Farmers blockade highways over subsidy delays
Thousands of tractors bring national roads to a standstill as frustration over stalled payments sparks the most extensive agricultural protests in a decade.
Greek farmers have mounted large-scale blockades on major highways, deploying thousands of tractors in an escalating protest against delayed subsidy payments. The mobilization has raised government concerns that the demonstrations could continue well into January.
More than 2,500 tractors have converged since Sunday on key transport arteries, including the Nikaia junction on the Athens–Thessaloniki National Highway and parts of the E65 near Karditsa. Farmers have announced that they intend to remain at the blockades through the holiday period, marking the first full closure of national highways due to agricultural protests in more than ten years.
The immediate cause of the unrest is the government’s advance payment of basic agricultural subsidies. Large numbers of farmers either received no funds or were paid substantially less than expected, according to a government official with long experience in the agricultural sector. “They see the face of ‘Frappé’ all over the media and are outraged,” the official said, referring to a key figure implicated in the EU farm subsidy scandals. “They say, ‘Because you couldn’t control him, now we don’t get our money,’ and unfortunately they’re right.”
This year the government disbursed €363 million in advance payments—down from €476 million last year—and with delays of more than a month. After deducting €85 million for ELGA insurance contributions, roughly €280 million ultimately reached farmers.
Estimates indicate that about 139,000 producers did not receive payments. These include some 2,000 individuals whose tax identification numbers were frozen due to the subsidy scandal, as well as 45,000 farmers whose files will undergo further review. Agriculture Minister Kostas Tsiaras also pointed to additional affected groups: owners of 11,000 agricultural parcels entangled in cadastral issues and 13,000 livestock farmers excluded from subsidies due to insufficient registered pastureland.
Tensions escalated on Sunday when riot police used chemicals and stun grenades to stop farmers attempting to reach the Athens–Thessaloniki Highway, resulting in injuries and three arrests. Dozens of farmers later gathered outside the Larissa courthouse in solidarity with the detainees.
Police have been instructed to avoid force and maintain dialogue at each blockade, though authorities acknowledge that communication remains challenging. The protests are notable for their broad political character, drawing support from across the ideological spectrum.
Farmers stress that their demands go beyond immediate payments. “The issue is not for them to give us something so we go home, but to understand the problems and address them,” demonstrators said.
