Farmers' blockades create long truck queues at Greek border crossings
Protesters say blockades highlight growing economic pressures on rural communities
BRUSSELS
Farmers and livestock breeders in Greece’s Macedonia region continued intermittent blockades at key border crossings on Thursday, causing significant delays in international freight and passenger traffic, according to daily Kathimerini.
Traffic resumed at the Promachonas checkpoint on the Greece-Bulgaria border in the afternoon after protesters temporarily lifted the blockade.
Farmers said they do not plan to disrupt traffic on Friday, though a general assembly scheduled for the morning will determine their next steps.
At the Evzoni border crossing with the nation of North Macedonia, protesters briefly allowed vehicles to pass to relieve congestion before reinstating the blockade.
Long lines of trucks were also reported at the Kipoi checkpoint on the Greek-Turkish border, where international freight has been held up.
"Only vehicles carrying perishable goods, such as seafood, are allowed to enter the country, in coordination with Greek and Turkish customs," Kostas Alexandris, head of the Alexandroupoli Agricultural and Livestock Association, said as quoted by the daily.
Toll lanes on the Thessaloniki-Athens national highway remain closed due to the ongoing protest actions.
In western Greece, farmers and livestock breeders blocked the Patras–Pyrgos highway on Thursday night near Kato Achaia. As a result, car traffic is being diverted.
Separately, two farmers are set to stand trial on Dec. 15 over incidents at the Platykambos blockade in Larissa last Sunday which saw two police officers injured amid clashes between protesters and police.
Dozens of farmers gathered outside the courthouse with tractors to support their colleagues and vowed to continue protests across Thessaly.
The demonstrations are part of a broader protest movement across northern Greece, with farmers voicing frustration over rising production costs, high fuel prices, and what they describe as insufficient government support measures.
Organizers say the blockades aim to highlight the mounting economic pressures faced by rural communities.
