Greece on Wednesday presented a detailed package of measures aimed at breaking a month-long deadlock with farmers protesting delayed EU subsidy payments, rising production costs and other grievances.
The measures were outlined during a press conference at the Ministry of Rural Development and Food attended by Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis, Rural Development Minister Kostas Tsiaras, Digital Governance Minister Dimitris Papastergiou and Deputy Finance Minister Thanos Petralias.
Hatzidakis said farmers had submitted 27 demands, of which 16 have been fully or largely met. He said seven demands fall outside fiscal limits or the European Union framework, while four remain under review.
The government’s interventions focus on six main areas, including the redistribution of 160 million euros from unused basic support funds – split evenly between livestock farmers and cotton and grain producers – and the extension of fixed electricity pricing under the GAIA tariff for two years. Electricity costs for farmers with no overdue debts will be reduced to 8.5 cents per kilowatt-hour.
Other measures include changes to agricultural insurance fund ELGA rules to allow 100% compensation and raise the maximum payout to 200,000 euros, investment incentives in the primary sector, a refund of excise duty on agricultural diesel at the pump, and the creation of a national traceability system to combat the mislabeling of imported products as Greek.
Tsiaras said the package goes beyond short-term relief and aims to build a sustainable future for agricultural production. He said the government seeks to shift from subsidy-based policies toward development through costed measures that increase income and added value.
“The government is a government for all citizens and all producers,” Tsiaras said. “It cares about all farmers, livestock breeders, fishermen and beekeepers – not only those protesting at roadblocks.”
Farmers at the Nikaia junction near the central city of Larissa are expected to meet later Wednesday to decide whether to enter dialogue with the government or escalate protests with a 48-hour shutdown. Similar meetings are planned at roadblocks in northern Greece.
The government has said no further concessions will be made. Officials warned that if talks are rejected and protests continue, authorities will move to a contingency plan that includes fines starting Thursday for tractors blocking traffic.