It is more a case of net migra- parallel to this phenomenon is an increase tion, and particularly the large exodus of in the average age of mothers, which in turn, young people, which has led to the popula- may lead to a larger proportion of childless tion decline of recent years in a good number women at the end of their reproductive of Central and Eastern European countries years16. [...] In light of the pandemic, ways: the lack of comprehensive studies for ageing and fertility rates, deaths could assessing the impact of the complex range continue to outnumber births; in such a sce- of family policy measures; the time lag nario, the EU’s demographic development is between policy choices and their effects on likely to depend largely on net migration. [...] the birth rate; the diverse factors influen- cing the decision to have a child (desire for A declining birth rate in the EU could have a child, stability of the couple, having a job multiple negative consequences from a and owning a home, etc.); the vast scope of social, economic and geopolitical pers- intervention for birth support policies which pective: low growth, a decrease in the extend beyo. [...] Notwithstanding its lack of core expertise in the area and factoring in the magnitude of Conclusion the collective task at hand, the ideal scenario would be for the EU to define its courses for The latest statistics published by Eurostat25 action, as it did for health in response to the illustrate a decrease in the EU’s population Covid-19 pandemic. [...] 5 The crude birth rate is the ratio of the number of live births during the year to the average population in that year.
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