Confronting demographic change: a new solidarity between the generations. Green Paper

Summary:

Europe is today facing unprecedented demographic change. In 2003, the natural population increase in Europe was just 0.04 % per annum; the new Member States, with the exception of Cyprus and Malta, all saw falling populations. In many countries, immigration has become vital to ensure population growth. The fertility rate everywhere is below the threshold needed to renew the population (around 2.1 children per woman), and has even fallen below 1.5 children per woman in many Member States.

Europeans would like to have more children. But they are discouraged from doing so by all kinds of problems that limit their freedom of choice, including difficulties in finding housing.

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