Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-000310/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Mathilde Androuët (PfE)
In a written question[1], we highlighted the need for an ambitious family policy to enable Europe’s population to recover, as advocated by the European Economic and Social Council as far back as 2007. In his answer, former Commissioner Mr Schmit stated that ‘having children is a matter of individual choice’ and that ‘the Commission supports Member States in creating favourable social and economic conditions’, also referring to the use of ‘migration’[2]. These are all ‘tools’ in the demography toolbox mentioned by Ms von der Leyen in her State of the Union address[3] and political guidelines for 2024-2029. The Commission is expected to make a statement on this issue in the near future[4].
- 1.Having children is indeed a personal choice, but why should it not be supported by an established European pro-birth policy? Why is the Commission refusing to use this term?
- 2.Eurostat does not provide specific aggregated data on the proportion of children born in the EU to non-EU parents. Would the Commission consider it useful for us to have access to this benchmarking tool?
Submitted: 23.1.2025
- [1] E-001728/2024.
- [2] E-001728/2024(ASW).
- [3] 2023 State of the Union address by President Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission, 13 September 2023. Europe’s Choice – Political Guidelines for the next European Commission 2024-2029, 18 July 2024.
- [4] Commission’s priorities, 18 July 2024, https://commission.europa.eu/priorities-2024-2029_en.