A significant protest action is taking place in Athens, organized by farmers and livestock breeders who are demanding the restoration of subsidies and compensation for losses incurred due to the sheep pox epidemic. This was reported by RIA Novosti, citing the Sky TV channel.
According to local media, the procession includes agrarians from all corners of the country—from Crete to Evros. They are heading to the Ministry of Rural Development and Food, where they plan to submit an official appeal to the authorities, and then proceed to the building of the dissolved organization OPEKEPE, which previously handled subsidy payments. Due to the protests, some roads in central Athens are temporarily closed.
Pavlos Satolyas, chairman of the National Union of Agricultural Cooperatives (ETEAS), emphasized that this rally is merely a warning to the government.
“Today's protest is just the beginning. We want to do our work in the fields, not take to the streets. If our problems are resolved, we can return to work,” he stated.
Satolyas added that about 600,000 farming families have suffered due to a corruption scandal that led to the loss of subsidies. Participants in the action are holding banners with slogans: “Save agriculture,” “The state forgot about us when we suffered from sheep pox,” “We need payments, not empty promises.”
Main reasons for discontent
The scandal involving the organization OPEKEPE erupted in May 2025. Investigations revealed serious violations in the distribution of European agricultural subsidies—officials and private individuals illegally registered pastures and arable land, receiving millions of euros in subsidies.
In June 2025, Greece was fined 415 million euros by the European Commission for insufficient oversight, after which Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis ordered the dissolution of OPEKEPE.
Damage from the epidemic
In September, the Ministry of Rural Development declared a state of heightened readiness due to the spread of sheep and goat pox. According to ERT TV channel, about 263,000 animals died from this disease over the year, which poses a serious threat to feta cheese production.
On Tuesday morning, farmers in northeastern Greece blocked the exit from Alexandroupolis Airport, where the Prime Minister was expected. According to the newspaper “Nea,” Mitsotakis left the airport via a bypass road.
Key demands of the protesters:
- Restoration of agricultural subsidy payments;
- Compensation for losses incurred due to the sheep and goat pox epidemic;
- Fair distribution of budget funds and restoration of trust in the system of state support for agrarians.
