Greek farmers block key highway, Bulgaria border crossing as protests escalate

By Ilayda Cakirtekin

ISTANBUL (AA) - Farmers in Greece blocked a national highway and border crossing with Bulgaria on Friday, as nationwide protests continue to escalate over delayed payments.

The protesters blocked the Athens-Lamia national highway, with dozens of tractors halting the traffic in both directions, according to daily Kathimerini.

They also drove their tractors to the Promachonas border crossing with Bulgaria earlier in the day.

Farmers in the Viotia region also announced a further escalation, unveiling a new blockade of the national highway planned for Sunday.

On Saturday, farmers are set to stage convoys from western and eastern Phthiotis region.

In Thessaloniki, tensions between farmers and police also escalated near an airport junction, with officers reportedly deploying barriers and tear gas, according to public broadcaster EPT.

Protesters say they are confronting an estimated €600 million ($700 million) gap in EU subsidies and other payments.

Greek farmers plan to escalate their campaign over rising production costs, delayed compensation, and issues with the state agricultural payments agency, OPEKEPE.

In June, the European Commission fined Greece €392.2 million (approximately $453.4 million) over a large-scale agricultural subsidy fraud dating back to 2016.

The fine stemmed from major oversight failures by OPEKEPE, which was dissolved in May after it was discovered that funds had been misused through fictitious pastures and fraudulent agricultural activities.