Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis referred to the priority the government gives to supporting families with children, while at the same time sending a message to banks to be “more generous” and to “support young couples with interest rates and financial products so they can acquire their own home,” speaking at the conference “Demographics and Greece 2040: Family, Economy, Modern Lifestyle,” organised by the newspaper Eleftheros Typos at the Zappeion Hall.

He also stressed that “we are strict on illegal immigration.” “We will do everything in our power to prevent anyone from entering our country illegally. We will distinguish between who is a refugee and who is a migrant. If someone is a refugee and we can integrate them into the labour market, we will see how to do so, but before we talk about legal immigration, let us look at the participation of Greeks in the labour market.”

As the Prime Minister noted, “the low birth rate is not only a Greek reality. Many European countries face the same issue and it is not linked to their level of prosperity.” In this context, he explained that “the solution is not purely based on financial measures. They are important, and for the first time in Greece we have a comprehensive strategy.”

Mr Mitsotakis also recalled that “the decision we made to provide tax incentives for pensioners to continue working had a highly positive impact, as more than 200,000 are now working,” adding that “we give great priority to supporting families with children within the framework of the tax reform that will be implemented at the beginning of the year.”

“We made a central decision to support families with children. Fiscal space should be allocated in favour of families with children and young people. This is a move that fits the character of the centre-right, which considers the family the fundamental unit of society, and we aim to have a cohesive tax policy with the family at its core,” he continued.

Responding to a comment by Theodoros Papasaikas, a father of many children who was on the same panel, that “for the first time I am benefiting tax-wise,” the Prime Minister noted that “the tradition of large families is the tradition of this country.”

“The response to the demographic issue must be a multi-dimensional policy. The ‘My Home’ programmes are a good example of how we can help young people acquire their own home. On Friday, we will refund one month’s rent up to the amount of 800 euros. This is a breath of relief for citizens who rent. We also have the abolition of ENFIA property tax for all villages, an additional easing for our fellow citizens living in the regions,” he continued, stressing that “it is a central priority for parents to know that there will be someone to help them with their children.”

The Prime Minister clarified that “demographics are not the responsibility of just one ministry. Our strategy is horizontal and spans different ministries. We set a clear priority with €1.7 billion for 2026 and placed the protection of the family at the core of our policy, as the very DNA of our policies is linked to our political tradition.”

“Today Greece has reduced unemployment to below 8%. We are here to help you take steps in the labour market,” Mr Mitsotakis added.

In this context, he also referred again to the government’s strategy on migration, reiterating that “we are strict on illegal immigration. We will do everything in our power to ensure that no one enters the country illegally. The goal is to distinguish between who is a refugee and who is a migrant. If someone is a refugee and we can integrate them into the labour market, we will see how to do so, but before we talk about legal immigration, let us look at the participation of Greeks in the labour market,” he said.

The Prime Minister also referred to the salary increases granted to members of the armed forces, stating that “as long as the economy continues to perform well and public finances remain stable, and as we bring money into state coffers through the fight against tax evasion, we will have more room to support society.”

“The best days are ahead of us because this course is irreversible,” Kyriakos Mitsotakis concluded.