Lithuanian MEP Aurelijus Veryga: 'Demographics are at the core of the European Union’s economic and societal challenges'

For Lithuanian Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Aurelijus Veryga, representing the European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR) in the 2024–2029 European Parliament, pragmatism is the cornerstone of politics. For the former Lithuanian health minister and a Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union member, a deep concern looms large amidst the European Union’s pressing economic and societal challenges:  demographics.

“If Europe fails to reverse the trend of low birth rates, we might one day find ourselves technologically advanced but facing a shortage of our own populations,” Mr Veryga told The Baltic Times Magazine.

The European Conservatives and Reformists Group was established in 2009 with the objective of promoting a Eurorealist agenda for the European Union. Has this been achieved? Could you explain what 'Eurorealism' means?

To start with the last part of your questions, the term ‘Eurorealism’ is a broad and multifaceted concept that can be interpreted in various ways.Generally, the term Eurorealism is used to describe a pragmatic and realistic approach to European politics. We believe that there should be more control over issues such as immigration, investments into preparedness, and defence. As a Group, we are generally cautious about the ideology-driven and unprepared green transformation, which has put EU agriculture and a range of economic sectors at risk.  And I share this concern.

The recent Draghi Report clearly exposes the lack of realism and shortage of sensible targets while we plan our strategic policies. (The Draghi Report, officially titled ‘The Future of European Competitiveness’,  published in September 2024, lays out a strategic roadmap for the EU to address several pressing challenges. Mario Draghi, former ECB President, and Italy’s former Prime Minister, was commissioned by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to produce it - TBT)

We must acknowledge that Europe is losing ground in terms of competitiveness compared to the United States and China. 

I hope that the new composition of the European Parliament will foster more realism and pragmatism in tackling Europe’s competitiveness challenges. As Mr Draghi’s report suggests, Europe needs to address its innovation deficit, strengthen industrial policies, and align decarbonisation efforts with competitiveness. This will require a more collaboratuve and less ideologically divided approach​.

Looking at the bigger picture, why is the European Union losing its economic momentum and attractiveness?

Indeed, this is happening. Europe is losing ground in innovation, especially in key sectors such as tech, clean energy, and advanced manufacturing. 

There are many reasons for this. First of all,there are a lot of restrictions and miscalculations. Let me remind you that the EU has one of the strictest IT and especially data regulations – I mean the European Data Protection Regulation, known as the GDPR, (applicable from 2018 -TBT). Although we have tough cybersecurity regulations in Europe, the situation regarding data protection is often tragic. Legislation is bypassed and some data is simply stolen, which also damages European competitiveness. It costs money to generate data, and if we do not use this resource, we are wasting money.

Although in general striving for the green (energy) transformation is commendable, the measures that set emission limits for road vehicles and battery life, with the ultimate aim to phase out the carbon-fuelled  engine, seem fanciful. This is especially true for raw materials, which are now available only in China, India, and elsewhere because of EU restrictions.  Unfortunately, China is reaping most of the benefits of the EU's quest to go green as soon as possible. It is China that has excelled in producing our solar panels and other energy industry equipment. Unfortunately, the EU is lagging behind and become stuck in its often contradictory regulatory policies.

Looking at the bigger picture, the EU has been struggling with low economic growth for a while, due to low birth rates, skill gaps, uncontrolled migration, as well as the global energy crisis, pandemic and the war in Ukraine. 

In addition to my previous remarks on economic factors, I would like to raise another important challenges that have been largely overlooked in the European Union - demography.

Robotisation, aging, sustainability, and other pressing challenges have a critical impact on the health of the economy. Without addressing the issues related to low birth rates in the European Union, it is impossible to make meaningful progress on these fronts.

I am afraid that Europe has failed to take this into account, which has led to emerging labour shortages. In my opinion, Europe has wrongly relied on thousands of legal and illegal migrants, assuming that they could be successfully integrated and used to fill these shortages.

In most cases, we have failed at integration, which has led to the rise of radical political forces, cultural and regious conflicts, and an exacerbation of social issues, like housing shortages, rents for locals going through the roof, while immigrants can comfortably live off welfare.

It worries me that Europe has focused only on what I call niche human rights, such as sexual and reproductive rights, with an emphasis on measures to limit reproduction and ensure the rights of sexual minorities, while neglecting what is fundamental - the promotion of a traditional family, into which children are born. 

Unfortunately, for some, having and raising children is now perceived as an obstacle to pursuing a career and living a comfortable life.

We all must face up to the fact that, as a result, our continent’s population is declining at an alarming fast rate. If the process is not reversed, everything else makes little sense, as there will be no one left. In my view, the EU's poor demography is one of the most pressing issues facing the bloc.

You are a substitute of the delegation to the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly. The recent referendum on Moldova’s EU membership was narrowly won by supporters of the bloc—a scenario that would have been unimaginable in the early 2000s when the Baltic states joined. Is the European Union also losing its political appeal?

Obviously. Russia played a role in the referendum because it does not want to see an enlarged EU and new members slipping out of its field of influence. But it would be unfair to solely blame Russia for all the problems.

It's obvious that Russia wants to continue doing what it's always done, which is to extend its reach and influence using disinformation and aggressive or unlawful tactics, while adding new territories, as we witnessed in the case of the Ukraine war.

It seems to me that Europe is committing the same error as the US Democratic Party, which can't be labeled as pro-Russian: Singling out issues that, being combustible at their core, create significant tensions in society.

When we talk about the traditions and beliefs of societies, we must be careful not to create a space for Russian propaganda by pushing left-wing ideologies. 

The traditional family and millennia-old traditions and cornerstones of our society are just as important as economic and social issues.  So, to come to your question, these factors may have also played a role in voters' choice of who to vote for in the EU.

We can take another example. Ukraine ratified the Istanbul Convention (a human rights treaty of the Council of Europe opposing violence against women and domestic violence – TBT). The country–being very conservative–did not do so because the public mindset was aligned. In fact there was huge opposition to such a decision. But to my knowledge, there was pressure from Western partners to ratify, and we can imagine how complicated it is to refuse to do so when partner support is a matter of survival.  

Armenia is gradually distancing itself from Russian influence after the new conflagration in the Nagorno-Karabakh. Do you think it will follow the EU course?

Indeed, Armenia is slipping away from Russia, which failed to keep its promises on Nagorno-Karabakh. 

With Russia involved in the war in Ukraine, there is an opportunity for the European Union to draw Armenia closer through economic and security cooperation.

It remains to be seen what path it will take, but membership comes at a price.

I’ve recently contributed to the debate on the region and co-signed an EU resolution condemning Azerbaijan’s actions in the conflict zone.

As a former Lithuanian Minister of health, it’s not a surprise that you are  a member of the European Parliament’s Committee on the Environment, Public Health, and Food Safety. Are there any recommendations currently being developed that could lead to EU-wide decisions affecting all member states?

The committee will be dealing with unfinished issues from the last EP term, such as the regulation of pharmaceuticals and some other issues. 

But at the same time I think there will be many new developments reflecting the reports of Mario Draghi and Sauli Niinistö.

I am optimistic that there will be real effort on preparedness and crisis management, particularly in the health sector.

I hope there will be proposals for legislation on critical medicines and we will discuss how to make innovative treatments more accessible for patients. The bottom line is simple: we need to make the most effective products and technologies available to everyone.

I’d also like to mention the review the existing strict EU regulation on the European car industry–the German automotive industry is sending out alarming signals. 

The implementation of the EU's plan to combat oncological diseases, which was rolled out in the last-term European Parliament, needs to be much better.  I intend to raise this both in committee and in Parliament. I hope that we will be more effective in addressing mental health and cardiovascular health issues.

The sole liability for the opinions stated rests with the author. These opinions do not necessarily reflect the official position of the European Parliament. Material prepared with financial support of the ECR Group