Greek farmers held a nationwide coordination meeting in Palamas, Karditsa, to set their next steps and open a clearer path to dialogue after weeks of mobilizations.
Representatives said they remain ready to meet directly with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, while dropping earlier plans to drive tractors to Athens for a large-scale rally.
The meeting signaled a shift toward structured negotiations, even as protest blockades continue in several regions.
Greek Farmers push for dialogue With Mitsotakis
Rizos Maroudas, head of the Larissa Federation of Agricultural Associations, said the Minister of Rural Development and Food, Kostas Tsiaras, invited farmer representatives to a new meeting with the Prime Minister.
Farmers accepted a plan that brings together a delegation of 30 participants from across the rural economy. The group will include 25 official representatives, from farming, livestock, fishing, beekeeping, and other professional sectors, along with five observers.
Organizers expect officials to announce the meeting date shortly.
Greek farmers keep blockades but pull tractors to the roadside
After the meeting, Kostas Tzellas, president of the Karditsa Federation of Agricultural Associations, said local blockades will remain in place starting tomorrow morning.
However, farmers will move tractors to the side of the roads, aiming to reduce disruption while maintaining a visible protest presence.
Greek Vice President’s meeting brings key administrative changes
On Wednesday, Greek Government’s Vice President, Kostis Hatzidakis met with representatives of farmers and livestock producers. After the session, the government confirmed a set of policy changes aimed at easing administrative pressure for a large share of agricultural producers.
From this year onward, farmers will no longer need the property identification number for standalone agricultural plots under 20,000 square meters (2 hectares). Representatives said the change will benefit most producers. They noted that out of roughly 80,000 producer tax IDs, a large portion will now fall outside the requirement.
“Midas” digital platform aims to simplify IACS declarations
The government also moved forward with a new digital platform in cooperation with Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE – IAPR). The platform, named “Midas,” will create a single database covering all agricultural parcels and their ownership details.
Officials said the tool will simplify future IACS-OSDE (Integrated Administration and Control System) declarations, improve verification, and reduce delays. The government aims to streamline the process starting next year and may extend full implementation into 2026, depending on rollout timelines.
Targeted crop support focuses on cotton, durum wheat, and Alfalfa
The government also confirmed new financial support for specific crop categories:
- Cotton: Producers will receive €20 ($23,28) to €30 ($34,91) per 1000 square meter, depending on the eco-schemes each farmer selected.
- Durum wheat: Producers will receive approximately €11 ($12,80) per 1000 square meters.
- Alfalfa: The government referenced a total support package of around €30 million ($ 34 million), linked to livestock disease pressures. Since alfalfa remains a key feed input for sheep and goats, officials expect the funding to stabilize the supply chain.
Mitsotakis draws a line while keeping dialogue open with Greek farmers
After earlier discussions with farmer representatives, Prime Minister Mitsotakis said the government has already outlined measures linked to electricity and fuel costs. He also delivered a tougher message on the continuation of long-running protests.
Mitsotakis argued that disruption cannot continue indefinitely. He said the government has stretched fiscal capacity to support the farming sector but will not tolerate actions it views as illegal, coercive, or damaging to the wider public.
At the same time, he said the government will keep the door open to serious dialogue and shut it to misinformation, populism, and threats.
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