Demographic challenges for social cohesion was the theme of a conference organised by the Council of Europe’s Population Committee, Parliamentary Assembly and Congress of Local and Regional Authorities in Strasbourg on 7 and 8 April 2005.
The population of Europe is likely to contract by between 13 and 22% by 2050 in comparison with 1995 figures says the Council of Europe.
An optimistic scenario states that the 1995 population level of 728 million people in Europe (excluding Turkey, the Caucasus countries and Cyprus) would drop to 632 million by 2050, (-13%) , if fertility levels rise from 1.42 to 1.85 children.
If fertility levels stay the same or decline the European population may fall to 564 million (-22%) graphic studies on those undertaken by the UN.
"Over the next few years the European population will continue to increase slightly but then it will start to decline and towards 2010-2015 we will face serious problems notably in terms of financing retirement pensions," emphasised Charlotte Höhn, president of the European Committee on Population during a press conference.
The aim of the conference was to involve political decision-makers in discussions on the impact of demographic changes - such as the changing nature of family groups, the ageing of the population and migration - on social cohesion.
More than 300 representatives from the Council of Europe’s 46 member states, from 4 of its 5 observer states (Canada, the Vatican, Mexico and the USA), and from Belarus, Algeria, India and Tunisia took part in the discussions.
