Commission looks at bright side of demographic change

At the forum, Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities Commissioner Vladimír Špidla pointed out that African leaders who are facing the opposite problems are envious of Europe's demographic situation. He said that, in particular with respect to Europe's high and steadily growing life expectancy, the situation reflected medical progress made in Europe in past decades. Špidla said that demographic change was an opportunity just as much as it was a challenge, adding that in order to reap possible benefits, societal changes must take place within the next ten years. 

The Finnish Minister for Social Affairs, Tuula Haatainen, picked up Špidla's argument, arguing that the ageing population was a proof that the European social model works. She pointed, however, to the need for reform, pointing out workplace flexicurity as the most promising approach for meeting the key challenges. Haatainen reminded member states of their pledge, under the Barcelona strategy, to provide childcare for one third of children aged less than three years and for 90% of children aged three to six years. 

Ursula von der Leyen, the German minister for families, senior citizens, women and youth and herself a mother of seven, agreed that being able to reconcile family life and work were crucial for bringing Europe's birth rates up. She saw particular problems for young women still doing their studies and presented a number of projects that her country's government has launched, such as parental benefits of up to 65% of the last net income, establishing a network of family-friendly enterprises, and so-called multi-generation houses, as a modernised form of the extended family. Von der Leyen also announced a "European Alliance for Families" to be established under the German Presidency during the first half of 2007.