Problems raised by population trends in Europe

Recommendation 381 (1964)

Author(s):

Parliamentary Assembly

Origin

Assembly debate on 16th January 1964 (22nd Sitting) (see Doc. 1689, report of the Committee on Population and Refugees). Text adopted by the Assembly on 16th January 1964 (22nd Sitting).

Thesaurus

The Assembly,

Having examined the report on population trends in Europe (Doc. 1689) presented by the Committee on Population and Refugees;

Having regard to the probable future trends of population in the world, and in particular in Europe where the present movement is towards a general aging of the population and a relative decrease in the labour force;

Having regard to the political, economic, social and cultural problems raised in European countries by population trends and to the solutions which have been or may be contemplated;

Having regard to the new demographic revolution which, as a result largely of the advance of medical science, is beginning to take shape in European countries, and which is likely to have profound repercussions on present economic and social structures;

Considering the advantage to be gained if a thorough study of these problems were to be undertaken jointly by qualified representatives of Governments and specialised institutes,

Recommends that the Committee of Ministers:

1. Proclaim the year 1966 a "European Population Year";

2. Convene, within the framework of the Council of Europe, a "European Population Conference" with the following terms of reference:

a to examine the problems of every kind raised by population trends in Europe and the proposed remedies;

b to draw up a plan of research into these problems, dividing the work to be done among countries participating in the Conference and their specialised institutes;

c to suggest means of implementing a European population policy;

d in agreement with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, to put forward any practical suggestions for synchronising population censuses in member countries of the Council of Europe and standardising the definitions in general use for such surveys;

3. Invite to attend this Conference:

a governmental and independent experts from the member countries of the Council of Europe;

b representatives of countries not Members of the Council of Europe interested in the work of the Conference;

c representatives of the intergovernmental organisations concerned (United Nations, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, International Labour Office, European Economic Community, International Union for the Scientific Study of Population, etc.);

d representatives of the international non-governmental organisations interested, including employers' and employees' organisations;

e specialised press correspondents;

f a delegation from the Consultative Assembly;

4. Convene this Conference in Strasbourg, at the headquarters of the Council of Europe, in the spring of 1965, before the World Population Congress to be held in Belgrade in August 1965;

5. Submit to the Assembly, for an opinion, the record of the Conference proceedings and any texts adopted before their transmission to the Governments or to certain specialised institutions.