Greek farmers reject talks as protests escalate into third week

ATHENS - Greek farmers on Saturday rejected a government invitation for talks, vowing to escalate protests that have disrupted traffic across the country for a third week.

The decision was made during a nationwide meeting of farmer representatives, who stated they would first submit a list of demands and only engage in dialogue after receiving concrete government responses.

The protests, involving blockades of highways, border crossings and ports, were triggered by delays in EU subsidy payments following a corruption investigation into Greece's agricultural payments agency. Farmers are also demanding state support for rising production costs, livestock disease losses, weather damage, and long-standing structural problems.

Experts note Greek farmers remain heavily dependent on subsidies, which constitute about 47 percent of the average farmer's income.

"Farmers are dependent on subsidies. Structural problems were never resolved, while costs continued to rise," Efstathios Klonaris, professor of agricultural economics at the Agricultural University of Athens, was quoted as saying by the local daily To Vima.

The government has acknowledged payment delays and pledged substantial funds by the end of December, but stressed all payments must comply with EU regulations. It also warned that demands should consider the broader societal disruption.

While public surveys show most Greeks view the farmers' demands as legitimate, many oppose the roadblocks. With protests continuing into the Christmas period, concerns are growing over impacts on travel, tourism, and trade.