Farmers set to block borders
Protesting farmers, who caused road disruption in central and northern Greece over the weekend after parking their tractors at major junctions, are to step up their action as of today by blocking off border crossings. The farmers want the government to help boost their incomes and reduce production costs by releasing subsidies. But Deputy Finance Minister Filippos Sachinidis stated outright yesterday that «the economy has no scope or leeway for such benefits.» Protesters responded by pressing Sachinidis to «intervene so that an essential dialogue can begin about strategies for the agricultural sector.» The farmers have threatened to maintain roadblocks, which are already causing serious disruptions for motorists, and to set up new ones starting today at major crossings at Greece’s borders with Turkey, Bulgaria, Albania and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. If the action goes ahead, it will cause havoc with cross-border trade.
