Budapest Demographic Summit gets under way

The state secretary for family and youth affairs emphasised the importance of addressing the issue of demography, opening a two-day international demographic summit in Budapest on Thursday.

“The responses we give to demographic challenges will determine our future from a cultural, economic and social point of view,” Katalin Novák said.

“Demography in 2019 is not just one of the many issues to be addressed, it is the most important common issue for us,” she said.

Europe has become a continent of “empty cradles”, while several countries in other continents such as Africa and Asia are facing challenges posed by overpopulation, she added.

Participants at the Budapest summit will discuss possible responses to the demographic challenges and share their experiences, said Novák.

Addressing the summit, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic called it important that demographic changes were being addressed as one of today’s top challenges and an issue that calls for immediate action.