Crisis and recovery

“In recent years, both States and European Institutions have expressed increasing concern for family problems. For this reason, along with improved social sensitivity over this issue, family policies were given primary role. This view, among others, is upheld by Europe’s Economic and Social Committee on Families and demographic trends, and by the European Commission’s statement on The demographic future of Europe: transforming a challenge into an opportunity . With these words, Lola Velarde, President of the “European Network of Family Planning Institutes” (IPF) presented the report on “Families’ Evolution in Europe 2008”, issued the past few days and meant to be used as a tool by the European Parliament in view of the implementation of family planning guidelines for Member States. Decline, not counting immigrants. Data regarding families in Europe are remarkable and worrying under many aspects. The demographic trend shows that from 1980 till 2008 there was an increase of almost 40.2 million people (current population amounts to 497.2 million). However, these figures only relate to few Countries: France (+10 million – ml), Spain (+8 ml) and United Kingdom (+5 ml) alone represent 57% of the overall Continental population growth. While 84% of the growth is due to immigrants, since local population trend remains stationary and is 12 times lower than in the US. The overall number of immigrants is over 27 million: 5.5% of the European population. Without them, Countries such as Germany, Italy and Spain would register a natural decrease in the number of their inhabitants. If there were no immigrants, the Continent’s population would start decreasing already in 2013. Since 1994, US population increased four times more than the EU’s. Population ageing becomes evident when we consider age groups: those under 14 are 15.9% of the total, while those over 65 reach 17%. It’s the “upturned pyramid”, with an increasing number of old people and young people who risk disappearing. This is particularly evident in Italy and Germany, where those over 65 represent 20% of the overall population.1.2 million abortions per year. Figures regarding “birth” are equally alarming. Each year – states the Report – there are almost one million less newborn than in 1980, with a 15% drop. The Continent’s fertility rate is 1.56 children per woman, which is under the replacement threshold (2.1). While again, the US register 2.09. The situation is also critical in Slovakia (1.24), Poland (1.27), Romania (1.31), Germany (1.32), while some Countries are doing much better: France (2), Ireland (1.93), Sweden (1.85). The average age for the first maternity is increasingly higher: 29.7 . Peaks were registered in Spain (30,88), Italy (30,8) and The Netherlands (30,58). Data on abortion is impressive: in the EU27 there has been an abortion every 27 seconds, almost 1.2 million per year (precisely 1.167.775 in 2006, the equivalent of Luxembourg and Malta put together). One out of five pregnancies ends with an abortion. The most “abortionist” Countries are France (206 thousand), the United Kingdom (194 thousand) Romania (150 thousand), Italy (129 thousand), Germany (120 thousand), Spain (101 thousand). Compared to the previous decade, from 1996 to 2006 Spain doubled the number of abortions. Marriage crisis. Also marriages are undergoing “crises” in Europe 27. The birth rate dropped from 6.75 in 1980 to 4.85 in 2006. In some Countries (Bulgaria, Slovenia, Hungary) figures halved. Furthermore, in the past ten years, births out of wedlock surged, reaching 33.9%. In other words, one child out of three has parents who are not married. In some Countries those born “out” of wedlock are more than those born “in”. These are: Estonia, (58.24%), Sweden (55,47%), Bulgaria (50,79%), France (50,49%). The figures on divorce are just as bad in Europe. There is one divorce every 30 seconds, 1million 40thousand per year. Spain once again ranks first with an increase of over 290% in 10 years. Along with Belgium and Luxembourg it has the sad record of 2 nuptial ruptures every 3 marriages, whose average duration is 13 years. In short, counting the number of celebrated marriages (2.35 million) each year and the number of divorces (1.04 million), the ratio is of one divorce every two marriages. Increasingly smaller families. The number of family members is also dropping. The average number in Europe is 2.4 people, although some Countries barely reach 2. These are Germany, Denmark and Finland (2.1) and Sweden (2,2). In this way, “single” families represent 27.7% of the total, two adults with a dependant child 24.9%, 16% has one child, while in two families out of three there are no children, 13% have two children and families with more than 2 children represent only 4%. The Report presents a number of proposals based on the principle of family promotion and solidarity between generations. One of the proposals is increasing GDP quotas for families (now constituting a mean 2.1%), establishing differences between the more “generous” Countries (Denmark, Luxembourg, Germany) , allocating over 3%, and the less generous ones (Poland, Malta, Spain, Italy, Portugal) with less than 1.2%, representing almost half of the European average rate. Subsidies range from 2,353 euro per person in Luxembourg to 30 euro in Bulgaria. Most Countries allocate from 100 to 600 euro (Germany 865, France 691, Italy 272, Portugal 168) with discriminations affecting similarly “large” families in different Countries. According to statistics, there is an evident link between direct contribution to families and the increase in the number of children: France, Ireland and Luxembourg allocate relevant sums and register a remarkable birth rate increase. On the contrary, subsidies in Spain, Poland and Italy are very low, corresponding to a drop in the birth rate. Family support proposals. The Report highlights the need to increase tools in support of families and birth rate such as “maternity leaves”, social expenses against the risk of child poverty, services to counter family conflicts and transforming families into a “political priority”. It is suggested to “recognize and promote family rights in all environments”, especially as relates to child care and education; to “promote harmonious national family policies”; to “step up equal opportunities between European Families” without discriminating over the number of children, income, or other factors”. The basic approach should be “helping parents have how many children they wish”, enabling them face their daily duties. For this purpose, specific budget for family policies is needed, and a “Green Book” on families in Europe was suggested so as to provide adequate solutions to the current crises. The document proposes to establish an equal GDP quota in each Country and promote harmonisation within the next five years. These include VAT reduction on basic products for children, Income Tax deduction of education-related expenses (school, text-books, etc.) along with measures benefiting those who assist old, sick or handicapped people in their homes.Families, communities of love. The European Network President Lola Velarde, wrote: before the mounting social, demographic and economic difficulties, families represent a precious potential to curb the tragic effects of problems such as unemployment, diseases, drug-addictions or marginalisation”. From this acknowledgement she drew a guideline, which should lie at the basis of the Continent’s family policies: “The family therefore represents the first nucleus of solidarity within societies. It isn’t only a legal, social and economic unit. Families are much more, since they are firstly communities of love”. Therefore, she concluded, “in order to enable European families to continue having this irreplaceable role, the different social bodies, institutions and organizations must support them, while Member States must include the family dimension in their social and economic policies”.