Montserrat Gas participated in an expert panel with the results of the projects carried out by the IsFamily Banco Santander Chair and Joaquim Molins Figueras Foundation Childcare & Family Policies Chair, both part of the Institute for Advanced Family Studies (IESF).

In her speech, Gas referred to the “demographic crisis of the West”, in the face of which “those who can make decisions must put actions in place that will remedy it.” The IESF director gave specific examples such as, “encouraging birth rate, which is what Hungary is already doing, better supporting the new generations in their family projects, with adequate educational programmes.”

In this line, the university professor spoke on the importance of getting this message across at every levels. “Why is it just as important to talk about climate change, healthy eating or raising awareness about family health?” Gas asked. “We must raise awareness about the importance of family relationships and generate stable and quality bonds. We must let young people know that what will make them happy is their ability to build these bonds,” she said.

The Budapest Demographic Summit is a conference in which politicians, experts, entrepreneurs and scientists have been meeting every two years since 2015 to discuss the main issues affecting families. In its fifth edition, the focus was on the West’s demographic problem.