Growth thanks to immigrants

Immigration is the basis of European population increase, in the midst of aging society, higher life-expectancy rates and no children. European households are becoming more solitary (with an average of 2.5 family members), coupled with escalating divorces and abortions, and marked by plummeting marriage rates. The Institut de Politica Familiar, a Spain-based private demographic body with branches abroad, provided a gloomy snapshot of EU population trends. A survey on European scale. These are “worrying figures”, “tracing a situation that grew worse over the past thirty years”. Eduardo Hertfelder, President of the Institute for Family Policies (IPF) commented on the report on the ‘Evolution of the Family in Europe 2009’, presented in the seat of the European Parliament. The issue was raised right into “the heart of Europe” where “much can be done” for the family. The survey (posted in English, French and Spanish on the website www.ipfe.org) highlights, with figures relating to the past year and data referring to the past three decades, “the average EU citizens’ age increase” and the “birth deficit” while delving into the case of single countries that enacted pro-maternity measures in promoting maternity, balance between family and working life, and “family-tailored” budgetary provisions. Demographic winter. IPF President said Europe is experiencing a “demographic winter” and asked European States and the EU to adopt measures ranging from individual rights to tax-cuts, from budgetary policies to the stepping up of services for couples with children. “In 500-million citizen Europe, those who are older than 65 outnumber children who are less than 14”. Figures confirm “higher life-expectancy” and decreasing birth rates. “776 thousand less children are born in the EU as compared to 30 years ago” Hertfelder said, representing a 12.5% fall. “It must also be noted that one every 3 children is born outside wedlock”. According to the report, women are having their first – and often only – child at almost 30, while “over one million 200 thousand abortions are practiced each year, namely one every 25 seconds”. Moreover, the IPF report states, there is a collapse in marriages and “surging divorce rates, amounting to over one million per year”. Political priority. “If this demographic and social trend were to continue, the consequences of the demographic winter would be catastrophic”. The 2009 IPF Report envisions the possible future developments on the basis of the collected data. Accordingly, “In 2010 the EU27 population will begin to fall from 499 million to 472 million in 2050 representing a decrease of 27.3 million inhabitants”. In the same year, “one in three inhabitants will be over 65 years”, undermining labor market performance, along with social security, health and education systems in EU-27. However, Eduardo Hertfelder said, the trend could change “with the adoption of appropriate family policies”. Thus “the family ought to become a political priority” across all Member States, incorporating into European directives family-oriented measures. Lower taxes, more homes. IPF urges EU Member states to set up a minister for the family. The IPF report equally proposes to draw up a “green paper” which analyses the problems faced by the Family along with their causes and consequence; to hold a council of ministers dealing with the family once a year; to implement “public-awareness campaigns”; to introduce tax-cuts for large families, to allocate benefits to couples in need, to increase childhood care facilities. IPF calls for a greater involvement of local bodies and civil society in “the promotion and protection of the family institution”. IPF: research and public opinion“When we speak of the family we’re speaking of life”, namely, the transmission of values, education, solidarity across generations and social stability. The Family Policy Institution reiterated its strongholds in its capacities as an “independent civil body that has no bonds with the public administration, nor with political parties or religious organizations”. IPF performs its commitment across Europe (with offices in Spain, France, Hungary and Norway), in Latin America (in Mexico, Argentina, Colombia). It was established upon “the initiative of a group of people convinced of the void in the area of family promotion and defense before the public opinion and public powers”.