“The decline in birth rates is a global problem; it is obviously linked to some extent to economic factors, but it is not solely an economic issue.” This was emphasized by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis while speaking at the “Demographic 2026” conference.
For this reason, as he said,“we chose to establish a ministry responsible for social cohesion and family issues, to develop a series of initiatives related to this topic. We will continue to support young families. Within the limits of the budget, we have decided to allocate part of the surplus as a one-time grant of 150 euros to families with children; we will distribute it next month.”
The Prime Minister noted that“the way young couples view parenthood has changed. We are making it easier for families who make this decision, such as through the childbirth allowance and tax breaks. We are lowering tax rates based on the number of children in a family. None of this would be possible if the economy hadn’t been performing as well as it has recently.”
Regarding the housing problem, Mr. Mitsotakis acknowledged that the issue of rising rents has become the most significant problem for families without a home. He referred to the “My Home 1” and “My Home 2” programs, which enabled 25,000 families to buy their own homes.“They are able to pay a mortgage lower than the rent they would otherwise pay,” he said, and announced a similar new program coming soon.
The housing issue, according to the prime minister, “is one of supply and demand. We need to build more homes, address the issue of social housing, and provide even more incentives to open up vacant properties. We have over 40 initiatives on housing issues.”
At the same time, he spoke about daycare programs and “neighborhood nannies,” as well as the need to implement flexible work arrangements for women, possibly through telework.
Mr. Mitsotakis also addressed active aging and the care of an aging population, stating that“this must be a central priority for any government; the issue of elder care must be at the heart of our policy.” He also highlighted the government’s decision“to stop penalizing retirees if they work. It is a very bold initiative.”
Regarding the brain drain, he said that“it has been reversed; we have introduced specific tax incentives for those working abroad. Greeks want to return to their homeland; they do so primarily because they believe in the country’s long-term prospects; this is the best response to the gloom of those who describe a Greece that belongs to the previous decade.”
Mr. Mitsotakis also emphasized the issue of regional development, which, as he said, “is of great concern to us. When we take initiatives, such as the one with Stelios Hatzioannou, which we recently announced to double the salaries of doctors serving on small islands, it works toward this goal. If health and education issues are resolved, the quality of life in the regions is better. We are eliminating the ENFIA property tax and considering how to renovate homes in villages, perhaps through the NSRF. We also need the participation of local authorities.”
The Prime Minister expressed the view that no country has addressed the root causes of the demographic problem, as it is complex and multifaceted.