends, and to be active in asserting that every phase of life has its own value."

The Council of Europe and the European Union have turned their attention to the reality of an ageing population and its ethical, social and health implications, as well as relation to demographic, economic and employment issues.

The European Union declared 2007 the "European Year for Equal Opportunities for All" to raise awareness among people living in the EU of their rights to equal treatment and to a live without discrimination.

Churches and church organisations are also starting to put it on their agenda.

At a conference in November, Peter Tervet, the head of Christian housing agency Pilgrim Homes, said, "The way we care for one another particularly for our older brothers and sisters in Christ, is not only a response to Scripture, but a witness to those around us in the world."

He added, "Society's values are based on Darwinian thinking that says the elderly have had their day, and the needs of younger people should be given priority. The Bible says otherwise."

The CEC Church and Society paper touches primarily on an ethical perspective of Europe's ageing population grounded in biblical reflections and Christian traditions.

In its conclusion, the paper states the need to "rediscover the interdependence between generations and to reinforce their links in many ways.

"Elderly people need the younger as the young need the elderly. Above all, we wish to underline the strength and wisdom given to elderly by their faith, as an encouragement to younger people to face the challenges of life, until the end when the time comes to learn to give up in gratefulness, peace and hope."