Summary
- The world’s population is set to peak towards the end of the century, while Europe’s population will decline over the same period.
- A smaller population size does not automatically mean a country is weaker on the world stage.
- However, shrinking and ageing populations pose a number of challenges to the EU and European states, including how to maintain the lure of the European single market and how to protect the continent from security threats.
- European policymakers should ensure they take the demographic challenge into account when making decisions around completing the single market and pursuing EU enlargement; they should regard these policies as ways to increase the bloc’s population size.
- Policymakers should also bring existing members of the population in Europe into the workforce, including women and younger and older people, and also make best use of technology in workplaces.
- The EU should prioritise stronger partnerships with countries and regions around the world that have burgeoning populations and would benefit from investment in education and technology. This could include expanded legal migration channels to bring new members of the workforce to Europe.
About the author:
Alberto Rizzi is a policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, based in the Rome office.