80-year-old Europeans expected to triple by 2050

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Dear Editor,

The European Parliament (EP) should officially agree with family alliances in order to tackle the unstoppable demographic decline. The European Union (EU) is seeking to address the birth plight that the old continent is suffering from.

Awareness about this family crisis and thus the urgency to increase birth rates has been raised. Various research studies predict that the number of Europeans over the age of 80 will triple by 2050. Furthermore, the German Federal Ministry of family affairs, senior citizens, women and youth and the president of the EU Social Affairs Council have asserted that active family policies play an essential role in determining effective demographic development. International studies show that the measures taken to favour an effective family policy can create an employment framework which would provide young aspiring parents with the capacity to realise family projects.

After the European Council's decision to accept the pro-family initiative, it is now up to family associations to work with determination in order to implement and make the agreed-upon goals a socio-political reality - of course, as long as funds are provided.

Moreover, the EP has enacted a communiqué urging member states to promote policies oriented towards spurring birth growth. For example, by providing financial aid to young Europeans who wish to have children, thus supporting and reconciling their family life with their work life.

Some of these family associations have already begun working from the EP. For example, the family Policy Institute has published a report on the evolution of the nuclear European family, which has become the point of reference among members of the EP.

According to the institute's annual report on the family situation, an abortion is committed every 25 seconds in the EU. Abortion is the number one cause of death in Europe. Accordingly, Europe's demographic growth is due to immigration, which has become the source of population growth in most EU countries.

Clemente Ferrer

Madrid, Spain

clementeferrer3@gmail.com