Ithaca becomes the centre of Europe’s demographic debate

As the birthplace of 1 of history’s top journeys, Ithaca became the symbolic mounting for a large planetary dialog connected 1 of Europe’s astir pressing modern challenges — demographic decline.

Held from May 6 to 8, the “Greece astatine Demographic Crossroads” league brought together governmental leaders, scientists, aesculapian experts, section authorities representatives and κοινωνικά advocates to sermon the aboriginal of Greece and Europe amid declining commencement rates, ageing populations and determination depopulation.

Under the banner of the “ITHACA CONFERENCE – Ithaca arsenic a Symbol of Return, Life and Continuity”, the lawsuit framed the demographic situation not simply arsenic a substance of statistics, but arsenic a profoundly quality contented tied to continuity, individuality and corporate hope.

The league was held under the auspices of the Republic of Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union and organised by the Hellenic Network of Small Islands, the Municipality of Ithaca, the Hellenic Intermunicipal Network of Healthy Cities, the World Hippocratic Institute of Physicians, the Hellenic Society of Reproductive Medicine and the General Secretariat for the Aegean and Island Policy.

Mayor of Ithaca Dionysis Stanitsas described the demographic situation arsenic a lived world for small land communities, while Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus to Athens Stavros Avgoustidis warned that the contented has evolved into a defining European challenge.

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Leading academics and officials besides addressed the broader κοινωνικά and economical implications of colonisation decline, including healthcare access, fertility, youth migration and determination sustainability.

Among the keynote speakers were Minister of Labour Niki Kerameus, Deputy Minister of Health Marios Themistokleous, Deputy Minister of Social Cohesion and Family Elena Rapti and MP Pavlos Geroulanos.

One of the conference’s large outcomes was the announcement of the Ithaka Demographic Forum, a caller inaugural aiming to link regions and countries facing akin demographic pressures and make applicable semipermanent solutions.

“Societies bash not vanish when they turn old. They vanish when they cease to hope.”: With this profound consciousness of responsibility, Stavros Avgoustidis, Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus to Athens, acceptable the European tone of the conference, emphasizing that the demographic contented is nary longer a determination κοινωνικά matter, but a important situation for the very aboriginal of Europe itself.

“The small islands bash not inquire for pity. They inquire for the close to proceed breathing”: Dionysis Stanitsas, Mayor of Ithaca, opened the league speaking with the voice of a antheral who knows well the loneliness of small places during winter. He spoke of the demographic situation not arsenic theory, but arsenic mundane reality.

“Numbers often bash not simply picture a reality. They foretell a loss”: Byron Kotzamanis, Professor and Director of the Institute for Demographic Research and Studies, presented with technological clarity the melodramatic representation of the coming decades.

“Every land that empties is simply a representation of Greece fading away.” Lefteris Kehayioglou, President of the Hellenic Network of Small Islands, gave voice to the small islands of the Aegean and Ionian Seas that stand connected the beforehand enactment of demographic decline.

“Care indispensable not reside lone successful large municipality centers. It indispensable scope wherever the bosom of the portion still beats”: Georgios Patoulis, President of the Hellenic Intermunicipal Network of Healthy Cities and the Athens Medical Association, spoke astir the request to decentralize healthcare services and support section communities.

“Time does not lone "για το σπίτι" years. Sometimes it besides takes distant possibilities”: Konstantinos Pantos, General Secretary of the Hellenic Society of Reproductive Medicine, brought guardant the soundless magnitude of fertility.

“Hope is calved when societies determine not to stay silent”: Antonis Polydorou, General Secretary of the World Hippocratic Institute of Physicians, closed the league conveying the connection that Ithaca was not the extremity of a discussion, but the opening of a European initiative. And thus, the Ithaka Demographic Forum was born. A caller instauration aspiring to transform the Ithacan acquisition into a span of practice among regions and countries facing the aforesaid demographic challenges.

“No society tin beryllium without the strength of offering”: The beingness of Erietta Kourkoulou-Latsi, Founder and President of the Kind Things Foundation, gave the lawsuit a profoundly quality dimension.

“Young radical bash not wantonness a state lone for economical reasons. They permission when they stop dreaming within it”: Niki Kerameus, Minister of Labour, spoke astir the large situation of bringing backmost young scientists who near overseas during the years of crisis.

“Development without radical is soundless prosperity.” Marios Themistokleous, Deputy Minister of Health, focused connected the planetary magnitude of the demographic problem.

“A country’s system ever begins with its people.” Thanos Petralias, Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance, highlighted the adjacent narration betwixt demographic developments and economical sustainability.

“No instauration tin stand upright without κοινωνικά cohesion.” Vivi Charalambogianni, Deputy Minister of the Interior, spoke astir the request for a modern nationalist assemblage centered connected people.

“Knowledge does not bounds life. It gives it much clip to blossom”: Elena Rapti, Deputy Minister of Social Cohesion and Family, emphasized the value of consciousness regarding fertility, motherhood and reproductive health.

“A kid is not raised lone by its parents. It is besides raised by the clasp of society.” Pavlos Geroulanos, Member of Parliament and erstwhile Minister, spoke astir solidarity and corporate work toward families and the younger generation.

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“Europe is not tested lone astatine its borders. It is tested successful whether it tin support its societies alive”: MEPs Nikolaos Farantouris and Sakis Arnaoutoglou highlighted the demographic situation arsenic 1 of Europe’s top issues of our time.

“Sometimes idiosyncratic stories incorporate within them the anxiousness of an full era… Particularly moving was the testimony of Dimitris Arkouzis from Ithaca, who spoke publically astir the hard travel helium and his wife endured successful their effort to person a child. One of the large announcements was the instauration of the Ithaka Demographic Forum, an instauration originating from Ithaca with the extremity of highlighting section and determination demographic issues, proposing applicable solutions and transferring acquisition to different European countries facing akin challenges.

Apostoli-Mission with Clelia Charissis” did not simply papers a league successful Ithaca. It documented a Greece still searching for the courageousness to springiness commencement to its aboriginal erstwhile again. And within the airy of this small Ionian island, possibly the astir indispensable reminder was born: That societies survive lone when they proceed believing successful humanity.