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Eurobank Among First Greek Companies To Receive New Diversity Seal

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

June 26, 2026

Eurobank has emerged as one of the first 41 companies in Greece to receive the newly introduced Diversity Seal, a state-backed distinction designed to recognise employers that put equality, diversity and inclusion into practice.

State Recognition For Inclusion In Action

The award was presented under an initiative launched by Greece’s Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family to recognise private-sector organisations that have embedded equal opportunities, diversity and inclusion into their business operations.

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Presented on June 18, 2026, at the Byzantine and Christian Museum in Athens, the initiative aims to give formal recognition to companies that integrate inclusive practices into their workplace culture. Eurobank was represented at the ceremony by Group Chief Human Resources Officer Natassa Paschali.

A Structured Framework For Accountability

The Diversity Seal is the first organised state initiative in Greece designed to assess and recognise companies for implementing equal-opportunity policies and preventing workplace discrimination.

Assessments are based on both qualitative and quantitative criteria, examining not only company policies but also how inclusion is reflected in workplace culture, hiring practices and workforce composition.

The initiative forms part of a broader effort to establish a structured framework for evaluating and recognising diversity and inclusion practices across the private sector.

Eurobank Frames Inclusion As A Business Priority

Eurobank said the distinction reflects its long-standing commitment to creating a modern and inclusive working environment. According to the bank, respect, collaboration and equal opportunities are central to its corporate culture, while employees play an important role in fostering a workplace where diversity supports creativity, development and progress.

The bank also said its diversity, equality and inclusion policy is aligned with its core values and is intended to ensure that every individual has the opportunity to develop without discrimination.

That commitment applies regardless of personal characteristics, age, gender, family status, physical or mobility-related challenges, sexual orientation, social and economic background, or other characteristics and beliefs.

Why The Award Matters Now

The recognition comes at a time when environmental, social and governance considerations, including diversity and inclusion policies, are drawing greater attention from regulators, investors and businesses across Europe.

In that environment, workplace inclusion is increasingly viewed as more than a human resources initiative. It is becoming part of the broader governance and reputation agenda, with implications for resilience, culture and stakeholder trust.

Government And Corporate Leaders Emphasise Practice Over Promises

Commenting on the award, Minister of Social Cohesion and Family Domna Michailidou congratulated Eurobank and said diversity and inclusion should be reflected in everyday business operations rather than remain at the level of policy commitments. She noted that the Diversity Seal is awarded only after a formal evaluation process confirming that companies apply inclusion policies in practice.

“In a sector that is directly linked to trust, access and service for citizens, equality and inclusion cannot remain at the level of declarations,” Michailidou said. “They must be reflected in the way a bank organises its daily operations, supports its people, provides equal opportunities for advancement and creates a working environment free from exclusion.”

Paschali described the distinction as recognition of Eurobank’s long-term commitment to building an inclusive workplace and credited the bank’s employees with shaping its culture.

“Receiving the Diversity Seal is an important recognition of our commitment to creating a modern and deeply human working environment,” she said. “This distinction belongs to the people of Eurobank, who every day help shape a culture of respect, collaboration and inclusion.”

She also thanked the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family for the initiative, adding that Eurobank would continue investing in actions that strengthen equal participation, development and opportunities for everyone.

Part Of Greece’s Wider Recovery Agenda

The Diversity Seal is being implemented by the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family through the “Awareness of Diversity” initiative under Greece’s “Greece 2.0” National Recovery and Resilience Plan.

The programme is funded through the European Union’s NextGenerationEU initiative, which supports reforms and investments aimed at strengthening social cohesion, economic resilience and sustainable development across member states.

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Cyprus Still Offers Relative Value As Mediterranean Holiday Costs Rise

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

July 23, 2026

Cyprus is not the cheapest holiday destination in the Mediterranean, but it remains more affordable than many of its best-known rivals on two of the costs travellers notice first: hotel accommodation and dining out.

A Competitive Position In A Costly Region

Latest Eurostat data puts Cyprus’s restaurant and accommodation price index at 85.2, against an EU average of 100. That places the island slightly below Spain and Greece, while Slovenia, Croatia, Malta, Italy and France all rank as more expensive destinations.

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Portugal remains the standout value destination in the western Mediterranean, while Albania and Montenegro offer even lower prices further east.

The wider European picture follows a similar pattern. Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and North Macedonia all rank below Cyprus for both overall consumer prices and hospitality costs. Germany, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands and the Nordic countries are considerably more expensive.

The Broader Cost Of A Holiday

Looking beyond hotels and restaurants, Cyprus also remains cheaper than the EU average across the broader household basket, which includes groceries, clothing, transport and services. Overall prices were 10.8% below the bloc-wide benchmark. The island was less expensive than Spain, Malta, Italy and France, although Greece, Portugal and Croatia recorded even lower overall price levels.

A separate Euronews analysis reinforced that regional picture. It found that North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Romania, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Serbia and Albania were among Europe’s lowest-priced countries, while Iceland and Switzerland ranked at the opposite end of the scale, alongside several northern and western European economies.

Food bought in shops tells a slightly different story. On that measure, Cyprus sits almost exactly on the European average. Greece, Croatia and Malta all recorded higher grocery prices, while Spain offered slightly better value. The comparison highlights an important point for travellers: the cost of a holiday depends largely on how it is structured. A self-catering family, a couple dining out every evening and an all-inclusive guest are likely to have very different spending experiences in the same destination.

Where Holiday Bills Diverge Most

Some everyday purchases reveal even greater differences. According to the Euronews holiday comparison, alcoholic drinks in Greece were priced 54% above the EU average, while Croatia was more than one-third above the benchmark. Italy was 18.1% below the EU average and Spain 9.9% lower, while France and Portugal remained much closer to the European average.

Soft drinks also varied considerably. Italy recorded the lowest prices in the comparison, at 18.2% below the EU average, while Croatia was 33.5% above it. Seafood prices were more tightly grouped, ranging from 4.6% below the EU average in Portugal to 12.7% above it in Greece.

Transport costs showed a different pattern. France was the only country in the comparison where public transport prices exceeded the EU average. Portugal, Spain and Croatia were around 20% cheaper, while Greece remained just below the European benchmark.