OR demographic collapse of the Rhodopes and Thrace was at the center of a debate in the Parliament, with the MP of PASOK-KINAL, Ilhan Ahmed, denouncing the government for “political indifference” and the Minister of Social Cohesion & Family, Domna Michailidouto highlight the network of family support measures, while at the same time admitting the failure of the special relocation program in Evros.
Dramatic decrease in births in the Rhodopes
MP Rodopis tabled a parliamentary question, highlighting the alarming rate of population decline, giving as an example the drop in births from 870 in 2015 to just 291 in the first nine months of 2025.
In his introduction, Mr. Ahmed emphasized that the phenomenon is not a natural development, but “the result of political indifference and the absence of targeted interventions.” He claimed that the consequences are visible, as “schools are closing, maternity hospitals are empty, young people are leaving the area, settlements are being deserted, entire villages are being locked down”. He asked for information on the specific measures to be taken by the ministry, taking into account the package of proposals of the inter-party committee for the development of Thrace.
The admission of failure in Evros
In response, Minister Domna Michailidou noted that the problem of declining births is global for Greece and Europe, not just for the Rhodopes. The minister referred to the birth allowance of 2,400 euros and the increase in the income criteria for subsidizing daycare centers. He then admitted the failure of the special relocation incentive for the North and Central Evrowhich provided 6,000 to 10,000 euros.
Specifically, out of a total of 700 applications submitted, only two (2) met the eligibility criteria. The rest of the applications, according to Mrs. Michailidou, came from citizens who “already lived and worked in Evros” and tried to “cannibalize this program”. He announced, however, that the program worked as a pilot and the aim is to strengthen and expand it to other regions of Greece.