More beneficiaries gain access to the relocation programme

Through the multi-bill of the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family Affairs, titled “Personal Assistant, Early Intervention and Other Active Policies for Persons with Disabilities, Housing Policy Regulations” (Official Gazette Law No. 5322 – A 117/2026), which was passed last week, the Demographic Development Programme is being significantly expanded. The programme is known for providing €10,000 in financial support to individuals who relocate their primary residence to border and remote areas.

The changes are not limited solely to expanding the number of eligible beneficiaries. The new legislative framework creates the conditions for the programme to evolve from a targeted intervention for Evros into a mechanism that can also be applied to other parts of the country facing severe population decline.

In its initial phase, the programme concerns the relocation of households to the municipalities of Orestiada, Didymoteicho, and Soufli, with the aim of reversing demographic decline in one of Greece’s most sensitive regions. However, the new legislation introduces a key provision: through a joint ministerial decision, other municipalities or municipal units may now be included in the programme based on population, demographic, and development criteria. In other words, the initiative gains nationwide potential and could in the future be used in areas experiencing depopulation, population ageing, or significant labour shortages.

At the same time, the programme is being opened for the first time to residents of other European Union member states who wish to settle in these areas, as well as to graduates of Greek universities who completed their studies from 1 January 2025 onwards and choose to remain in or return to these regions. This expansion forms part of an effort to attract younger and economically active populations, linking housing policy for the first time with the labour market and regional development.

The financial support remains at €10,000 per beneficiary household, but greater flexibility is being introduced regarding the payment process. The amount will continue to be paid in two equal instalments of €5,000: the first following approval of the application and the second after the completion of one year of permanent residence in the relocation area. The key innovation is the introduction of the possibility of receiving the first instalment in advance, before the approval process has been completed, in order to cover initial relocation and settlement expenses.

The programme is also accompanied by a strict monitoring and verification mechanism. The Greek Agricultural Insurance Organisation (OPEKA), in cooperation with municipalities, will conduct data checks and on-site inspections to confirm that beneficiaries have genuinely relocated to the area. In cases of false declarations, a fine equal to twice the amount of the subsidy will be imposed, while beneficiaries who leave the area before completing one year will be required to repay a proportional part of the financial support. Similar penalties will apply in cases involving fictitious residential leases.

An extensive digital verification system is also being established to monitor the programme. The electronic platform will draw information from the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE), the Civil Registry, the Public Employment Service (DYPA), the ERGANI employment information system, and other public databases in order to verify actual residence, employment status, family composition, and the continued fulfilment of eligibility requirements.

Beyond its demographic dimension, the measure also has clear economic significance. Relocation subsidies could serve as an incentive for employees, professionals, and young families to move to areas where businesses, industrial units, and agricultural enterprises struggle to meet their workforce needs. The provision allowing the programme to expand to additional municipalities also creates a new regional development tool that could be used in areas with major investments, industrial parks, or tourism zones facing significant labour shortages.

With the adoption of the multi-bill, housing policy is now more directly connected with demographic trends, employment, and regional development. Whether the €10,000 subsidy will be sufficient to reverse population trends will depend on the speed of implementation and, above all, on whether it is accompanied by new job opportunities, infrastructure, and services that can make relocation areas genuinely attractive for permanent settlement.