ATHENS – Demonstrations by agricultural producers continue, blocking main roads and border crossings in Greece. Prompted by anger over delays of subsidy payments to farmers by the government and other repercussions of the scandal related to EU subsidies administered by the OPEKE agency of the Greek state, the leaders of the protesters have declared they will escalate, even in the run up to Christmas, despite the Greek government’s pleading for talks.
On Friday morning, December 19, the producers were reported to be proceeding with the blockade of Malgari, on the Thessaloniki-Athens national road, a move aiming to block the flow to Thessaloniki from noon that day until December 23, while the opposite flow remains closed for the 19th day.
In the meantime, according to a member of the blockade’s coordination committee, general meetings will be held daily at regular intervals. It was announced that if deemed necessary to relieve congestion or facilitate traffic, the flow to Thessaloniki will be temporarily opened.
Farmers’ and livestock breeders’ blockade at Promachonas, Serres, Thursday, December 18, 2025. (VASILIS VERVERIDIS/MOTIONTEAM)
Regarding the stance that the farmers will take from December 24 onwards, the decision will be finalized at a new general assembly.
Symbolic blockades also continue, with tractors lined up on the left and right of the roadway. On Dec. 19 there was one at the Derveni junction, at the intersection of the old Thessaloniki-Kavala national road with other major roads, and at the old Thessaloniki-Edessa National Road. Police vehicles have been lined on the roadway, preventing any attempt by producers to move to the Macedonia airport hub, however.
On December 18, sixty-one representatives of farmers, livestock breeders, fishermen, and beekeepers at the meeting of the Panhellenic Blockade Committee in Lefkonas, Serres decided to further escalate their protests, stating that they are disappointed with the government’s failure to respond to their demands.
The representatives called on the Prime Minister to provide immediate solutions to their demands, pointing out that if the government wishes to maintain agricultural activity in rural areas and support a sustainable agricultural sector, it must take substantive action.
Blockades Planned to be Symbolic During Holidays
The representatives said that they will spend the Christmas and New Year holidays at the roadblocks set up across the country, but will facilitate the movement of citizens. As the representatives of the roadblocks reiterated, their goal is not to turn society against them, but to continue their struggle by demanding effective solutions for the future of the primary sector.
Border Actions
Farmers on December 17 remained at the blockades they have set up at the customs offices of Evzoni and Niki, on the borders of Greece with North Macedonia, as well as at Promachonas and Exochi, on the borders with Bulgaria. Farmers at the Promachonas customs office were continuing to block the area for many hours, with the mobilization exclusively affecting international transport trucks. Private cars and buses were allowed to pass freely, however. The blockade is also being reinforced by representatives of other labor unions.
Farmers’ and livestock breeders’ blockade at Promachonas, Serres, Thursday, December 18, 2025. (VASILIS VERVERIDIS/MOTIONTEAM)
In full coordination with their colleagues in Promachonas, farmers and livestock breeders from Nevrokopi, Drama, were proceeding with an eight-hour blockade, with the entry and exit of trucks of all types prohibited – passenger vehicles and tourist buses were able to get through via detours.
It was a surprise move when on Dec. 17 farmers in the Serres prefecture proceeded to escalate their action by indefinitely blockading the customs office at the Promachonas border crossing with Bulgaria for all international long-haul trucks.
It’s Not Just the Greeks
In Brussels, farmers in tractors blocked roads, threw potatoes and eggs, and set off fireworks in Brussels on Wednesday outside a European Union leaders’ summit, prompting police to respond with tear gas and water cannons as protesters rallied against a major free-trade deal with South American nations.
Farmers fear that the deal will undercut their livelihoods.