Concern over the issue of population ageing was expressed on Monday by members of the Ad Hoc Parliamentary Committee for the Study of the Demographic Problem, which discussed the preliminary results of the 2021 population census, while the meeting also addressed the issue of the number of foreign nationals in the country and, according to DIKO MP Zacharias Koulias, they have requested a closed-door meeting with the relevant ministers and security chiefs to discuss the issue of illegal immigration.
The President of the Committee, ELAM MP Linos Papagiannis, in his statements after the meeting, said that from the preliminary results of the 2021 population census, "particularly dangerous" conclusions can be drawn, stating that, for the first time, children under 15 years old are only 15.9% of the population, while at the same time the over-65s are at 16.7%.
"This means that we have a clear indication of an ageing population which will have too many chain effects," he said, adding that there is another element "which unfortunately is very, very worrying".
According to him, "at the moment there is a huge percentage of foreigners in our country, which, to clarify, there are foreigners who are legal workers in the Republic, and European citizens, but there is also a very large number that in some cases is unclear and concerns illegal immigrants."
He added that if those who have come to Cyprus after the registration are counted, "then, once again, I report that our country is being invaded."
Papagiannis said those in power must understand "that we have exceeded every margin and right now the percentage of asylum seekers is over 5.75 per cent. He said that there are areas in Cyprus "where our compatriots are now a minority," and there is an indignation among citizens that must finally be addressed.
"We therefore call on the government to finally do what a serious state should do and look at the examples of other serious countries for the measures they follow," he said.
"We therefore call on the government to finally do what a serious state should do and look at the examples of other serious countries for the measures they follow," he said.
The Committee's deputy chairman, DISY MP Prodromos Alabritis, said they are waiting for the results to be completed, but for them "the bell has rung" for two very important findings.
He said that the percentage of the population under 15 is now at 15.9% at the same time that the percentage of those 65 and over reached 16.7%, "a finding that shows the problem of the ageing of our population."
At the same time, he added, the average household size fell to 2.6 per household while in 1976 it was at 4, in 1992 at 3.2 and in 2011 at 2.8. This, he said, shows the trend shown by previous sessions of the Commission, in terms of birth figures which have been steadily declining in recent years.
He also said that the proportion of foreign nationals is at 21.1 per cent of the population and that they are awaiting further data, and analysis of the final results.
Alabritis said that the state should invest in supporting families and young couples to create their own families, and find ways to support births.
"Through recommendations that we have submitted to our committee, even with a direct amount for each birth beyond the second child, but also to support families with three or more children," he said.
He added that they are waiting for the comprehensive policy of the Demographic Policy Body to see if recommendations of the Committee have been included in it.
Mr. Koulias said that the competent services, such as the Statistical Service, and the working office dealing with actuarial studies, "have painted in the darkest colours the issue of under-fertility in Cyprus and the great dangers created by this evolving situation".
He said it was requested and adopted by the committee "that now the uncontrolled flow of illegal immigration seriously threatens national security and we have requested that a closed-door session be held, that the competent Ministers of Defence, Interior, Justice, the Chief of Police, the Chief of the National Guard and the Chief of the National Guard be present to raise the issues ex officio".
He also said he has asked the Deputy Ministry of Welfare, "which handles all these piles of money," to end the payment of allowances and pay with vouchers only for food, clothing and footwear, as was done in the past. He also recommended, he said, that the money for rent, instead of being paid to asylum seekers, and in many cases, not ending up where it should, should be paid directly to the owners of the accommodation, if they present a rental document, "so that the state can also cut off the tax and know where everyone lives."
Koulias said he also suggested that welfare offices that are "for the suffering Cypriot citizens" should be relieved of their workload, since, he said, "in essence they only deal with illegal immigrants and not with Cypriot citizens who have been working and paying taxes for so many years to have a respite in their time of need."
Source: CNA
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