The meeting, organised by the Seniors Forum of Croatia's leading opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP) at the Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall, brought together representatives of seniors' organisations of Social Democratic parties from 15 European countries.
Participants described the policy of the European Parliament towards older people as a failure, citing decreasing pension allowances, poor medical and social welfare services and the growing practice to exclude people above the age of 50 from the labour market.
ESO Chairman Karl Blecha warned that the EU had failed to meet the announced economic targets, including those relating to care for senior citizens, their training and employment.
Blecha said that the existing discrimination against older people should be eliminated, and called for employment programmes for senior citizens. Europe cannot afford the luxury of removing people above the age of 50 from the labour market, he added.
Blecha also said that he was satisfied that the convention was being held in Croatia and expressed his full support for the country's progress to full EU membership.
The participants were also greeted by Croatian President Stjepan Mesic, SDP Chairman Ivica Racan and Zagreb Deputy Mayor Milan Bandic.