Farmers block highways in Greece over soaring costs and EU trade deal

Farmers began a 48-hour blockade of major highways and toll stations across Greece to protest rising production costs and a proposed EU-Mercosur trade deal; police allowed emergency vehicles and redirected traffic. The government announced concessions including cheaper electricity rates for farmers and fuel tax rebates while warning it will not tolerate extended closures.

Farmers in Greece launched a 48-hour blockade of major highways, junctions and toll stations to protest rising production costs and a proposed EU-Mercosur trade deal. Tractors lined key routes and halted traffic except for emergency vehicles, while police directed vehicles to secondary roads and did not forcibly clear the blockades. The demonstrations follow months of unrest that began in November and were intensified by a subsidy payments scandal and a sheep and goat pox outbreak. The government has offered late concessions but also warned against longer closures. Key points: - Farmers enacted a 48-hour nationwide blockade of major highways, junctions and toll stations. - Traffic was halted except for emergency vehicles, and police rerouted traffic rather than forcibly removing blockades. - Protesters cite soaring production costs, delayed subsidy payments linked to a fraud scandal, and animal disease, and they oppose the proposed EU-Mercosur trade deal that they say would bring cheaper imports. - The government announced concessions such as cheaper electricity rates for farmers and fuel tax rebates, while warning it will not tolerate extended blockades. Summary: The blockades disrupted travel on key routes and brought longstanding agricultural grievances into sharper public view. Authorities reported limited concessions but maintained a warning against prolonged closures. The next steps in negotiations or any formal decision on the trade deal are undetermined at this time.