At the same time, the number of young people under 19 will fall by 11 per cent. Meanwhile, social security systems should be adjusted to accommodate those who care for the elderly, and the higher expenditure on health-care that follows on from an increasingly elderly population. However, on the bright side, Eurostat reports that the number of births across the EU increased slightly from 4,045,800 in 1996 to 4,061,500 in 1997. While the overall figure shows a total increase of 0.9 per cent in the EU's population, Germany, Italy and Sweden for example saw a decrease. In the wake of the BSE crisis, and of mounting concerns over food standards, MEPs this month called for radical improvements to EU Food Safety laws.
Parliament wants to see the promotion of healthy eating and better labelling.
When there are food scares, those responsible should be made to pay through the extension of product liability law to farm products. The use of antibiotics in animals should also be strictly regulated. MEPs were also critical of the Commission for dragging its feet in putting into effect new legislation providing for labelling of genetically modified foods. But securing an agreement acceptable to governments and the industry will not be easy, said Commissioner Bangemann, as there were differences of opinion on the definition of food safety. He also said EU law had to be compatible with international obligations.