The Ministry of Foreign Affairs launched a strategic plan for the Greek diaspora on Wednesday in Athens aiming to strengthen ties between Greeks living abroad with their homeland.
The 50-page long plan for 2024-2027 contains several initiatives the government believes would help the diaspora and make more efficient the coordination between Greek communities abroad and Athens.
Plan for the Greek Diaspora
The initiatives include:
1. The inclusion of diaspora Greeks in consultation and decision-making on matters that affect them.
2. Active support to expatriate organizations for implementing innovative initiatives.
3. Active support for events and actions that contribute in strengthening the relationship between expatriate networks.
4. Encouraging the interconnection of the Greek ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurship with corresponding expatriate networks.
5. Implementation of policies to stop the brain drain through the establishment of incentives. including tax issues.
6. Adoption of digital initiatives that meet the needs of the new generation of expats.
7. Encouraging the networking of the Greek academic and research ecosystem with corresponding networks abroad.
8. Attracting the new generation of Diaspora Greeks through scholarship programs.
9. Strengthening of Greek-language schools and promoting the Greek language and culture abroad.
10. Upgrade the provided digital consular services and their reorganization for a more efficient operation.
Mitsotakis’ top priority for the Diaspora
Greece’s PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis noted that many of initiatives have been proposed by diaspora organizations. “What we saw presented is the crystallization of many proposals submitted by our expatriate organizations. On this basis we are now coming to strengthen the bridges that unite us with Greeks everywhere”, he underlined.
Mitsotakis cited the scholarship programs to be offered in the summer months. “These experiences at a young age impress and accompany people throughout life, he said.
According to the Greek PM, the top priority of the Strategic Plan for the Diaspora is number 10 mentioned above. “You set as a strategic goal the service of the Greeks by the consular authorities. I would put that as the first goal. Greek expatriates suffered in the past in their dealings. We have to change that,” he stressed.
He pointed out however, that the issuance of passports has been speeded up and can be speeded up further while he highlighted the leading institutional change, the possibility of exercising the right to vote in their place of residence by postal vote.
He noted that it was voted for the European elections only by the governing majority, it was implemented and it is proof that the reforms that some said could not be done, are being done.
“The next step is the extension of postal voting to national elections as well. I believe that in the face of such a prospect, all parties will reconsider their position so that we can send a message of unity and progress”, he underlined.
Related: President of Greece Honors Prominent Members of the Diaspora