Greek government advises farmers not to intensify subsidy protest

On Wednesday, Greek authorities cautioned farmers against intensifying their roadblock demonstrations, which demand delayed EU subsidies tied to a large-scale fraud investigation. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis emphasized in a televised cabinet address that extreme measures such as prolonged highway closures, airport shutdowns, or customs office blockades do not advance farmers interests and only disrupt society.

This week, thousands of farmers have been obstructing the Athens-Thessaloniki highway with their tractors and threatened to shut down the border crossing with Bulgaria on Wednesday. Riot police have been deployed to maintain access, but farmers approached within 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) of the border before being stopped. Long lines of vehicles are already forming at the crossing.

Farmers have been hit hard by a sheep pox outbreak and delayed subsidy payments due to an ongoing EU investigation into extensive subsidy fraud. EU authorities exposed the scandal in May, revealing that fraudsters submitted false claims exceeding 30 million euros ($35 million) for Common Agricultural Policy subsidies, including claims on non-owned land and exaggerated livestock numbers.

The government has reassured that legitimate farmers will not lose payments once the investigation concludes. Mitsotakis stated that genuine farmers will receive more than 500,000 euros in subsidies compared to 2024, describing the situation as a "challenging transitional period." Despite these assurances, many farmers feel the compensation is insufficient and overdue.

Aris Lioutas, a 55-year-old cotton farmer, expressed frustration: Since 2014, subsidies have been continuously reduced. I used to receive around 6,000 euros annually for 150 acres of cotton, but this year, I got less than 1,000 euros due to the scandal. Similarly, 18-year-old Giorgos Nikolis, whose family grows industrial tomatoes, described the sector as being in despair with low product prices threatening the broader society.

Livestock farmers are also demanding compensation for losses exceeding 400,000 sheep and goats culled to contain the sheep pox outbreak. Authorities have rejected vaccination measures, citing insufficient evidence of effectiveness. Nikolis lamented the financial devastation, noting entire livelihoods were wiped out in a single day.

Corn grower Christos Trikalianis, 65, expressed outrage at revelations that politically connected individuals received substantial subsidies, while ordinary farmers struggle with minimal support. Just a few days ago, I received a net amount of about 700 euros. It is insulting to see millions handed to those with no link to agriculture, he said.

Author: Benjamin Carter