Text tabled : A7-0350/2011

  Jean-Luc Bennahmias (ALDE), in writing. – (FR) Demographic change in the European Union is a fact today. Europe’s population is ageing and it has the lowest population growth rate in the world. Handling this change is an issue of varying importance in our regions, depending on their demographic growth and their migratory pull. This own-initiative report puts forward numerous proposals for responding to the differing expectations of our regions in terms of services, infrastructures and social policy in this context of demographic change. It is essential to support the efforts already under way to ensure the adequate, universal provision of high-quality basic services of general interest. The future cohesion policy must therefore play its key role through better coordination of the European Structural Funds.

In order to stem the negative impact of demographic change, Europe will need labour immigration, especially highly qualified labour. The Member States must recognise that the integration of migrants is a strategically important policy measure which must be integrated into the future cohesion policy. Ageing and immigration, as highlighted by this quality report, must become opportunities for the Europe of tomorrow.