An analytical report prepared by Asghar Zaidi and David Stanton under the joint management project by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the European Commission’s Directorate General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (DG EMPL) was launched on 16 April 2015 at an International Seminar “Building an evidence base for active ageing policies: the Active Ageing Index and its potential”. The report provides an analysis of the progress made in the period 2008 to 2012, as well as the remaining opportunities for improvement, in the four areas of active ageing – employment, social participation, independent living and capacity for active ageing – across 28 countries of the European Union.