Demography

Immigration is a topic that is sure to animate any political discussion and campaign. Unmanaged it risks elevating the extreme right to positions of power. And yet the flip side of all this is an enormous opportunity to boost Western liberal democracy and infuse it with the dynamism it now lacks.

Nearly 100 migrants have died or disappeared in the central and eastern Mediterranean, including Greek seas, since the beginning of 2024, more than double the toll recorded last year during the same period, the UN migration agency said on Monday.

Renowned geographer and writer, Georgi Bardarov, sheds light on Bulgaria's critical demographic challenges, emphasizing the far-reaching consequences of present actions on society in the next 15 years.

It appears that the center-right government of Greece is about to propose legislation in favor of same-sex marriage and parenthood. Kudos to the government; it did not have to make this proposal but by doing so demonstrates that Greece is part of the modern family of states where human rights are important.

The EU member states will need to deal with acute labor shortage issues to counteract demographic decline, stressed the European Union Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson during a visit to Greece on Monday. 

Cyprus is the first European Union member-country to return more migrants whose asylum petitions were denied than came in a single year, according to its interior minister.

The Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU, in collaboration with the European Parliament, has finalized a groundbreaking agreement on pivotal regulations that are set to redefine the European Union's framework for asylum and migration.

Health Minister Hristo Hinkov raised critical points at the 6th National Congress of the Bulgarian Medical Association, highlighting Bulgaria's leading position in Europe's mortality rates. He emphasized a concerning 2-3% disparity above the EU average in child mortality rates, despite a decline.

A forecast released by Bulgaria's National Statistical Institute (NSI) paints a concerning picture for the country's demographic future. By the year 2075, the projection suggests a significant decrease in Bulgaria's population, foreseeing a drop to 4,972,000 individuals, with a quarter of the populace aged 65 and above.

The participation rate of the adult population (people aged 25 to 54) in educational activities in Greece was only 4% in 2022, below the EU-27 average (14%), according to data analyzed by the Funcas think tank.