Balancing the relation between family and work, modernizing the social “models” and developing the economy of the European Union: these are the objectives that should be achieved in the EU in future, also in relation to the demographic changes taking place in the member states. To achieve these objectives, the birthrate, the percentage of women who work and the care for the growing number of elderly people all need to be increased. The President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso and the Commissioner for work, social affairs and equal opportunities, Vladimir pidla, tackled the question at a conference held in Brussels on 11 July. Demographic changes, globalization and rapid technological innovations are among the main challenges that the EU must tackle. According to Spidla, “by 2030 there will be 21 million less people of working age, i.e. 7% of the working population in the EU. This will determine a decline in the potential growth of the Union from 2% today to 1.5% in 2015, with a further decrease to 1.25% by 2040. We must at all costs halt this trend”.
