Hundreds of Greek farmers blocked major roads this weekend, angry about European Union farming subsidies that are very late. The protests turned violent, with police using tear gas against farmers who used their tractors to block highways. The problem comes from a serious lack of money for farmers, made worse by a large investigation into fraud that has stopped important financial aid.
The main reason for the anger is a big drop in payments. Farmers have received the first part of their direct EU payments this year, but it is 100 million euros less than last year. This is not a simple budget cut. Greek authorities and the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) are checking applications very carefully. They have found a major fraud scheme, where some farmers, working with government workers, reportedly used false information about their land and animals to claim EU money they did not deserve.
"The government must find answers, and we will stay here until they do," said Costas Tzelas, a farm union representative. Protesters set up blockades near important farming areas, cutting parts of the main highway between Athens and Thessaloniki. When some tried to pass police lines, it led to clashes and arrests.
The situation has caused a political crisis. The Greek agency OPEKEPE, which handles about 2.5 billion euros in EU aid every year, is now being investigated by parliament. The government is in a difficult position. It must stop corruption, but also help honest farmers who are now in financial trouble. Deputy Minister Christos Kellas said, "They received 100 million euros less at this stage. After reviews, those who should get money will receive it."
Right now, checks are happening on over 40,000 farmers' applications. This slow process has created a cash flow problem. The total missing money from EU and national payments is now around 600 million euros. This threatens not only individual farms but whole rural areas in Greece.
More protests are planned. The government promises to be transparent and pay all verified farmers, but the review process takes a long time. This situation shows a difficult conflict: the need to protect EU money from fraud, and the severe damage done to honest farmers by the resulting bureaucratic delays.