The Intergenerational Governance Matrix
A framework to guide EU governments' efforts to institutionalise intergenerational fairness
The first ever EU Strategy on Intergenerational Fairness, adopted in March 2026, aims to ensure that current and future generations can live in a clean, prosperous and fair world and that long-term thinking is better embedded in EU policymaking. The implementation of this strategy is the next big step for both the EU and national governments.
ZOE Institute’s Intergenerational Governance Matrix is designed as a starting point for assessing governments’ progress in institutionalising and implementing intergenerational fairness. The goal is that it can support governments in translating broad political commitments into practical, long-term approaches — and help them identify priorities for the future implementation of the EU’s Strategy.
The matrix will be used by ZOE Institute to examine the practices of EU Member States in a series of policy briefs for national governments — including Ireland, Lithuania, Germany, Denmark, and Greece.
