The Greeks decided to intensify protests and hold a demonstration in Athens

Greek farmers decided to intensify their protests on Tuesday, blocking highways and roads across the country and calling for a large demonstration in Athens, public broadcaster ERT reported.

The decision was made at a meeting of more than 70 Greek agricultural associations held on Tuesday in Larissa, central Greece, despite concessions made in recent days by the government of conservative Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Farmers and livestock farmers, who have been protesting for more than two weeks, announced that starting Wednesday they would simultaneously block regional roads, highways and border posts, ensuring that they would also demonstrate with tractors in Athens next week.

They also published a list of demands including a “revision” of the European Union’s (EU) Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), government subsidies for animal feed and other products, and compensation to “fully cover” damage to crops. as a result of a series of natural disasters.

Last week Mitsotakis announced an increase in aid for individual farmers in central Greece hit by severe flooding in September from the current 2,000 euros to a maximum of 10,000 euros.

The Conservative government also announced it would reimburse around 300,000 farmers this year, as it will in 2023, for a special diesel levy.

However, farmers considered these measures “insufficient” and demanded that fuel should not be taxed, pointing out that many of them still have not received a single euro of the compensation promised by the state.

The farmers’ decision to intensify their protests comes a day after government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis made it clear that the executive branch is not considering providing additional aid to farmers as the “resources at their disposal” from the Greek executive branch are “not inexhaustible.” .

However, Greek Finance Minister Kostis Hatzidakis said on SKAI radio on Tuesday that the government is ready to negotiate with farmers, but “within certain limits determined by the economy.”

While Mitsotakis hinted on Monday that he would not rule out the possibility of meeting with industry representatives, farmers have not yet requested a meeting with the Greek prime minister or any other member of the government.

European farmers, including in Portugal, have taken to the streets in recent weeks, cutting off roads with tractors and staging street protests to demand an easing of the CAP and more support for the sector. These actions have already forced some governments to take new measures. .