Europeans are richer, travel more, own and spend more, and live longer than they did 50 years ago. But instead of seeking to pass on their good fortune, the European Union's citizens have shown a marked disinclination to have children, writes Simon Briscoe in London.

The most striking change to emerge in Europe's statistics in the last 50 years is in its population. While the total population in all member states has drifted up only slowly, the age structure has changed beyond recognition. Europe has aged. It is almost as if the continent stopped having babies when the European Community, as it was then known, was formed. In 1960, the under-fives were the most numerous age group. Now it is the over-40s - the same group, but older. The EU is no longer the young and hopeful alliance it was at birth.