Regional patterns and policy approaches
The EU is experiencing significant demographic transformations, including population decline, ageing, and uneven migration trends, with rural and remote regions facing the greatest challenges. This report provides policymakers, regional stakeholders, and EU-level representatives with a comprehensive resource to navigate these shifts. It offers in-depth data, a taxonomy and policy fiches to categorize demographic challenges and options to align policy responses with regional characteristics and demographic trends. This contribution highlights potential policies approaches in the fields of economics, infrastructure, environment and energy, housing, education, services and health, emphasizing the need for evidence-based, place-sensitive and targeted interventions. A novel thematic analysis of cohesion policy funds allocation contributing to address demographic change highlighting its critical role in addressing disparities ensuring that they do not deepen regional inequalities is proposed. "Territories and demographic change" moreover highlights how strategic planning, administrative capacity and peer learning are key to foster cross-regional collaboration and innovative solutions. A key message is that by integrating demographic considerations into territorial policies, the EU can transform demographic challenges into opportunities, promoting sustainable growth, resilience, and social cohesion across all regions.
TESTORI Giulia;
FRANKLIN Rachel;
SARACENO Pier;
PERTOLDI Martina;
PEREA MILLA FERNANDEZ Daniel;
STUT Martijn;
DIJKSTRA Lewis;
2026-01-23
Publications Office of the European Union
JRC143332
978-92-68-33733-2 (online),
1831-9424 (online),
EUR 40530,
OP KJ-01-25-566-EN-N (online),
https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC143332,
10.2760/4140574 (online),
