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Greek farmers block Greece–Türkiye border crossing amid intensifying protests
A growing wave of protests by Greek farmers led to the temporary closure of the Bahcekoy (Kipi) Border Gate to heavy vehicles late Tuesday, disrupting transport between Greece and Türkiye. The blockade is part of a broader national mobilization against rising production costs and mounting frustrations with the state’s agricultural payments agency.
According to local officials, the Greek side of the Kipi crossing was shut to trucks and other heavy-duty vehicles, though private cars continued to pass normally. Customs authorities confirmed that negotiations between farmer representatives and government officials were ongoing.
Farmers across Greece have been staging demonstrations for weeks, intermittently blocking highways and major intercity routes. Tensions escalated on Sunday when protesters clashed with police near the central city of Larissa, highlighting growing discontent within the sector.
The agricultural community is demanding immediate action on soaring production expenses, delayed compensation payments, and long-standing issues involving OPEKEPE, the former agricultural payments agency. The institution was dissolved earlier this year after a major fraud scandal came to light.
In June, the European Commission fined Greece €392.2 million (around $453.4 million) following revelations that significant agricultural subsidies had been mismanaged since 2016. The fraud involved fictitious pastures and false declarations that allowed recipients to illegally secure EU funds.
With no resolution in sight, Greek farmers have vowed to intensify their demonstrations in the coming days, raising concerns about further disruptions at key transport corridors.