Greek farmers blockade highways, ports in nationwide protest over aid delays

Thousands of Greek farmers have formed dozens of blockades across Greece, to push the government to continue subsidy payments after they were halted when an investigation revealed some farmers, aided by government workers, provided fraudulent paperwork to qualify for payouts.

“We are not on the road, in the cold, for nothing. There is a serious reason and at this moment we are at the end of our rope, enough is enough," said Giorgos Papastefanoudis, a farmer taking part in a blockade. "We are all a chain and no link must break. If a link breaks, the whole country’s economy will fall apart.”

The payouts are compensation for flooding which devastated crops and livestock in 2023. Recent audits that slowed disbursements coincide with an outbreak of sheep pox that has forced farmers to cull massive quantities of livestock, further fueling desperation in an already heated dispute.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis acknowledged the delay in payments and said his government is open to discussions on Monday (Dec. 15). He urged all those participating to halt the blockades, which have gone on for more than 10 days and are significantly harming trade and businesses.

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