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Very opportunely, the Manuel António da Mota Foundation, in partnership with TSF, decided to attribute an annual prize that intends to distinguish the solidarity institutions which, through their work on behalf of the less favoured, deserve public recognition and the indispensable aid to pursue their mission.

This is a fair example of how it is possible to materialize the idea of companies’ social responsibility. Any company’s mission is, prior to anything else, to create wealth and through it create employment. However, its responsibility towards society goes much further than this central mission. It is the conscience and the ethics of this increased responsibility that I wish to emphasize and extol here.

Companies that join the community initiative of the European Year of Active Ageing and Solidarity Between Generations, resume one of the themes that, in due time, I had the opportunity to approach and to launch in a public debate.

Happily, the challenge which I then launched is now beginning to be answered by the scientific community, by the solidarity institutions, by responsible politicians and by a portion of public opinion.

With the increase in life expectancy and the added value of knowledge and experience, it is essential to rethink ageing and precocious inactivity. But it is also indispensable to reflect upon the less positive consequences of prolonged ageing in situations of chronic disease, isolation and social exclusion.

I congratulate the Manuel António da Mota Foundation for this initiative and express public recognition to the solidarity institutions for their contribution to lessen the suffering of so many thousands of Portuguese.

Portugal requires your dedication, your experience and your creativity for us to find the best course for the Country which, going through one of the worst crises in its history, cannot lose hope or give up solidarity.