Farmers in northern Greece have taken drastic action, blocking major border crossings with tractors on Wednesday. This move defies a direct government warning and marks a significant escalation in their ongoing protest. The core issue is the severe delay in European Union-backed subsidy payments, a situation worsened by a massive corruption scandal.
Border Blockades and Escalating Tensions
Convoys of agricultural vehicles effectively shut down transit routes leading to North Macedonia, Bulgaria, and Turkey. This forced commercial and passenger traffic into long, inconvenient detours. The border blockades follow weekend demonstrations where hundreds of farmers used their tractors to obstruct roads in several regions across the country.
While farmer protests are not uncommon in Greece, the current unrest has a specific and potent cause. It stems directly from the holdup in vital subsidy payments. This delay occurred after the revelation of widespread fraudulent claims for EU agricultural funds.
The Root Cause: A Systemic Fraud Scandal
The subsidy scandal has shaken the Greek agricultural sector and government. It led to the resignation of five senior government officials in June. Furthermore, the state agency responsible for managing agricultural subsidies is being phased out and shut down completely.
The investigation, spearheaded by the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO), has been sweeping. This independent EU body, which tackles financial crime, stated in late October that its probe was targeting "a systematic large-scale subsidy fraud scheme and money-laundering activities." In recent weeks, dozens of individuals across Greece have been arrested on suspicion of submitting false claims for funds.
A Sector Under Dual Pressure
Greek farmers are facing a devastating double blow this year. Beyond the financial strain caused by the subsidy delays, the sector has also been grappling with a serious outbreak of goat and sheep pox. This disease outbreak necessitated a mass cull of livestock, compounding the economic hardship for countless farming families.
Protest organizers have vowed to intensify their actions. On Wednesday, they demanded the government accelerate a complete overhaul of how agriculture subsidy applications are assessed and processed. Kostas Tzelas, a member of the national blockade committee based in central Greece, captured the mood of the protesters in an interview with The Associated Press.
"The poorer we get, the more determined we become. There is no turning back. We have to solve these problems or there’s no future for us," Tzelas said. He placed the blame squarely on those who exploited the system, stating, "The money was stolen by opportunists. The state should take the money back and give it to the farmers."
The government, through Minister for Public Order Michalis Chrisochoidis, has stated it remains open to dialogue with protest leaders. However, it has also issued a firm warning that it will not tolerate the blockade of critical national infrastructure, which includes major ports and railway hubs. The standoff continues as farmers seek justice and financial relief.
