ATHENS, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) — The Greek government has announced a series of new measures aimed at addressing the upcoming demographic challenge, according to a conference speech by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Athens.
Mitsotakis expressed concern over recent data from the Hellenic Statistical Authority, which revealed a negative balance between births and deaths in 2022 in Greece.
“The figures for 2022 are extremely worrying. Our country recorded just one birth for every two deaths. It is a negative balance that has been escalating for nearly half a century,” Mitsotakis said. “The demographic collapse is literally becoming an existential wager for our future.”
While acknowledging that there are no quick solutions, Mitsotakis emphasized that the government will implement policies to support families and encourage young people to become parents.
Beginning in 2024, the government will increase tax cuts for households with children and improve wages for parents, along with providing enhanced child benefits, Mitsotakis announced. Additionally, parental leave will be extended from six to nine months, and working mothers will be offered better childcare options.
To incentivize younger individuals to start families, the government will also strengthen a housing initiative that specifically targets Greeks under the age of 40, Mitsotakis added.
