Greek farmers rally over subsidy delays and rising costs as unrest continues to grow

Farmers from across Greece gathered in central Athens, driving tractors to Syntagma Square outside parliament on Friday (13 February), protesting rising production costs, subsidy delays, and trade pressures.

Police closed central streets as demonstrators staged an overnight rally, highlighting mounting tensions over agricultural sustainability, EU subsidies, and import competition.

Protests intensified despite recent talks with Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who offered fuel tax rebates and reduced electricity costs. Farmers argue core issues remain unresolved.

• Delays in European Union farm subsidy payments after fraud investigations

• Livestock losses linked to sheep and goat pox outbreaks

• Opposition to the EU–Mercosur trade agreement, which reduces tariffs between the EU and South American bloc Mercosur

• Concerns over cheaper agricultural imports impacting domestic producers

Union leader Rizos Maroudas told ERT the protests would continue, accusing authorities of lacking political will to support Greece’s farming sector.

ℹ️ Al Jazeera, AP News