J. whereas the EU faces a demographic change of which the most important features are an increase in life expectancy and a decreasing fertility rate although some countries are showing signs of reversing the trend of decreasing fertility,

In fact, lower fertility together with rising life expectancy could mean that, by 2050, there will be two people of working age to support each elderly person, compared to four people today.

2. Recalls, first, that the two chief causes of demographic change – the falling birth rate and the ageing of the population – are the result of progress: increased life expectancy is the direct result of progress in science, hygiene and living standards and women's control over their reproductive lives is the result of their emancipation and goes hand-in-hand with higher levels of education for girls and women's participation in active life and public responsibilities; considers that this should be regarded as an irreversible benefit to humanity;

2. Recalls first of all that the two chief causes of demographic change – a drop in the birth rate and the ageing of the population – are the result of progress; that increased life expectancy is the direct result of progress in science, hygiene and living standards, that women’s control over their reproductive lives is the result of their emancipation and goes hand-in-hand with higher levels of education for girls and women’s participation in active life and public responsibilities; considers that this should be regarded as an irreversible benefit to humanity;

While increased fertility will not stop demographic ageing, it is important to understand the reasons for Europe's very low fertility rates.

This fall in employment expected in these scenarios with constant employment rate as of 2010 or 2020 cannot be reversed by (unexpected) increases in fertility rates, as it would take more than two decades for "new baby boomers" to reach their working age and contribute to the growth of total employment.