Protesting farmers blocked off the Promachonas customs station on the Greek-Bulgarian border until 6:00-6:30 pm on Friday. The passage of cars and coaches is allowed, but trucks are not permitted to cross.
“We do not rule out the possibility that the customs station may not reopen at all,” a member of the coordinating protest committee told the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA-MPA).
Meanwhile, at 1 pm, farmers and livestock breeders from the municipality of Paionia, the wider Kilkis region, and Giannitsa in Pella are expected to arrive at the Evzoni customs station on the Greece-North Macedonia border. According to a decision made this morning at their general assembly, they intend to block it indefinitely.
At the Niki customs station, also on the border with North Macedonia, the blockade remains in effect until 1 pm, with the head of the coordinating protest committee noting to AMNA that a new mobilization in the afternoon cannot be ruled out. At the Exohi customs station on the Greek-Bulgarian border, farmers and livestock breeders from Nevrokopi set up a protest roadblock at the intersection located about 500 meters from the customs station.
They have scheduled a symbolic blockade of the point starting at 5 pm, when their general assembly will take place. Farmers have been demonstrating for weeks over what they say is an estimated €600 million ($699.3 million) shortfall in EU subsidies and other payments, delayed amid an investigation into a corruption scandal involving agricultural aid distribution.