Livestock breeders and farmers from rural Greece are moving to Athens on Tuesday, November 11, in a nationwide protest for the smallpox sheep & goat disease that has exterminated their flocks and for the OPEKEPE scandal of massive fraud with EU agricultural funds that has deprived the real farmers from their much needed subsidies.
some protesters will arrive with their tractors and many with buses. they will move to the Ministry of rural Development and to the offices of OPEKEPE.
The anger of the farmers seems to have hit “red”, with producers and livestock farmers preparing for a nationwide mobilization tomorrow, Tuesday, November 11, in the center of Athens, following a decision by the National Union of Agricultural Cooperatives.
The farmers declare their determination to give a strong “presence” protesting the serious delays in the payment of subsidies, the pending issues at OPEKEPE and the blow from the smallpox of goats and sheep, which has led to massive losses of livestock.
At the same time, the government is submitting the new action plan for the operation of OPEKEPE, while in rural areas there is anxiety about when payments will start normally and how producers who see their income shrinking will be supported.
Almost half a million sheep and goats have been culled due to the smallpox in over a year: 403,925 sheep and goat have been culled from august 2024 until November 4, 2025.
“If necessary, we will celebrate [Christmas] in the blocks” clarifies Rizos Maroudas, president of the United Federation of Agricultural Associations of Larissa Prefecture (EOASNL), speaking to CNN Greece. As he points out, there are many open fronts for the sector: delays in the payment of compensation, the blow from smallpox, the high cost of production and the Common Agricultural Policy from which professionals are suffocating.
Farmers and livestock breeders are determined to “fight for their just demands,” as Manousos Stavrianoudakis, vice president of the United Federation of Agricultural Associations of Chania Prefecture, emphasizes on CNN Greece.
The suspension of payments that has been ongoing recently after the publication of the OPEKEPE scandal and the serious blow that sheep and goat pox has caused to livestock breeders are leading professionals to an impasse, as Stavrianoudakis emphasizes.
While farmers and livestock breeders warm up their engines to descend on Athens, the government has been racing to meet the November 4 deadline set by the European Commission for the submission of the new action plan for the operation of OPEKEPE and the agricultural aid payment system. This extension was granted at the request of the Greek authorities, as the initial deadline had been set for October 2.
“We confirm that the Commission has received the updated action plan for the Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS) from Greece,” said the Commission spokesman for agricultural policy, Balas Uzvari. He stressed that “the Commission will now assess whether this is sufficient to address the shortcomings” and then “the Commission should inform Greece in writing of its assessment, within a maximum of two months from the date of receipt of the action plan”.
Government officials have been promising the farmers that “payments are underway” but so far nothing has been distributed to those affected.
According to announcements of the leadership of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food and as recently reiterated by government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis, by the end of November, approximately 950 million euros are expected to have been paid and the total payments will be completed within 2025.
Poor Greece, constantly undermined by corruption and stupidity. Not a great look. But, lots of LNG to come!