From early in the morning, buses transported hundreds of farmers and livestock breeders to the center of Athens from various parts of the country, including Thessaly, Heraklion, Kalavryta, Halkidiki, Drama, Kavala, Argolida, and Corinth, to participate in the farmers’ rally organized by the National Union of Agricultural Cooperatives (ETHEAS), marching toward the Ministry of Rural Development and Food and the OPEKEPE offices.
The main cause of the mobilization is what farmers describe as the “collapse” of the primary sector, due to two simultaneous pressures: delays in subsidy payments linked to the OPEKEPE scandal, and the outbreak of sheep and goat pox.
The government today announced a 50% increase in the fuel volume threshold for which farmers receive a tax refund on agricultural diesel.
These issues are seen as part of a series of ongoing “wounds” affecting Greece’s primary sector, from which it has not recovered: the sheep and goat plague outbreak in 2024 and the devastation caused by Storm Daniel in 2023.
A delegation from ETHEAS met with the Minister of Rural Development Kostis Tsiaras. After the meeting, the union’s president stated, “What we received were, once again, promises. Promises that payments will be made.” Decisions on whether the mobilizations will continue are expected to be finalized at the nationwide farmers’ assembly on November 23 in Nikaia, Larisa.
The government spokesperson had recently said that subsidy payments would proceed by the end of November. Additionally, on the day of the protests, the government confirmed that the threshold for agricultural diesel eligible for tax refund (EFK) is being permanently increased by 50%.
Sources: Νews24/7, Efimerida ton Sintakton [1], [2], [3]
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