According to Reuters, hundreds of farmers in central and northern regions blocked roads with their tractors, demanding that the government immediately release the funds. The demonstrations escalated into clashes with police: near the city of Nikaia officers used tear gas against protesters attempting to break through barricades.
The payment delays stem from an investigation into fraudulent schemes in which some farmers allegedly falsified land and livestock ownership to illegally obtain EU funds.
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), which prosecutes crimes affecting the EU’s financial interests, announced earlier this year that it had uncovered evidence of collusion between farmers and state officials who facilitated the misappropriation of subsidies.
Greek law enforcement is conducting its own investigation, and a parliamentary committee is reviewing the work of the state agency OPEKEPE, which distributes roughly €2.5 billion in EU agricultural subsidies each year to hundreds of thousands of farmers.
The government has acknowledged that the first tranche of payments is indeed smaller than last year’s and that more than 40,000 farmer applications are currently under review due to the ongoing investigations.
Despite government assurances of transparency and accelerated procedures, farmers say they face a critical shortage of funds needed to continue operating and are demanding immediate action.
Protests may intensify in the coming days unless the government provides a clear timeline for payments and the results of the ongoing review.
PigUA.info based on materials from thepigsite.com