On Monday, December 8th, farmers on Crete confronted riot police near the island’s international airports amid growing protests prompted by an investigation into European Union subsidies.
Demonstrators armed with stones and clubs attacked police vehicles near the island’s international airports, including Chania and Heraklion. Officers responded with tear gas but were forced to retreat, allowing protesters to overturn a police vehicle.
The unrest is part of a broader wave of demonstrations that began in late November, with thousands of farmers blocking highways across central and northern Greece. The protests follow a high-profile EU subsidy fraud investigation, which revealed that thousands of suspects made claims for land they did not own, and exaggerated the numbers of livestock on farms.
Greek officials say fraudsters made more than €30 million ($35 million) worth of false claims for Common Agricultural Policy subsidies.
In response, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis insisted the government was open to dialogue with farmers’ representatives but warned against “blind” protests:
Sometimes, the most extreme mobilisations might turn large segments of society against the farmers, who may have legitimate demands.
Livestock farmers are also demanding compensation for the loss of over 400,000 sheep and goats slaughtered during a recent sheep pox outbreak. Authorities have resisted calls to allow vaccinations, citing insufficient evidence of effectiveness. The protests gained further momentum following arrests linked to illegal subsidies distributed by OPEKEPE—the agency managing EU farm funds. Investigations identified 324 recipients who received €19.6 million unlawfully, according to the European Public Prosecutor’s Office.
