€10,000 settlement incentive in Evros fails to attract expected interest
A government-backed €10,000 settlement incentive aimed at revitalizing Greece’s Evros region has failed to generate the anticipated public response, according to local officials.
The program, launched last October, offers up to €10,000 to individuals and families who permanently relocate to municipalities including Soufli, Orestiada (Koumofili), and Didymoteicho. The incentive is part of a broader initiative to counter severe population decline in this northeastern part of Greece, located along the Turkish border.
However, months after its introduction, application numbers remain low.
“There was some interest in the beginning, but it quickly faded,” said Diamantis Papadopoulos, Mayor of Koumofili. “Most of the applicants were originally from the area but had moved to bigger cities. While the initiative has some positive aspects, it doesn’t offer a miracle solution to our demographic problems.”
Soufli Mayor Panagiotis Kalakikos highlighted the lack of employment opportunities as a critical obstacle: “Nobody will move here just for €10,000. Settlement must come with jobs. If we want a lasting increase in population, financial incentives must go hand in hand with employment and infrastructure development.”
The Evros region has long faced depopulation due to aging communities and youth migration to urban centers in search of better opportunities. While the €10,000 incentive was seen as a bold step, local leaders argue that more comprehensive policies are needed to make rural living sustainable.
Experts suggest that successful rural revitalization efforts must include long-term investment in healthcare, education, and job creation—elements still lacking in the current scheme.
