Thessaly farmers prepare for new blockades, threatening road closures

Farmers in Greece's Thessaly region are gearing up for renewed protests, threatening to block national roads if their demands for fair payments and support are not met. The demonstrations, which have already seen farmers occupy blockades for 55 days, highlight deep frustration over the high cost of agricultural production and alleged state arrears.

Key demands include the immediate payment of funds that farmers claim the state owes them, with one farmer stating that "70,000 producers have abandoned the primary sector." They also call for EU funds to be directly linked to actual production and livestock farming, and for measures to combat illegal product "Hellenization," a practice where foreign goods are falsely marketed as Greek.

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In the 55 days at the blockades, we received promises from everyone that they would pay us. In the end, we went out on the street again because we are unpaid since winter, they haven't paid anything, 780 million euros were supposed to come with linked payments and they didn't put in a single euro.

Evripidis Katsaros, a member of the Tirnavos Agricultural Association, expressed the farmers' resolve. "We took promises from everyone that they would pay us. In the end, we went out on the street again because we are unpaid since winter," he told ThessPost.gr. He added that while 780 million euros were expected to be disbursed, "they didn't put in a single euro."

The farmers are warning of significant disruptions, with plans to "leave everything and block the roads for two, three, five days." The situation is escalating as the Panhellenic Blockades Committee is scheduled to meet soon to determine the next steps in their ongoing struggle for economic viability in the agricultural sector.

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Soon we will close roads for two – three – five days. We will leave everything and block the roads.