Council Conclusions of 15 July 1996 on activities with regard to demography Official Journal C 224 , 01/08/1996 P. 0009 - 0009 COUNCIL CONCLUSIONS of 15 July 1996 on activities with regard to demography (96/C 224/05) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 1. HAS DISCUSSED in depth the Commission report on the demographic situation in the European Union (1995), 2. HAS NOTED that: (a) by projecting medium and long-term scenarios, demography constitutes a valuable element for the understanding of major trends in society and their dynamic interrelationship with regard to economic growth and the social situation.
Population ageing constitutes a key factor in these trends; (b) certain activities conducted in the field at European Union level should complement activities at national level. It is appropriate, therefore, to promote scientific coordination within the Union on methodological questions in the framework of existing structures so as to ensure that results are comparable; (c) the output from these activities will provide the Commission and the Member States with an additional dimension in the process of adjustment of a number of policies within the limit of their respective powers; (d) common reflection should be developed more intensively through an exchange of information and points of view on specific themes.
Community research projects could also be initiated in the framework of existing structures. 3. REQUESTS the Commission to continue its work, within the limits of its budgetary resources, on the basis of point 2.