Editorial: Haemorrhage

Every measure that aims to repatriate Greeks abroad who are highly specialised and have professional experience is welcome.

Yet no measure can yield results if it is piecemeal and appears sensationalistic.

The invitation to expatriated Greeks issued by the government with a salary of 3,000 which the state will subsidise is unfortunately that sort of piecemeal measure and does not appear to persuade Greek professionals who left Greece during the crisis, as they said in interviews with Ta Nea.

Clearly the government resorted to a measure that is simple to implement immediately.

Yet the announcement should have been accompanied by broader planning that takes international experience into account.

Countries such as The Netherlands have created programmes to attract highly specialised citizens who are working abroad back to their country.

The government should have already prepared for the rebrain battle.

This battle must be won at all costs if one considers the haemorrage of young academics who go abroad coincides with Greece’s great demographic problem.

The repatriation of Greek professionals many of whom have studied at Greek universities is necessary in the framework of the battle to reverse Greece’s negative demographic trend.

What is needed is to cultivate the appropriate environment.