Filenews 9 November 2021
The birth rate in Cyprus stood at 1.3% in 2020, according to data given to the parliament's ad hoc Committee for a study of the demographic problem, whose MPs expressed their concern about the low birth rate and called for immediate measures.
The President of the Committee, ELAM MP Linos Papagiannis, said that according to data given to the Commission, births in Cyprus in 2015 by Greek Cypriot parents were 9,189 compared to 8,016 in 2020, while births from foreign parents amounted to 1,706 in 2015 and 2,664 in 2020.
As Mr Papagiannis said, for every three births by Greek Cypriot parents there is also one birth from immigrant parents, the replacement of the population is no longer possible and the birth rate is at 1.3%. He added that they will submit a memorandum to the Government, the President and the competent ministries with several suggestions to immediately improve the problem.
He also described as a very important aspect the tax relief for couples requested by several organisations, and said that the only time there was an increase in births was in 1991 when there was a large payment at the birth of a child.
Disy MP Prodromos Alambritis said that the Committee discussed the preparation of a proposal which will be sent to the competent ministries with suggestions and measures that will help alleviate the acute problem of demographics. He added that they took into account the pleadings of competent bodies and organizations and reserved their position with written suggestions at the next session.
In addition, he noted, at a subsequent meeting of the committee, the competent Ministers were invited to attend to discuss the problem of the low birth rate and the ageing of the population, in order to have the government's policy on this issue integrated.
Mr. Alambritis also welcomed the implementation of the extension of maternity leave to the 2nd and 3rd children to 5 and 6 months respectively. He also said that the intention of the Minister of Labour Zeta Emilianidou to prepare a bill for the granting of parental leave with emoluments is in the right direction.
DIKO MP Zacharias Koulias said that the most important thing is that "we have crossed the red line and the future of Hellenism in this place has an expiry date if no immediate measures are taken".
He added that in order to solve the problem, it is not enough to extend maternity leave or regulate the employment of children, but the state, if it wants to solve the problem, must start with a generous subsidy of each birth. She suggested that the first child should immediately receive €5000 if there is a second birth of €6000 and so on.
The other important issue, he said, is the housing of young couples and he said that the state should draw up a new program through the Housing Finance Corporation and at least finance the basis for acquiring a home and then instead of rent the new couples pay their instalment.
He also said that the next sessions of the Commission along with the other relevant Ministers should also be attended by the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Defence, who sees the reduction of militia classified each year. "There is a national security issue here," he said, adding that every birth of a child until his death brings the state one million, so every birth is a resource for the state.
