The report Demographic Outlook on “Right to Stay” – Beyond the Letta Report examines the concept of the “right to stay” as set out by Enrico Letta in his latest report: “Much more than a market” of April 2024. This concept emphasises that people, particularly younger generations, should have genuine possibilities to build their future in their home regions, rather than feeling compelled to leave due to limited prospects.

The report provides a technical analysis of population dynamics at local and regional level highlighting the impact of the emigration of young people from rural areas towards more affluent areas.

It highlights that even in a theoretical scenario where the outflux of the working-aged individuals was completely halted, the gap between different regions in terms of the number of older people compared to younger people would still grow over the next few decades.

Therefore, instead of trying to reverse demographic trends, Europe must adapt to the changing demographic circumstances. Policies should focus on helping regions maintain essential services such as schools, healthcare, transport and housing, ensuring that people who want to stay, or return, can do so with dignity and opportunity.

The “right to stay” will be one of the central themes at the 2025 European Week of Regions and Cities. This report provides useful insights on regional population dynamics,  contributing to a wider policy discussion. It shows why ensuring the freedom to remain in one’s home community is not just a matter of fairness, but essential for Europe’s future cohesion and competitiveness.

Link to the Demographic outlook on “Right to stay”

Link to the story in the Atlas of Demography