Farmers to meet PM on Tuesday as talks focus on energy costs and Mercosur deal

Farmers from Thessaly are scheduled to meet the prime minister at 1:00 p.m., followed at 3:00 p.m. by representatives from road blockades that had initially called for dialogue. After the meetings, farmers are expected to return to their blockades to reassess whether and how their mobilisations will continue.

The talks come amid a lack of a unified stance within the farming movement, which led to the formation of two separate delegations. One committee represents farmers from all regions and a range of products, while the second is made up of livestock breeders, beekeepers and fishermen. The arrangement was requested by farmers and accepted by the government.

Farmers aim to press the government to exhaust any remaining fiscal room, particularly to reduce electricity and diesel costs. Expectations, however, remain low, with government sources indicating that no additional support measures are likely beyond those already announced, especially on energy prices.

The EU’s Mercosur agreement with Latin American countries will also be raised, with farmers in northern Greece expressing concern that increased imports — notably rice and grains — could further depress prices. Although the deal has been approved, farmers are seeking political measures to safeguard domestic production and incomes.

Structural issues are also on the agenda, notably problems linking land registry data with tax records, which have left many farmers — particularly those leasing land with unresolved ownership issues — excluded from subsidies.

For now, roads remain open, tractors are positioned along highways without disrupting traffic, and border crossings at Evzones, Promachonas and Niki are operating normally. No protest rally has been planned in Athens, though farmers say this remains an option at a later stage if deemed necessary.