The findings of the Commission’s Demography Report show that there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Policymaking needs to zoom into the reality on the ground. The European Union, Member States and regions have a shared interest in responding to demographic change for the benefit of all Europeans. Demographic change will affect everybody and must be a factor that helps steer Europe’s recovery from the crisis and provide us with insights as we build a more resilient, sustainable and fair Union.

Ensuring effective access to quality early childhood education and care for all children remains a challenge, especially for those from disadvantaged backgrounds. This policy memo helps policymakers better understand this issue and suggests some possible solutions.

Demography matters. The economy, labour market, healthcare, pensions, regional development, and election results – all are driven by demography. EU Member States have their own strategies and policies in order to counteract demographic decline. The EU also has an auxiliary role when it comes to tackling demographic challenges. Nevertheless, the EU has limited legal powers when it comes to dealing with issues that are related to demography.

Disease outbreaks affect women and men differently, and pandemics make existing inequalities for women and girls and discrimination of other marginalized groups such as persons with disabilities and those in extreme poverty, worse. This needs to be considered, given the different impacts surrounding detection and access to treatment for women and men.

This new policy brief from United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) discusses the need for countries in the region to address the potential disadvantages women may face due to population ageing. Gender- and age-responsive reforms must consider the multiple dimensions of gender inequality manifest in ageing societies.