Greek farmers are escalating their nationwide mobilisations, warning the government that symbolic road and border blockades are only the beginning.
Speaking to journalists, representatives from agricultural unions insist they “will not retreat unless justice is done” and describe the current disruptions as merely a “mild warning.”
Rizos Maroudas, president of the Unified Federation of Agricultural Associations of Larissa (EOASNL) and head of the national blockades committee, said the past days mark “the most massive farm blockades in history.” He stressed that farmers and livestock breeders are demanding real solutions to “major structural problems” facing the primary sector.
“They list financial figures trying to convince society that everything is fine. But we are not on the roads to collect overdue payments—we are demanding that the government seriously confront the problems that plague our sector,” Maroudas said. Harsh weather, he added, will not deter farmers: “We endure tough conditions 365 days a year. We are not stepping back.”
Cretan farmers lead new phase: airport blockades
Farmers in Crete are taking the lead in the next stage of escalation. Manousos Stavrianoudakis, vice president of the Agricultural Union of Chania, stressed that nationwide mobilisation will intensify from Monday.
A mass rally is scheduled at the Pankritio Stadium at 11:30 a.m., followed by a two-hour blockade at the entrance of Chania’s Daskalogiannis Airport. “Our demands are shared across the country. We fight to remain in our villages and continue producing quality food for society,” Stavrianoudakis said.
More than 20,000 tractors and over 50 blockades are already active nationwide, with farmers vowing not to retreat “until we are vindicated.”
Road, port and border disruptions expand
Beyond customs stations, ports, and airports, farmers are also planning symbolic closures of bypass roads. From Monday, farmers at the central Nikaia blockade will close side roads along the Athens–Thessaloniki national highway.
A nationwide coordination meeting is expected in Larissa later this week.
Thessaloniki surrounded by blockades
Four large tractor blockades now surround Thessaloniki, including a major reinforcement of the Prasina Fanaria site with over 220 tractors. A critical meeting is scheduled for Monday afternoon in Trilofos, with farmers from Evros and Thessaly also invited.
More closures include:
- Daily one-hour closure at the Derveni junction
- Shutdown of both directions of the Thessaloniki–Edessa road at Chalkidona
- Road block at Aiginio by Pieria farmers
- Airport access in Ioannina blocked for three hours on Sunday
In Thessaly, the Karditsa blockade continues to grow with more than 2,500 tractors. Farmers from Karditsa, Trikala and Larissa will jointly blockade Volos port on Wednesday, joined by fishermen demonstrating against mass imports of foreign products.
