Macut: Demography the most important issue

BELGRADE - Serbian PM Djuro Macut opened the 3rd Serbia - Our Family conference on Tuesday, noting that demography was the most important issue and that, in a first for the country, Serbia had established a Family and Demography Council, the highest coordinating mechanism for demography.

"The task of this body, which I will be really pleased to chair, is to monitor the population situation and propose efficient measures while coordinating the policies of all relevant departments. Besides population-related issues, one of the major issues will be strengthening of policies concerning the nation's health, and that is one of the programmes this government will be dealing with," he said.

He added that investments in the education system - another foundation of sustainable demographic development - was also one of the Council's objectives.

"That is why today we are also discussing education and development of skills among children and young people as a crucial part of the demographic policy. It is only in this way that we will have a stable future, meet the contemporary needs of the market and society and gain the trust of young people to see their plans and their future in Serbia. For all of us, no issue is more important than this one - demographic measures, which remain a permanent priority for this country," Macut said.

He said that, besides the relevant ministries, the Council would also include representatives of the academic community and civic associations to achieve the best results through joint efforts and to the benefit of Serbian citizens.