The ageing of the EU’s population is increasing: the number of over-60s increases by 2 million a year, and this phenomenon will continue for at least 25 years. In the meantime, household composition is changing, while birth rates are decreasing. The average age of women at marriage within the 27-EU has risen in the last 15 years from 24.8 to 27.4 years of age, while for men it has risen from 27.5 to 29.8 years of age, with substantial differences from one country to another. These are some of the figures that are shown by the EU Population Report, presented at the second European Forum on Demographics that is going on in Brussels. The conference, which is promoted by the EU Commission and which is attended by experts, politicians, civilians, hosts six workshops on specific issues, such as ageing, family policies, work and family life. The Report (published in English on http://www.ec.europa.eu/demographyforum) acknowledges that "the divorce rate has progressively risen since 1970" and even doubled in some countries. At the same time, "unmarried couples have become the norm" in the EU, and a large number of children "are born out of wedlock".
