ATHENS – State Minister Akis Skertsos, responsible for the coordination of the government’s work, on Wednesday spoke on public broadacster ERT1 about reversing the phenomenon of brain drain.

Skertsos acknowledged that young people have to face many problems in Greece as the country had not been a hospitable place for many years, even decades, adding that this was one of the main reasons why all these young people had left.

“It was not only financial reasons, but also reasons that have to do with opportunities, meritocracy, the empowerment of young people in the first steps of family or professional life. The need to feel that the state lends support to their efforts,” he noted. He then focused on the measures and incentives that aim to increase the disposable income of the citizens, especially younger people.

“I do not know if this is widely known; someone who returns to Greece from abroad has 50 pct lower income tax for the next seven years. They must know there is predictability in their lives, they must know that their income, although higher abroad, will be at a good level in Greece as well,” Skertsos underlined.