The inhabitants of this Cycladic island, like many other islanders in Greece, would like the EU not to forget them.
THE European elections are fast approaching and 9 million Greeks are preparing to vote.
Among them, the islanders, who represent a significant part of the population.
On the island of Milos in the Cyclades archipelago, residents say few people really care about the election because they don’t realize its importance in their daily lives.
Here we feel isolated, like second-class citizens
Voters who still feel concerned are disappointed and say the EU must and can do much more to help the islanders, a “world apart” in the Greek population, who needs attention.
According to bar owner Spiros Loukakis, “ people are not really interested in the European elections because they have not realized their importance. They do not understand that most decisions are made by the European Union and apply to all member states. So they don’t think it’s very important to participate or really get involved.”
“The European Union can do many things for the islanders and it must do them. When I say “must do them,” I don’t mean it’s mandatory. But here we feel isolated, we feel like second-class citizens. Regarding for example taxes or transport and their cost, as well as the cost of most products.” says Vasilis Papaikinos, a restaurateur on the island.
For their part, fishermen are worried about fish stocks, which constitute their livelihood, and are calling on the EU to take action.
“ There is a problem with fishing stocks. But they do not take any action or control to resolve this problem. » laments Frantzeskos Mavrogiannis, fisherman.
Farmers, for their part, are demanding European measures and policies that would allow them to live decently from the fruits of their labor.
According to Katerina Xidou, Farmer “In the past, we made profits if we worked hard. We also had employees, we were good at theory, and we made profits. But today we are reducing our production, we also have insects destroying crops wherever there are them.“
They think Europe has forgotten them
Hope and despair. This is how Greek islanders feel ahead of the European elections.
On the one hand, they hope that the EU will help them overcome their problems, such as high costs and the difficulties of living on an island. And on the other hand, they think that Europe has forgotten them. Many say they feel “like second-class citizens.”