site.btaGreek Farmers Start 48-Hour Road and Border Blockade, Bulgarian Cross-Border Traffic Expected to Be Disturbed

Protesting Greek farmers begin a 48-hour blockade of roads, border crossings and other facilities of the national transport infrastructure, Greek media outlets report citing decisions by farmer organizations held Wednesday evening. The Bulgarian authorities warned drivers that while previous protests have affected mostly the truck traffic, this time the blockades may be for cars as well.  

The head of the Bulgarian Border Police, Anton Zlatanov, told a news briefing at the Kalotina border crossing between Bulgaria and Serbia, that any information from the Greek side is forwarded to a situation headquarters which will make sure that carriers and citizens are informed of the latest situation.

According to Kethimerini.gr, the Kulata-Promachonas crossing between Bulgaria and Greece will be blocked from Thursday noon until Saturday noon. All trucks will be stopped while ad hoc decisions will be made for cars and buses on the spot by the protesting farmers. 

In Nevrokopi, Drama, farmers and livestock breeders will block trucks and commercial vehicles from 8:00 to 18:00 on Saturday, January 10, while  passenger cars  and tourist buses will be diverted to bypass roads. The blockade has been set up approximately 500 meters from the Exochi customs office on the border with Bulgaria.

Farmers have blocked several motorways and tunnels across the country and public broadcaster ERT said that protestors are trying to block bypass roads now.

Kathimerini.gr also reports that the farmers now demand to meet in person with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The government, for its part, said Wednesday that the measures they have announced are final, will not be revisited and no more concessions will be made.

At the Kalotina news briefing in Bulgaria, Bulgaria's outgoing Interior Minister Daniel Mitov said that Greek farmers traditionally hold protests every year. He also said that outgoing Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov had been assured by his Greek counterpart that the situation will be resolved soon. Also, the Foreign Ministry in Sofia has sent a note to Athens and is working with the Greek authorities towards lifting the roadblocks.

The Greek farmer protests started in late November 2025 over delayed subsidy payments. They have threatened to step up the protests and block all motorways and border crossings.