Speaking in Parliament on Thursday, Greece’s Minister of Social cohesion and family affairs Sofia Zacharaki informed MPs the government would put forward a plan for public consultation to earmark €20 billion aimed to address the Greek demographic crisis.
During the state budget debate, Zacharaki said the National Action Plan, which was presented in September, will have a ten-year span and incorporate 100 initiatives costed at €20 billion.
The Greek government has declared the demographic issue as a top national priority and has called for cooperation from opposition parties.
“The National Action Plan for Demographics, which we unveiled in September and will soon put to public consultation, has a ten-year implementation horizon, encompassing over 100 measures with a budget of €20 billion,” Zacharaki pointed out.
She went on to outline the aims to address the Greek demographic crisis which were to curb the negative birth-to-death ratio; revitalize the economy; support rural Greece, by providing incentives for young people to invest in their homeland; and encourage active participation of the elderly.
During her address in Parliament’s budget debate, the minister outlined the ministry’s plans for 2025, which will be financed through an increased budget as well as other sources, including EU structural funds (ESPA) and the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF).
The minister highlighted a €60 million increase in the disability allowance in the new budget. This follows a €130 million rise last year, bringing the total beyond €1 billion. The allowance for uninsured seniors has also been increased by €33 million compared to the previous year.
Some of the initiatives include raising the minimum guaranteed income; a 75-euro markup for each child; a rise in the home benefit based on the income tax bracket; the unification of the second- and third-income brackets for the Child Allowance.
