General States of Birth

Demographic imbalance is a reality in all European countries: no country in the European Union has reached the replacement threshold of 2.1 children per woman.

What determinants can explain this “demographic winter” in Europe?

At the individual level, what are the obstacles encountered by European families in their desire for children?

These questions were brought to the first Estates General in Italy in May 2021, opened by Pope Francis and the President of the Council Mario Draghi. The ambition of this event was to contribute to raising awareness of the demographic winter within the European Union, and of the need to develop ambitious family policies.

On the French side, the question of the birth rate has long been a subject of satisfaction thanks to a cause of a fertility rate higher than the European average. But since 2020 France has only had a rate of 1.83 children per woman, joining all European countries in a demographic winter and an aging population.

The French, however, still want as many children: 2.39 children is the average number desired. One in two families would therefore have one more child if each couple had the capacity to accommodate the number of children they wanted.

Obstacles to the birth rate are at all levels: individual, within companies, economic, social, cultural and even political.

What public policies can reduce the European intergenerational imbalance?

How to support European families in their desire for children?

The Catholic Family Associations (AFC) and the Federation of AFC in Europe (FAFCE) are committed to thinking about a Europe in favor of families. This symposium aims to bring together the diversity of actors in our societies, from political decision-makers to demographers, philosophers, entrepreneurs, members of civil society and representatives of civil society. Discuss together to contribute to a clearer awareness of the demographic winter that Europe and France are experiencing, diagnose the brakes, discern solutions and reaffirm with hope that the family remains the solution for the future of our continent.