Greek farmers have turned highways into seas of tractors as protests over delayed EU subsidies reach boiling point this December. With over 20,000 tractors reportedly blocking roads nationwide, tensions peaked this week as demonstrators vowed to shut down Volos port – Greece's critical trade hub.
Tensions Escalate
Farmers' union leader Sokratis Alifteiras confirmed plans for a land-and-sea blockade starting Wednesday, telling reporters: "When your survival's at stake, you fight like there's no tomorrow." The protests come amid a perfect storm of challenges in 2025 – from plunging crop prices to a devastating sheep pox outbreak.
Survival at Stake
Cotton grower Evripides Katsaros laid bare the math crushing farmers: "My pears cost €31,000 to grow but only earn €27,000. We're literally paying to work." Many protesters say promised 2023 subsidies still haven't materialized under Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' government.
Government Response
While Athens pledges emergency funds, tobacco farmer Vaios Tsiakmakis argues: "Temporary fixes won't save family farms." With EU authorities investigating Greece's subsidy management, all eyes remain on whether new measures can prevent what farmers call "the collapse of rural Greece."
