Greek farmers send “Christmas at blockades” message, escalating mobilizations daily demanding satisfied claims. Today, Thursday (18/12/25), they finalize next moves ahead of holidays at nationwide blockades meeting in Lefkona Serres at 2pm.
Tensions intensified after ELGA payments arrived “trimmed.” Farmers found deductions from bank accounts before basic subsidy crediting. Procedure normally deducts ELGA contributions upon subsidy, but here deductions preceded funds, sparking outrage.
Agriculture Ministry cited technical issue; payments settled by yesterday afternoon.
Government meeting in doubt
Today’s meeting centers on potential Friday government talks. Yesterday, PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis from Presidential Mansion appeared optimistic: “Believe de-escalation within days. Measures move in the right direction, fair demands considered. Hope positive response nearing Christmas.”
He added: “Want to believe they’ll soon leave blockades, can’t risk national economic activity or citizens visiting villages.”
Government representation level undecided: possibly Mitsotakis, or Hatzidakis/Tsiaras if PM still at Brussels Summit.
Extended customs blockades continue
Hour-long blockades persist at Promachonas/Exochi (Greece-Bulgaria borders) and Evzones/Niki (Greece-North Macedonia), with farmers/stockbreeders halting both traffic directions.
Private cars/buses pass freely; truck drivers join, blockades strengthen with other unions. Yesterday’s surprise international truck blockade lifted at 9pm to ease congestion.
Neurokopi Dramas farmers stage 8-hour blockade (till 8pm) 500m from Exochi customs; trucks banned, cars/buses via detours.
Evzones producers block from 6pm 4 hours, all vehicles (trucks/private); emergencies only. Niki customs 4-hour blockade till 11pm targets all trucks.
Government proposes 8.5¢/kWh electricity
Government proposes cheaper electricity at 8.5¢/kWh via DEH GAIA program negotiation. Farmers demand 7¢/kWh cap, energy exchange abolition – reaction pending.
Tax-free fuel pump solution via AADE mobile app ensuring transactions. Government accepts recalculating liters per crop.
Undistributed subsidies post-crosschecks total €150M, allocated early next year to farmers/stockbreeders offsetting income loss, addresses stolen funds redistribution demand.
OPEKEPE-AADE transfer non-negotiable
Farmers’ demand keeping OPEKEPE audit mechanism outside AADE flatly rejected. Mitsotakis clarified from Parliament: no discussion on non-transfer, time to overturn 40-year bipartisan pathology.
ND follows hard party line on OPEKEPE-AADE absorption bill, deleting deviators via nominal vote proposal.
Notable: last week’s closed ND meeting with Kostas Tsiaras saw MPs react against OPEKEPE-AADE authority transfer.
Christmas plan: roads open for travelers
Malgara farmers stress no holiday travel issues: tractors line left/right, keeping roads open.
Rizos Maroudas, Larissa Agricultural Unions Federation president: “Government wants closed roads.” Farmers are ready to cooperate, allowing festive travel.
Tensions high post-ELGA deductions despite “technical error” apology/promises. Many recipients still unpaid, fueling anger.
Nikaias farmers push escalation
Nikaias blockade farmers propose staying/escalating, no dialogue space without clear answers. Per larissanet.gr, similar at E-65 Karditsa; ~10 farmers head to Serres carrying proposal.
Nikaias escalation means blocking detours longer daily. Farmers insist no citizen travel hindrance for Christmas: mild private car flow allowed, not trucks/buses.
Determined to stay/blockades continue the fight. Post-holiday escalation possible; blockades at least till Friday.
Today’s decisions determine government dialogue fate.
Also read: Clashes and tear gas at the farmers’ protest in Brussels
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