### Farmers in Greece Escalate Protests Amidst Delayed EU Subsidies Farmers and livestock breeders across Greece have intensified their protests, leading to widespread road blockades and disruptions. The demonstrations, which have escalated significantly since early December 2025, are primarily driven by grievances over delayed payments of European Union subsidies, which have been exacerbated by a corruption scandal involving the agricultural payments agency. As a result, farmers are mobilizing thousands of tractors and blocking major highways, airports, and border crossings, causing significant traffic disruptions and public unrest [https://www.ekathimerini.com/economy/1289094/farmers-step-up-nationwide-road-blockades-across-greece][https://caliber.az/en/post/greek-farmers-intensify-protests-over-delayed-eu-subsidies]. ### Structure of the Protests and Their Implications 1. **Nature of Protests**: Farmers have organized extensive road blockades across Greece, including major highways and border crossings, to demand immediate action on delayed EU subsidies. 2. **Scale of Mobilization**: The protests have seen participation from thousands of farmers, with estimates of 7,500 to 8,000 tractors involved in the demonstrations [https://www.dnews.gr/eidhseis/news-in-english/560254/greek-farmers-launch-largest-protest-in-a-decade-as-blockades-spread-nationwide]. 3. **Government Response**: The Greek government has expressed willingness to negotiate but has warned against extreme actions that disrupt key transport routes [https://apnews.com/article/greece-farmers-protests-subsidies-9bbf128b5c1409e0edaa43d662cbf0e7]. 4. **Public Impact**: The blockades have led to significant traffic disruptions, affecting both local and international transport, with reports of long truck lines at border crossings [https://www.ekathimerini.com/economy/1288789/farmers-block-athens-lamia-highway-protests-over-eu-payment-delays-intensify]. ### Supporting Evidence and Data - **Protest Scale**: Approximately **20,000** farmers participated in the protests on December 8 alone, with blockades reported at multiple key locations including airports and highways [https://fakti.bg/en/world/1020059-grackite-fermeri-blokiraha-letishta-i-patishta-v-calata-strana]. - **Financial Context**: An estimated **€600 million** in EU agricultural payments remain outstanding, contributing to the urgency of the protests [https://pigua.info/en/post/news-of-ukraine-and-world/greek-farmers-stage-mass-protests-over-delayed-eu-payments-as-government-faces-corruption-probe]. - **Corruption Scandal**: The protests are linked to a broader investigation into corruption within the agricultural payments agency, which has led to the resignation of several officials [https://apnews.com/article/greece-farmers-protests-subsidies-9bbf128b5c1409e0edaa43d662cbf0e7]. ### Conclusion: A Critical Moment for Greek Agriculture The ongoing protests by Greek farmers represent a critical moment for the agricultural sector, driven by urgent demands for financial support and accountability from the government. The situation is characterized by: 1. **Escalating Tensions**: Farmers are increasingly frustrated with the government's inaction regarding delayed subsidies, leading to widespread protests. 2. **Public Disruption**: The blockades have caused significant disruptions to transportation and trade, affecting the broader economy. 3. **Need for Resolution**: There is an urgent need for the government to address the farmers' concerns to prevent further escalation and restore stability in the agricultural sector. In summary, the protests reflect deep-seated issues within the agricultural system in Greece, necessitating immediate government intervention to resolve the crisis and support the livelihoods of farmers [https://www.tovima.com/society/farmers-protests-escalate-as-roadblocks-spread-across-greece].