2025-10-14 20:44
publication
2025-10-14 20:44
EU financial mechanisms must be included in the process of demographic transformation, and cohesion policy will play a key role in preventing the depopulation of regions. These are the conclusions of the debate that took place in Brussels at the European Committee of the Regions as part of the European Week of Regions and Cities.
One of the key challenges for Europe, apart from security and energy issues, is demography. As emphasized during the debate, the depopulation of communities contributes to the disappearance of European identity.
In addition to the depopulation of rural areas and the dramatically low fertility rate, attention was also drawn to the problem of local economic crises.
“European finances must be included in the demographic transformation. Cohesion policy must be controlled by the regions, because it can significantly contribute to the fight against the demographic crisis.” said Raquel García Gonzalez, member of the European Committee of the Regions and director general for European affairs of the government of the Principality of Asturias, an autonomous community in Spain.
How to prevent depopulation?
The debate referred to the package of opinions on the impact of cohesion policy on demography, which were adopted in November 2024 by the Council of the European Union. At the same time, the European Committee of the Regions adopted an opinion on the use of the regions' potential when it comes to approaching demographic change.
“When talking about the challenges that demographics bring today, we cannot ignore coherence,” added García Gonzalez.
The key challenges include aging of societies, depopulation of extreme areas, e.g. mountains and rural areas, as well as insufficient regional financing. The role of depopulating regions in the security of individual countries was also emphasized.
The Polish point of view on the issue of demographic changes was presented during the debate by the Marshal of the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, Piotr Całbecki, who emphasized that demography is the basis of the future of Europe.
“Both the cohesion policy and the common agricultural policy do not respond to the challenges we face. There are clear depopulation trends in Europe. In the coming years, we will observe depopulation, despite the incoming migrants. This means the exclusion of entire groups of people previously living on our continent,” Całbecki said.
Poland is the fastest depopulating country
According to the data cited by the Marshal, Poland is the fastest depopulating country on the continent. According to forecasts, if the current trend continues, there will be 10 million fewer Poles in 2060.
“The centralization of capital is sucking in Polish residents in Warsaw and the Tricity. We are also observing a change in mentality – young people are postponing starting families because they are afraid of their future. If we do not create a perspective of security for young people to start a family, our efforts to change the trend will be in vain,” Całbecki added.
Members of the European Committee of the Regions agree that financial instruments should be created to keep young people in their hometowns. In their opinion, greater competences to create population policy should be transferred to the regions. Giving greater autonomy in the management of population programs to local administrations was also considered worthy of consideration at the European forum. (PAP)
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