Dozens of Greek farmers disrupted operations at the regional port of Volos on Wednesday, December 10th as part of a nationwide demonstration against delays in farm aid payments and rising production costs.
For days farmers have deployed thousands of tractors and trucks in numerous blockades, disrupting traffic at several points along major motorways and intermittently blocking border crossings as they face a shortfall of more than €600 million ($698.6 million) in European Union aid and other payments.
The delays stem from investigations into a corruption scandal in which some farmers, aided by state employees, allegedly faked land ownership to qualify for payouts. Ongoing audits have slowed subsequent disbursements. The delays also coincide with an outbreak of sheep pox that has forced farmers to cull hundreds of thousands of sheep and goats.
In an effort to limit the impact of the protests on transport, a Greek Supreme Court prosecutor on Tuesday ordered authorities to immediately detain farmers who intentionally threaten traffic safety.
