Protesting farmers in Greece have begun to ease and in many places lift the road blockades on New Year's Eve to facilitate holiday travel, NOVA reported.
Representatives of the protesters from across the country will gather west of Thessaloniki on Sunday at noon to decide how they will continue their actions over delayed subsidies from the European Union.
Despite the easing of measures in a number of places, the farmers, the "Evzoni" border checkpoint with North Macedonia remained blocked in both directions from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on December 30. There were exceptions only for emergencies – ambulances and families with small children.
At the "Exohi" - "Ilinden" border checkpoint towards Bulgaria, the truck blockade remained in effect until 5:00 p.m. on December 30. It is scheduled to return again on January 2 at noon. Passenger cars were passing through via a short detour. Against this background, the "Promahon" - "Kulata" border checkpoint towards Bulgaria is fully open and is expected to remain so at least until January 2. By then, farmers in Chalkidoni and on the Thessaloniki - Athens highway have also lifted the blockades.
Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis warned that in the event of an escalation, sanctions could be imposed on those who refuse dialogue. Civil Protection Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis defended police traffic diversions around some roadblocks, stressing that the priority is the safe movement of citizens and the protection of human life.