SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGES IN THE EUROPEAN UNION COUNTRIES Cover Image

СОЦИЈАЛНЕ ИМПЛИКАЦИЈЕ ДЕМОГРАФСКИХ ПРОМЕНА У ЗЕМЉАМА ЕВРОПСКЕ УНИЈЕ
SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGES IN THE EUROPEAN UNION COUNTRIES

Author(s): Drenka Vuković
Subject(s): Geography, Regional studies, Sociology, Demography and human biology, EU-Accession / EU-DEvelopment
Published by: Матица српска
Keywords: demographic change in the EU; aging of the population; active age; intergenerational solidarity; social inclusion;

Summary/Abstract: The process of demographic changes in European countries is characterized by greater and greater ageing of the population, as a result of the decline in the rate of natural increase and the rise in life expectancy. Europeans have less and less children, they live longer and face the problems how to ensure a safe old age. Noticed trends of change will be intensified till the middle of the new millennium (2050), when the following situation is expected: the decline in the number of children (0-14 years) for almost 20% and the active-working population (15-64), while there will be more „old persons“ (65-79) for more than 44%, and „the oldest“ persons (80 or more) for even 180%. Ageing of the population characterizes all regions, but is specially pronounced in the countries in the south and countries in transition. Faced with the challenges of the disturbances in the demographic structure, the members of the European Union (25) developed an entire spectrum of measures and activities to prevent the negative social-economic consequences. Creation of „the policy of ageing“ at the Union level develops within the co-ordination (OMC) of the process of modernization of the social security system (old-age pension insurance, health insurance, social and child protection); it also implies the creation of conditions for „the active old age“ (increase in employment and staying as long as possible on the job market), the development of „the new forms of solidarity“ between generations (as a consequence of the increase of the coefficient of dependency between active working and supported population), preventing poverty and social exclusion, etc. Strategic documents, directions and national action-plans determined the concrete measures needed to face the demographic challenges.

  • Issue Year: 2006
  • Issue No: 121
  • Page Range: 423-434
  • Page Count: 10
  • Language: Serbian