Member countries of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe continued the implementation of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing and its Regional Implementation Strategy in the context of the Working Group on Ageing.

The Bureau of the Working Group met on 24 and 25 March in Madrid to review progress made in implementing the current programme of work and to plan further steps to be taken in the following eight months. The Bureau also acted as Bureau of the Preparatory Committee of the upcoming Ministerial Conference on Ageing in September 2012. The meeting was hosted by the Ministry of Health, Social Policy and Equity (IMSERSO) of Spain.