site.btaUPDATED Greek Farmers Lift Blockade at Promachonas Border Crossing

Protesting Greek farmers lifted their blockade at the Promachonas border crossing opposite Kulata on the Bulgarian-Greek border, the Sky television channel reported on Sunday afternoon. The move allowed lorries to pass in both directions after traffic for heavy goods vehicles had been halter earlier in the day.

Agricultural producers and livestock breeders from Northern Greece had closed the crossing to lorries, allowing through only cars, buses and trucks carrying perishable goods.

The situation was similar on Saturday, when the blockade during the day caused a kilometre-long queue of heavy goods vehicles at the Kulata border crossing. The blockade was lifted later in the day, Greek public television ERT said.

Blockades by protesting Greek farmers continue on other key roads in the country, with the situation described as fluid and changing constantly. On Friday police in Thessaloniki used tear gas against protesting farmers who tried to block one of the main road junctions near the city’s airport.

The protests broke out over delays in paying farm subsidies following a corruption scandal at the Greek agricultural payments agency OPEKEPE, even though the government has started making partial payments.