Meriç border crossing at Bahçeköy (Kipi) closed to trucks for 14th day
For a 14th consecutive day, the Kipi customs checkpoint in Meriç remains closed to freight trucks as local farmers continue their protest, maintaining a blockade with around 200 tractors stationed at the border crossing.
The farmers allow passage only to trucks carrying perishable goods, while permitting a limited flow of approximately 100 trucks per day in order to maintain a minimal level of traffic.
As a result of the ongoing blockade, more than 1,000 trucks—many of them originating from Türkiye, including several driven by Greek nationals—have accumulated on Turkish territory in a parking area near the customs station. On the Greek side, around 300 trucks are currently immobilized along the Egnatia Odos motorway, with average waiting times reaching up to three days.
Private vehicles and buses continue to cross the border in both directions without restrictions. However, traffic volumes for passenger vehicles have increased significantly in recent days. Dozens, and in some cases hundreds, of vehicles enter Greece daily from Turkey, primarily for shopping trips to nearby Greek cities.
This surge in passenger traffic has led to extended waiting times of up to six hours for cars and buses at the border crossing. The delays are occurring despite the fact that the new system for third-country nationals—requiring special identification procedures and biometric data collection prior to entry into Greece—has not yet been put into operation.
Source: ertnews.gr
