Motion for a resolution | Doc. 13766 | 22 April 2015

The impact of European populations dynamics on migration policies

Signatories: Mr René ROUQUET, France, SOC ; Mr Jean-Marie BOCKEL, France, EPP/CD ; Mr António BRAGA, Portugal, SOC ; Mr Irakli CHIKOVANI, Georgia, ALDE ; Alexander [The Earl of] DUNDEE, United Kingdom, EC ; Ms Nicole DURANTON, France, EPP/CD ; Mr Claudio FAZZONE, Italy, EPP/CD ; Mr Hans Fredrik GRØVAN, Norway, EPP/CD ; Mr Tadeusz IWIŃSKI, Poland, SOC ; Ms Eva-Lena JANSSON, Sweden, SOC ; Mr Ögmundur JÓNASSON, Iceland, UEL ; Mr Zviad KVATCHANTIRADZE, Georgia, EC ; Ms Melita MULIĆ, Croatia, SOC ; Mr Killion MUNYAMA, Poland, EPP/CD ; Mr Michele NICOLETTI, Italy, SOC ; Mr Àlex SÁEZ, Spain, SOC ; Mr Ömer SELVİ, Turkey, EC ; Mr Valeri SIMEONOV, Bulgaria, EC ; Ms Petra De SUTTER, Belgium, SOC ; Mr Francesco VERDUCCI, Italy, SOC

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only those who have signed it.

Over the last number of decades, the dynamics of European population have undergone important changes directly affecting the social and economic development of Europe.

Many European counties are experiencing very low birth rates and increases in life expectancy. As a result, rapid population aging has– and will increasingly continue to have- serious impact on their economic growth, labour markets and social welfare systems.

At the same time, working-age populations continue to grow in many non-European countries which are unable to absorb them into their labour markets thus creating a high potential for migration.

Economic and demographic disparities are likely to persist in the forthcoming future and should be taken into account by policy makers in European countries. International migration and mobility constitute a challenge and an opportunity when addressing these questions.

Therefore, the Parliamentary Assembly considers that it is very important to analyse the impact of the new demographic trends on the future migration policies in Europe.

The Assembly should invite the Council of Europe member States to adopt pro-active migration policies adapting to the main tendencies of population development in their countries.