Solutions to the consequences of the ageing of the European population

Question for written answer  E-000540/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
Julie Lechanteux (ID)

On Wednesday, 27 January 2021, the Commission presented its Green Paper on Ageing[1], which focuses on the challenges and opportunities inherent in an ageing European society, and on the results of a 12-week public consultation.

In order to compensate for a reduction in the working age population, the Commission believes that the solution is to be found in more immigration, despite ever-increasing unemployment rates in Europe: according to Eurostat, in November 2020 there were 15.93 million unemployed people in the EU. That is an increase of 1.795 million since November 2019.

The Commission seems to believe that immigration would offer an endless source of talent: ‘As a follow-up to the New Pact on Migration and Asylum, the Commission (...) will propose a number of measures including a “talent and skills” package with options for developing an EU talent pool’.

Does the Commission not believe that the solutions to the consequences of ageing would be better sought in policies to support birth rates, reduce unemployment, promote economic recovery and immediately halt all migratory flows?

• [1] https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/1_fr_act_part1_v8_0.pdf