President Christodoulides outlines demographic and family support policies

Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides recently presented a comprehensive package of government policies aimed at addressing the country’s demographic challenges. In a video message, he emphasized that supporting families is a core priority, designed to provide young people with greater security to purchase homes, start families, and balance professional and personal life.

Key measures highlighted include the implementation of housing schemes worth €300 million to facilitate homeownership. Furthermore, the government has increased childbirth grants to €1,000 for the first child, €1,500 for the second, and €2,000 for each subsequent child. Additional support includes extended maternity leave, institutionalized free preschool education, and increased child benefits—up to 5% generally and 10% for lower-income families. Income eligibility requirements have also been abolished for families with five or more children.

These initiatives follow recent tax reforms, with the President noting that pension reform is the next priority to ensure the sustainability of the Social Insurance Fund. The government aims to create long-term financial security for households and continue the implementation of these multi-faceted demographic policies.