Greek Agriculture Minister Kostas Tsiaras on Monday called on protesting farmers to enter substantive talks with the government and said there was room to consider new support measures, acknowledging that some of their demands were justified.
Farmers have staged nationwide protests for 16 days, blocking roads and border crossings, to press for relief from rising production costs, volatile international markets and the impact of climate change.
“Some of the demands raised by farmers are justified and reflect the pressures facing the primary sector,” Tsiaras told reporters, adding that the government had been in dialogue with farmers for months and was prepared to examine targeted interventions.
He said possible measures could include steps to cut production costs and improve liquidity, lower and stabilise electricity prices for agriculture, relief on fuel costs, and urgent changes to agricultural insurance rules so compensation would cover 100% of insured damage, particularly for sectors under the greatest strain.
“We are immediately calling on farmers’ representatives to engage in meaningful dialogue so we can examine specific issues,” Tsiaras said. “The sooner this happens, the better – for farmers and for society as a whole – with respect for their needs and full awareness of the state’s real capacities.”
Tsiaras said the government was seriously assessing the sector’s problems and aimed to maximise support through national resources and European Union funds, while stressing that unresolved challenges remained. He added that each demand had been reviewed with regard to producers’ needs, economic sustainability and the EU’s institutional framework.
On Saturday, farmers from across Greece decided not to meet Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and instead sent the government a letter outlining their demands. These include the immediate settlement of state arrears, guaranteed minimum prices covering production costs, compensation for income losses in 2025 where prices fell below costs, curbs on imports and mislabelling of foreign produce as domestic, and a doubling of agricultural pensions.
They also called for accountability over a scandal involving the EU farm payments agency OPEKEPE, demanding that misappropriated funds be returned to rightful beneficiaries, that farmers not bear any penalties, and that political and criminal responsibility be established.
The protests began on Nov. 30 and have included blockades at major crossings to North Macedonia, Bulgaria and Turkey, disrupting transport and trade.