Final decisions on the future of agricultural blockades have been postponed to Tuesday, January 20th, as announced by farmers’ representatives after their meeting with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the Maximos Mansion. They left all options open regarding the future of their mobilizations. Specifically, farmers, livestock breeders, beekeepers, and fishermen appeared skeptical about the measures to be implemented, which both the Prime Minister and Agriculture and Food Minister Kostas Tsiaras clarified would only involve “technical improvements,” as the framework of interventions remains unchanged.
Farmers’ blockades: all eyes on the assemblies
After the much-anticipated meeting, all eyes are now turned to the blockades and assemblies that will take place across the country on Tuesday (20/1). These general assemblies will determine whether tractors will be withdrawn from the roads and whether producers will return to their fields, farms, and boats. The scenarios being considered for the future of agricultural mobilizations, as has become known, include a “landing” in Athens for a rally, de-escalation with tractor withdrawal from national highways or their continued presence, local demonstrations throughout the country, or even a “siege” of Athens. In any case, after 52 days of mobilizations, the agricultural movement must decide whether to choose the “hard” line or the path of de-escalation, so the decisions will not be easy.
Farmers’ blockades: producers’ reactions after the meeting with Kyriakos Mitsotakis at Maximos
“We are not satisfied with the meeting,” declared Rizos Maroudas, president of the Unified Federation of Agricultural Associations of Larissa, adding that “tomorrow, Tuesday, assemblies will be held at all blockades across the country where there will be briefings on everything discussed with the Prime Minister, and we will all decide together.” He emphasized that all money paid to the country’s farmers was disbursed due to pressure from the blockades, adding that “the government has the fiscal space to solve the problems, but lacks the political will.”
For his part, Thomas Moschos, president of the Agricultural Association of Kastoria, characteristically stated that “we hit a wall” and that none of the questions posed during the meeting were answered. “The livestock sector is heading toward collapse,” he noted, saying that “we asked for an honest answer and there was none from the government’s side.”
Panagiotis Perakis, president of the Volos Fishing Association, also expressed his dissatisfaction with the meeting’s outcome. According to him, issues such as the pufferfish, marine mammals, and illegal fishing were raised. Regarding the latter issue, he emphasized that “if illegal fishing is addressed, both the state and fishermen will benefit.” “We presented the sector’s demands, but we’re keeping our expectations low from today’s meeting,” said Konstantinos Leontarakis, president of the Federation of Greek Beekeeping Associations. According to him, all beekeeping problems were raised, “a sector that has been sending out SOS signals for years,” and he maintained that an interministerial meeting will be held, under the Prime Minister, to discuss all beekeeping sector issues in detail.
The statement by Kostas Leontarakis, President of the Federation of Greek Beekeeping Associations: “Representing 55 associations across Greece today, we informed the Prime Minister. From now on, no one has the right to say they don’t know about beekeeping problems extensively and in great detail, not even the Prime Minister himself. We referred to all the problems that exist now and for six years, perhaps decades, stagnating and plaguing beekeeping. Beekeeping has been sending SOS signals now and for many years, today we came here with low expectations. The only consolation the Prime Minister committed to regarding beekeeping is that there will be an interministerial meeting with the Prime Minister himself present to immediately resolve beekeeping issues. As for… making a prediction about the outcome of this interministerial meeting, I personally keep low expectations. Thank you very much.”
“Productive meeting” says Tsiaras about the tête-à-tête with farmers
Agriculture and Food Minister Kostas Tsiaras spoke of a productive meeting after the nearly 5-hour discussion at Maximos Mansion. Tsiaras noted that the government stands by the producers, emphasizing that all issues concerning the primary sector were raised during the meeting.
Specifically, the already announced measures were analyzed, such as reduced prices for agricultural electricity and the method of removing the special consumption tax from agricultural diesel at the pump. Issues such as ATAK and KAEK, consequences of the climate crisis, major irrigation projects, and the establishment of agricultural chambers were also discussed. “We need to discuss and examine everything together,” said the Agriculture and Food Minister, noting however that nothing changes from the measures announced by the Prime Minister last week.
He also emphasized that there will be farmer representation on committees dealing with trade agreements and the CAP. Finally, he noted that blockade representatives requested, among other things, less frequent electricity bill issuance and recalculation of agricultural diesel liters.
Mitsotakis: “I am cautiously optimistic,” Prime Minister’s message after meeting with farmers
The Prime Minister appeared cautiously optimistic about defusing tensions in the agricultural sector after the meeting with primary sector representatives at Maximos Mansion. Kyriakos Mitsotakis, during a discussion with Book’s Journal editor and journalist Ilias Kanellis at an event at the Athens Conservatory, characteristically stated: “I want to believe that logic will prevail – that they have nothing more to gain by remaining at the blockades. I think this is something they have realized themselves. I am cautiously optimistic but also ready to handle any other situation.“
The Prime Minister acknowledged that many farmers’ demands are justified, but reiterated that the government is bound by fiscal constraints. “We sought this dialogue from the beginning. Our doors were always open,” he emphasized, adding: “I believe it was very delayed and many of the issues discussed today, which the government has already addressed to the extent possible, could have been discussed much earlier and all this tension could have been defused much sooner.”
See photos from the meeting of farmers’ representatives with Kyriakos Mitsotakis at Maximos Mansion:
