Macut chairs first session of Council for Family and Demography

BELGRADE - Serbian PM Djuro Macut chaired on Tuesday the first session of a Council for Family and Demography, which discussed the development of a Draft Strategy for Demographic Development of Serbia for 2026–2036 with projections until 2050.

"Macut emphasised that the formation of this Council and the development of the Draft Strategy for Demographic Development of Serbia represent the Government’s institutional and intersectoral response to the negative demographic trends that Serbia is facing," a government statement said.

"He also noted that the development of this strategy represents the state’s strategic response to long-term demographic challenges and the basis for systemic and sustainable planning of public policies in the field of family and demography.

The Prime Minister stated that the strategy plays a key role in defining clear goals and measures aimed at strengthening the family, supporting parenthood and improving demographic development, adding that one of the main issues is the creation of conditions for young people to remain in the country and start families in Serbia," it said.

"Minister for Family Care and Demography Jelena Zaric Kovacevic stated that the number of Serbian residents in the period between the two censuses, from 2011 to 2022, decreased by approximately 586,000, or 8.1 pct.

The Ministry for Family Care and Demography has formed, with the support of the UN Population Fund, a multidisciplinary consulting team, she stated, adding that a working group will soon be formed whose main task will be to draft this strategic document," it also said.