- News
Farmers in northern Greece have blocked border crossings with North Macedonia, Bulgaria and Turkey as part of a growing protest over delays in farm subsidy payments
Via AP news wireWednesday 03 December 2025 16:55 GMTGreek farmers block border crossing routes in escalating dispute over delayed EU subsidies
Show all 5
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails
Sign up to our free breaking news emails
Sign up to our free breaking news emails
Email*SIGN UPI would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice
Farmers in northern Greece disrupted traffic at border crossings on Wednesday in an escalating protest over delayed European Union -backed subsidy payments linked to an investigation into a corruption scandal.
Convoys of tractors blocked routes to North Macedonia, Bulgaria and Turkey forcing drivers into lengthy detours.
At the weekend, hundreds of farmers took to the streets, blocking roads with tractors in several areas.
Protests by farmers are common in Greece, but the latest unrest erupted over delays in subsidy payments following revelations of widespread fraudulent claims for EU funds.
The scandal prompted the resignation in June of five senior government officials and the phased shutdown of a state agency that handled agricultural subsidies.
Dozens of people have been arrested across Greece in recent weeks for allegedly filing false claims, in response to an investigation led by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office. The independent EU body that deals with financial crime said at the end of October that the investigation was linked to “a systematic large-scale subsidy fraud scheme and money-laundering activities.”
Michalis Chrisochoidis, Greece’s minister for public order, said this week the government remained open to talks with protest leaders but would not tolerate the shutdown of major transit points, including ports and railway hubs.
