London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

East European leaders urge EU nations to increase birth rate to prevent ‘extinction of Europe’, saying immigration not the answer

East European leaders urge EU nations to increase birth rate to prevent ‘extinction of Europe’, saying immigration not the answer

The leaders of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Serbia and Slovenia signed a joint statement on Thursday calling on the EU to not use immigration in an attempt to address what they perceive as a demographic crisis in the bloc.
“Increasing the number of European children is essential to preserving Europe’s Christian culture and other religious traditions for future generations,” the prime ministers declared, adding that “Migration should not be seen as the main tool to tackle demographic challenges.”

The joint declaration, made at the Budapest Demographic Summit, comes after the same leaders raised concerns about a potential influx of immigration sparked by the chaotic withdrawal of US and NATO forces from Afghanistan.

Two of the signatories, Hungary’s Viktor Orban and the Czech Republic’s Andrej Babis, have pushed strong anti-immigration stances, ahead of elections they face in the coming months.

Babis told the event that, due to the influx of immigration, “the only sustainable solution against the extinction of Europe is to increase the birth rate.” The EU’s birth rate has been falling since 2000, with 1.53 live births per woman in 2019 falling below the 2.1 mark required to prevent populations declining.

Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki Morawiecki previously highlighted concerns about the addition of Afghan migrants on top of the stream of refugees already seeking asylum from African nations. The Czech leader, Andrej Babis, went further, arguing that immigration from Afghanistan is a “big threat” to stability in Europe.

The summit has been held every two years since 2015, providing a gathering for officials to discuss issues affecting families within their countries. One of the topics central to the fourth event, being held in September, is addressing the “demographic crisis” in Europe.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
×