Greek farmers blocked the Port of Thessaloniki on Friday as part of nationwide protests demanding delayed European Union subsidies and compensation for rising production costs and livestock losses.
The demonstrations coincided with similar actions at the regional port of Volos, where farmers and local fishermen disrupted operations to highlight financial shortfalls exceeding 600 million euros. Farmers from Thessaly, a central agricultural region hit by floods in 2023, have deployed thousands of tractors and trucks across major motorways, intermittently blocking border crossings and creating long queues at the Promachonas crossing with Bulgaria.
Protesters have refused to enter dialogue unless the government addresses delayed subsidies, high production costs, and compensation for losses caused by a sheep pox outbreak that forced the culling of hundreds of thousands of animals. A convoy of protesting farmers, marked by blaring horns, black flags and symbolic coffins, gathered outside Thessaloniki’s main port entrance under police supervision.
The centre-right government of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has urged union leaders to present joint demands and send delegates to talks. Officials have promised additional funds to legitimate farmers and acknowledged the multiple pressures they face this year, including low produce prices, higher energy costs, and livestock losses due to the epidemic.
The protests come amid ongoing audits following an EU investigation into a farm subsidy scandal. Prosecutors alleged that thousands of suspects, including non-farmers, falsified land ownership and exaggerated livestock numbers for payouts. Greek officials estimate that more than 30 million euros in false claims were made, costing genuine farmers roughly 70 million euros annually.
Organisers said next steps will be decided in general assemblies and a nationwide meeting of blockade representatives scheduled for Saturday in Nikaia, near Larissa. The protests have drawn attention to the combined impact of delayed EU subsidies, disease outbreaks, and high operational costs on Greece’s agricultural sector.
Hungary has strongly criticised NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte’s warning that Russia could be capable of attacking the alliance within five years...
Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to halt all shooting from Friday evening following renewed fighting along their shared border, U.S. President Donald...
China’s Ministry of Commerce announced on Friday that it will introduce a licensing system for steel exports starting in 2026, covering around 300 s...
Venezuela’s oil shipments have plunged following the United States’ seizure of a tanker earlier this week....
The Kremlin on Friday dismissed proposals for a ceasefire to allow a territorial referendum in Ukraine, describing any pause in hostilities as a tacti...
Hungary has strongly criticised NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte’s warning that Russia could be capable of attacking the alliance within five years, with Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó describing the remarks as irresponsible and dangerous.
Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to halt all shooting from Friday evening following renewed fighting along their shared border, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday.
China’s Ministry of Commerce announced on Friday that it will introduce a licensing system for steel exports starting in 2026, covering around 300 steel products.
Venezuela’s oil shipments have plunged following the United States’ seizure of a tanker earlier this week.
Japan has lifted a tsunami advisory issued after an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.9 hit the country's northeastern region on Friday (12 December), the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said. The JMA had earlier put the earthquake's preliminary magnitude at 6.7.
The United States issued new sanctions targeting Venezuela on Thursday, imposing curbs on three nephews of President Nicolas Maduro's wife, as well as six crude oil tankers and shipping companies linked to them, as Washington ramps up pressure on Caracas.
Iran is preparing to host a multilateral regional meeting next week in a bid to mediate between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The resignation of Bulgaria's government on Thursday (11 December) puts an end to an increasingly unpopular coalition but is likely to usher in a period of prolonged political instability on the eve of the Black Sea nation's entry into the euro zone.
Kyiv has escalated its naval campaign against Moscow’s economic lifelines, claiming a successful strike on a vessel suspected of skirting international sanctions within the Black Sea.
Türkiye’s Trade Minister Omer Bolat said Friday that discussions in Washington with U.S. officials have strengthened efforts to expand bilateral trade, moving closer to a $100 billion target.
Lebanon is prepared to demarcate its border with Syria, President Joseph Aoun said on Friday, while noting that the dispute over the Shebaa Farms could be addressed at a later stage.
Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif held talks on Friday during the International Peace and Trust Forum in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, focusing on bilateral relations as well as regional and global issues
ussian President Vladimir Putin described Moscow’s relations with Baghdad as historically strong and unbroken during a meeting with Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid in Turkmenistan.
Hungary has strongly criticised NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte’s warning that Russia could be capable of attacking the alliance within five years, with Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó describing the remarks as irresponsible and dangerous.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment