After starting protests earlier this month, Greek farmers have expanded their nationwide actions, causing significant interruptions to traffic on principal motorways and periodically closing border crossings.

According to news reports, the demonstrations are a direct response to delays in farm aid payments, with participants deploying thousands of tractors and trucks at numerous blockade points.

On Tuesday, 9 December, the protests disrupted traffic at several points along two major highways: one connecting Athens to Thessaloniki in the north, and another linking the western port of Igoumenitsa to the Turkish border in the east.

In northern Greece, farmers intermittently restricted movement through the Promachonas and Kipi border crossings with Bulgaria and Turkey, and announced intentions to block the port and airport in Thessaloniki within the week.

Delays are also reported at inland borders, since farmers have also blocked customs offices, allowing only emergency and sensitive cargo to pass. Limitations at the borders are causing lineups and increasing waiting times, with no guarantees of border passage.

Roadblocks were also established in the southwestern and central regions, with farmers declaring plans to block the Volos port.

Kuehne+Nagel reports that container transportation is impacted, mainly due to a reduction in daily capacity. Trucks are also using alternative routes, leading to delays.

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