Greek Farmers' Meeting in Larisa to Decide on Protests

A nationwide farmers' meeting is taking place on Sunday in Nikaia, Larisa, Greece, amid planned protests. Farmers and livestock breeders are considering setting up roadblocks, reacting to the situation created by sheep and goat pox and the OPEKEPE scandal.

The meeting, called by the Panhellenic Committee of Blocs, is expected to discuss the creation of a unified Thessalian bloc on the National Road in Larisa in early December. Farmers are expressing strong concern about the problems they face, as well as delays in payments.

Livestock breeders have been affected by the spread of sheep and goat pox, with destruction of herds. They are requesting support to address the problems caused by the disease. Despite government announcements of subsidy payments and relief measures, farmers in Thessaly appear determined to proceed with protests.

On Saturday, farmers and livestock breeders from the Peloponnese held a protest in Patras, demanding payments and support measures. The nationwide meeting was decided at the Pan-Thessalian meeting in Farsala, where farmers warned of a Pan-Thessalian bloc and cutting Greece in half if payments are not made.

Sokratis Aleiftiras, vice president of the Unified Federation of Agricultural Associations of Larisa, stressed the major problems of the agricultural world and the determination to claim their rights. Rizos Maroudas, president of the Unified Federation of Agricultural Associations of Larisa, called for strengthening the claim against the government and the EU.