An image for Greece

ATHENS, Nov 26, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on 
Wednesday said Athens was looking at allocating 1.76 billion euros ($2 
billion) in 2026, along with tax relief measures, to tackle demographic 
issues.

Greece has one of the European Union's lowest birthrates, calculated by 
births per 1,000 inhabitants, standing at 7.3 -- above only Spain with 6.9 
and Italy in last place with 6.7.

Mitsotakis, speaking at a symposium organised by the rightwing daily 
Eleftheros Typos, stressed the importance of protecting families and 
highlighted the government's tax reforms benefitting families with children.

"For the first time in our country, we have a comprehensive strategy on 
demographic issues," he said. "The more children there are, the lower the 
taxes."

Demographic issues are not exclusively economic, the premier said, citing 
"other reasons that we need to analyse much more deeply if we want to solve" 
them.

Asked about using migrants and refugees to address labour market and 
demographic issues, Mitsotakis defended his government's "strict" migration 
policy.

"We will do everything in our power to prevent anyone from entering our 
country illegally," he said. But Greece had nothing to fear from migrants who 
arrived regularly, could respond to employment needs and integrate into Greek 
society, he added.

He noted that Greece has recently received a limited number of Sudanese 
refugees who are set to work in agriculture.