“The ageing of large sections of the population challenges the social contract between generations, with the need to protect the greater frailties of the elderly without mortifying the aspirations of the young,” said Mattarella.
“More and more targeted instruments are needed to support people during their entire life span, starting from healthcare services,” he continued.
“This is a responsibility of the public sector that cannot be shirked, while intervention and dialogue with the private sector continue to be valuable in consideration of the principle of subsidiarity enshrined in Article 118 of the Constitution, in the pursuit of activities of general interest,” said Matterella.
“The need for social protection is universal in nature and its full achievement is a determining aspect in the implementation of the model of coexistence outlined by the Constitution,” he continued.
Mattarella said the challenges facing Italy in this respect are “common to the entire European Union” and insisted on the need to “fight against inequalities and to favour inclusion, also from the employment point of view,” in order to respond to the “essential needs of the population”.
ANSA
