EP: “warning signals” on EU demographic futureIt will arrive in the debating chamber in Strasbourg on 19 February, but the report on the demographic future of the EU has long been giving rise to debate at the European Parliament. Signed by the French Socialist MEP Françoise Castex, the report draws attention to far-reaching transformations in the demography of Europe, in terms of average age of the population, life expectancy, reduction of the work force and the connected loss of competitiveness of the EU economy. But these issues are connected with various others, in terms of cause and effect, such as the declining birth-rate, the changed relationship between old and new generations, the objective of reconciling domestic work with professional career, and the possible social impoverishment of the more elderly sections of the population. The data regarding the next “50 years are not irreversible predictions – insists the author of the document -, but represent warning signals of which account needs to be taken in preparing henceforth responses for the future”. Françoise Castex explains, for example, that “member states must have a serene approach to immigration”, because “we have a need for it”. “We should not maintain only an economic and quantitative approach to the phenomenon, by exclusively accepting only those immigrants for whom we feel a need”, such as carers, manual workers and nurses. “We have a need for immigration – she adds – if we are to renew ourselves”. Dubious passages, however, are not lacking in the report, such as its approbation of “birth control for women”, which is called “the result of female emancipation, and to be considered “an irreversible gain for humanity”.”Lisbon”: continuing the ratification processThe member states of the European Union that have already ratified the Reform Treaty, defined at Lisbon in October 2007 and officially signed in the Portuguese capital on 13 December, rose to four at the beginning of this week. The President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, thus welcomed the ratification of the treaty by the Parliament in Bucharest on Monday 4 February. Romania’s ratification is added to that of Hungary, Slovenia and Malta; to enter into force, however, the Lisbon Treaty needs unanimous ratification by all EU member states. Barroso spoke of “a further stage towards the objective of the entry into force” of the Treaty, planned for 1st January 2009. “I hope – added Barroso – that the other member states will rapidly follow in the footsteps of the four countries that have already approved the Treaty”. The EU has opened a special website entirely dedicated to the new basic Treaty of the Union (www.europa.eu/lisbon_treaty); it comprises an exposition of its political significance, a summary of its legal innovations, the most frequently asked questions and answers, and regular updates on the ratification process. This is followed by the relevant documentation, including the complete text of the Treaty and that of the Charter of Fundamental Rights, which now becomes binding as a result of the Lisbon Treaty; it was signed at Strasbourg on 12 December 2007. Through this website, the EU intends to provide citizens with all the necessary information on the Treaty, also with the aim of promoting a wide-ranging debate on its relevance for the future of integration. Coin to commemorate 10th anniversary of the euroTo mark the tenth anniversary of the birth of the Economic and Monetary Union and of the creation of the euro (1st January 2009), the 15 member states that currently use the single currency will issue a 2-euro commemorative coin with the same design. It will be the citizens and residents of the EU who will choose the winning design from those short-listed by the directors of the national mints in the member states in question. They will vote for their preferred coin through a special website (www.eurodesigncontest.eu). The design that obtains most votes will win. “From those who voted for the winning design – explains a press release of the Commission – a winner will be drawn and receive as a prize a series of collector’s euro coins of high value”. Those interested can vote up till 22 February 2008, while the chosen logo will be announced on 25 February. The euro became the national currency for accountancy purposes in eleven European countries at the start of 1999; euro coins and banknotes entered into circulation in 2002, while a common monetary policy was introduced under the control of the European Central Bank. The euro area was later extended to 15 nations. “The Economic and Monetary Union represents – according to the Commission – the necessary framework for the existence of the euro as such and for the reinforcement of the single market” among the 27. The task of EMU is to keep under control the rate of inflation and interest rates, “entirely to the benefit of consumers and businesses”, as well as to promote “sound and sustainable” national finances. The single currency “has eliminated the costs of currency exchange and facilitated trade and price comparisons between the 15 countries” in which it circulates.
