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Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-09-16
CONTENTS
[01] Gov't announces cash bonus to families acquiring third child as of
Jan. 1
[01] Gov't announces cash bonus to families acquiring third child as of
Jan. 1
The government on Friday revisited its pre-election promise of
commencing state support for families acquiring a third child, with an
initial one-time bonus of 2,000 euros envisioned as of Jan. 1, 2006;
the sum will rise to 2,500 a year later. The measure was announced
following a meeting here between Economy Minister George Alogoskoufis
and Health Minister Nikitas Kaklamanis. Currently, a family in Greece
must have four or more children to qualify for a variety of state
bonuses and supports, ranging from low-interest loans, to preference
for civil servant spots to reduced mass transit fares, among others.
Additionally, families that acquire a third child will also be exempt
from paying a vehicle license fee.
According to Kaklamanis, some 8,000 to 10,000 families stand to benefit
from the measure in the coming two years.
On his part, Alogoskoufis said that additional state support of large
families continues to be a primary goal of the Karamanlis government
despite the fiscal difficulties inherited from the previous government,
as he said. Additionally, he said the funds for the measure will come
from cost-cutting in the public sector.
Greece continues to be plagued by a low population growth rate,
according to the latest UN and EU statistics.
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