site.btaGreek PM Mitsotakis Says Blockades Do Not Serve Farmers' Demands, Additional Support Measures Under Review

Commenting on the ongoing protest actions by farmers and livestock producers, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis wrote on Facebook on Sunday that road blockades directed against other social groups do not serve farmers’ demands but, on the contrary, undermine them. He added that the occupation of roads and other public infrastructure, which belongs to everyone, is not a responsible course of action and harms both the country and local economies in the regions.

The Prime Minister also noted that he was surprised to learn that farmers had rejected a proposal for their representatives to meet with the government on Monday. Mitsotakis noted that dialogue cannot be conducted through ultimatums; solutions emerge only through discussion. He said the government remains open to talks with farmers and livestock producers seeking to address the sector’s problems.

At the same time, the government is taking into account every justified demand. A package of additional support measures is already under consideration, always within the limits of the national economy and in line with EU rules, Mitsotakis said. He is adamant that his position on reforming the state payment agency OPEKEPE by integrating it into the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) remains non-negotiable. "This is because it is the catalyst for the comprehensive modernization of the country's primary sector. As a result, EU funds will finally strengthen national production, while honest farmers will receive more money each year. It appears, however, that this bold decision has unsettled a number of people who had grown accustomed to operating by exploiting the gaps and malfunctions of the old system," said the Prime Minister.

On Saturday, protesting Greek farmers prepared a list of demands at a nationwide meeting in Nikaia, which will be presented to the government as a precondition for beginning negotiations to end the blockades on transport infrastructure, the state broadcaster ERT reported.