Summary

The municipality of Apokoronas received a national award from the Federation of Families with Three Children of Greece on January 25, 2026, at a conference on demographic decline held in Athens. The award recognised the municipality's decision to introduce a financial bonus for newborn children. The scheme had initially been rejected by the Decentralised Administration of Crete before the municipality successfully appealed the ruling.

Apokoronas wins national award for newborn bonus scheme

The municipality of Apokoronas has been recognised at a national level for its decision to pay a bonus to families upon the birth of a child. The award was presented by the Federation of Families with Three Children of Greece on January 25, 2026, at a conference titled "Demographic SOS: Empowering the Dream and the Family", held at the Miltiades Evert Amphitheatre in the Technopolis complex in Athens.

The event was organised under the auspices of the City of Athens and the Region of Attica, with co-organisers including the Central Union of Municipalities of Greece, the Union of Regions of Greece, and the Labour Institute of the Greek General Confederation of Labour. The Greek Parliament lent its support to the event, and public broadcaster ERT served as a media partner.

The newborn bonus: what it is

The Apokoronas municipal council voted to introduce a one-off payment for families on the birth of a child in the municipality. The measure is framed by the council as a practical response to demographic decline — a problem acutely felt in rural areas of Greece, where villages are emptying, schools are closing, and young people are moving away.

The scheme did not pass without difficulty. The Decentralised Administration of Crete initially rejected the council's decision. The municipality challenged that ruling and ultimately prevailed, allowing the programme to take effect.

Why it matters locally

For families in Apokoronas who have a baby, the bonus represents direct financial support from their local authority. The exact amount of the payment is not specified in the municipality's press release. Families wishing to apply or find out more should contact the municipal offices directly.

The award is significant in a broader context: it signals that other municipalities are watching what Apokoronas has done. According to the municipality, the message of the legal victory extends beyond the local level — local authorities across Greece can act on demographic challenges rather than waiting for national policy to catch up.

What the municipality says

Speaking at the Athens conference, Mayor Charalampos Koukianakis acknowledged that the bonus alone would not solve Greece's demographic crisis, but argued that it represented a clear statement of intent: that the community wants children, wants families, and wants a future worth investing in. He also criticised what he described as the contradiction of broadly acknowledging the problem at a national level while obstructing local initiatives designed to address it.

PRESS RELEASE – Apokoronas is awarded for supporting life through actions

January 26, 2026, 8:35 AM

National recognition for a bold pro-family policy.

Charalampos Koukianakis: "The demographic problem is not addressed with words, but with bold political actions."

A clear, evidence-based and deeply political message in favour of the practical support of the family and new life was delivered by the Mayor of Apokoronas, Charalampos Koukianakis, during his address at the conference titled

"Demographic SOS: Empowering the Dream and the Family",

which was held on Sunday, January 25, 2026, at the "Miltiades Evert" Amphitheatre of the Technopolis of the Municipality of Athens. The conference was held under the auspices of the Municipality of Athens and the Region of Attica, with co-organisers being the Central Union of Municipalities of Greece (KEDE), the Union of Regions of Greece (ENPE) and the Labour Institute of GSEE (INE/GSEE), with the support of the Hellenic Parliament, while communication sponsors were ERT and public radio media.

In the context of the event, the Federation of Families with Three Children of Greece proceeded to award the Municipality of Apokoronas and Mayor Charalampos Koukianakis, for the initiative of establishing a newborn children's allowance, explicitly recognising the political choice of the municipal authority to support the young family and to stand against the demographic problem through actions and not declarations.

In his speech, Mr Koukianakis emphasised that the demographic problem does not merely constitute the greatest challenge of our time, but a silent threat to social cohesion, the economy and the continuity of the country, noting that empty villages, closed schools and the flight of young people are not abstract concepts, but the daily reality of the Greek periphery.

He made particular reference to the decision of the Municipality of Apokoronas to establish a newborn children's allowance, stressing that it constitutes a conscious political choice with strong symbolism:

"We knew we were not solving the demographic problem. We knew, however, that we were taking a position. That we were stating clearly that our place wants children, wants families, wants life."

The Mayor of Apokoronas also referred to the fact that the specific decision was initially rejected by the Decentralised Administration of Crete, highlighting the paradox of the problem being universally acknowledged while the initiatives serving it are challenged in practice. As he noted, the municipal authority did not back down, appealed against the decision and was ultimately vindicated, defending the self-evident and the just.

Mr Koukianakis stressed that the message of this vindication goes beyond the boundaries of Apokoronas and concerns local government as a whole:

"Local government must not be a manager of inertia, but an agent of change. It is not enough to agree theoretically on major problems, if in practice we erect walls against those who try to address them."

In closing, he emphasised that the newborn children's allowance does not constitute merely a financial benefit, but a message of respect and support towards every young mother and father — a tangible proof that society stands beside those who choose to bring life to their place.

"The demographic problem is not solved with numbers and charts. It is solved when a society decides that its future is worth being born. In Apokoronas we made this choice — with responsibility towards our ancestors and with a clear gaze towards our children."