Work of the Second European Population Conference (Strasbourg, 31 August - 7 September 1971)
- Author(s):
- Parliamentary Assembly
- Origin
- Assembly debate on 15 May 1972 (2nd Sitting) (see Doc. 3121, report of the Committee on Population and Refugees). Text adopted by the Assembly on 15 May 1972 (2nd Sitting).
The Assembly,
1. Recalling its
Opinion No. 47 (1967) on the outcome of the first European Population Conference held in 1966, in which it had welcomed the decision taken by the Committee of Ministers to organise a second such conference, and expressing satisfaction with the valuable opportunity given by this second conference for a dialogue between experts, parliamentarians and representatives of governmental authorities ;
2. Considering that the conference, which was instructed by the Committee of Ministers to devote special attention to certain economic and social implications of the general population trends discussed at the first conference, has successfully accomplished this mission ;
3. Noting that governments are required, now more than ever to take account of demographic factors when elaborating their social and economic policies, especially those of long term ;
4. Welcoming in this connection the increasing importance attributed at the national level to demography, as emphasised by several Ministers attending the conference, and as shown by the recent or planned creation of demographic institutes in several European States ;
5. Noting that there are many striking similarities between the trends characterising the various populations of Europe, and believing that these facts and their implications call for special attention in view of the present process towards closer economic and social co-operation between European countries ;
6. Considering, however, that the study of these trends should not be confined to the member States of the Council of Europe, but should be extended to the whole of Europe in its geographical scope ;
7. Conscious of the useful work which is being performed by the United Nations' Economic Commission for Europe on population statistics and fertility surveys, by the World Health Organisation on certain aspects of mortality and morbidity, and by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development on the movement of manpower ;
8. Noting however that this work is of an essentially technical nature, while the Council of Europe, which has both the machinery for intergovernmental action and a parliamentary Assembly, is able to play a useful role in promoting co-operation between demographic research workersand politicians, and in ensuring that the scientific results achieved by the experts are given real political and administrative effect,
9. Expresses its support for the recommendations adopted by the conference ;
10. Is of the opinion that :
10.1 Governments should devote special attention to the social and economic implications described in Recommendations Nos. 1 (ageing), 2 (fertility trends) and 9 (differential mortality and morbidity) ;
10.2 Relevant recommendations should be transmitted for action or for information :
a to national statistical offices and demographic institutions,
b to the international organisations concerned with demography (UN, WHO, UNESCO, European Communities, OECD),
c to specialised bodies of the Council of Europe (European Public Health Committee, Governmental Social Committee, Advisory Committee to the Special Representative for National Refugees and Over-Population, European Conference of Local Authorities),
d to the competent international non-governmental organisations (International Union for the Scientific Study of Population, European Centre for Population Studies, European Centre for Coordination of Research and Documentation in Social Sciences) ;
10.3 Its own committees should take note of the recommendations of interest to them (see Order No. 324) ;
10.4 The Permanent Committee of Demographic Experts proposed in
Recommendation No. 10 of the conference, and supported by the Assembly in its
Recommendation 657 (1972), should have :
a on its programme the following items of urgent importance :
10.4.1.1 economic and social implications of prolonging active life beyond the traditional retirement age ;
10.4.1.2 the implications of certain major causes of mortality ;
10.4.1.3 the long-term social and economic consequences of a stationary population ;
10.4.1.4 means of improving and co-ordinating demographic research throughout Europe, and of establishing a permanent and effective dialogue between experts, parliamentarians and government officials ;
10.4.1.5 as members :
10.4.1.5.1 experts appointed by member governments,
10.4.1.5.2 a delegation of the Consultative Assembly,
10.4.1.5.3 consultant experts from non-member countries,
10.4.1.5.4 representatives of intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations concerned with population matters ;
b as special assignments :
10.4.2.1 the preparation of a third European Population Conference at an appropriate time, as well as smaller seminars ;
10.4.2.2 a study of the feasibility of creating a European Demographic Institute, to allow demographers from all over Europe to pool their experience and knowledge in joint projects of scientific and political interest, and also to promote, guide, and co-ordinate demographic research in Europe.
