We have the green light from the European Commission for the payment of agricultural subsidies under the new system and we are moving forward as quickly as possible. This was assured by the Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis on the occasion of the protest of the farmers, who today announced that they will block the "Kulata - Promachon" border crossing, as well as key road sections in Northern Greece, BTA reported.
According to the Prime Minister, the government's goal is to pay subsidies worth 1.2 billion euros by the end of December.
"Ekatimerini" reports that despite Mitsotakis' assurances, the farmers are moving towards the border with Bulgaria to organize a blockade. Farmers, livestock breeders and beekeepers from Serres have bypassed a police blockade aimed at stopping them at the Lefkonas junction on the A25 highway, passing through the field in the direction of Promachon. They are expected to hold a meeting later today to discuss their future actions.
In a statement to the Government Council for Economic Policy, Kyriakos Mitsotakis stressed that extreme actions do not help and that he is open to dialogue, adding that he understands the dissatisfaction of farmers over delayed payments and stressed that they will still receive half a billion euros more this year than last.
He stressed that he makes a "complete distinction between those who have not received their payments due to inspections and those who are not entitled to subsidies".
The farmers' protests are due to the delay in the payment of agricultural subsidies due to the corruption scandal in the Greek agricultural payments agency OPECEPE, although the government has begun partial disbursement of the funds.