Balgarianovinite.com A kilometre-long queue of heavy goods vehicles has formed at the Kulata border crossing, a BTA reporter observed on Saturday. Truck traffic through the checkpoint has been suspended due to a Greek farmers’ protest that began on Wednesday, with only passenger cars allowed to pass in both directions.
The protests erupted due to delays in the payment of agricultural subsidies amid a corruption scandal at the Greek agricultural payments agency, OPEKEPE, even though the government has begun partial disbursement of the subsidies.
Earlier on Saturday, the Bulgarian Border Police said the border crossing was open to heavy duty traffic. Drivers said that “time slots” were arranged for trucks to cross, but only a brief early-morning window was provided. Some drivers have been waiting at the border for more than 24 hours. At the Promachonas checkpoint, agricultural machinery has been deployed, and protesters have threatened to completely block traffic if their demands are not met.
The Greek government sent a message to the protesting farmers amid escalating road blockades and reports of aggressive behaviour toward police in Thessaloniki. The government cited an incident in which a tractor driver allegedly attempted to run over a police officer, reports the newspaper Kathimerini. “The state will not tolerate illegal behaviour. The law will be enforced without exceptions,” Government Spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis said, as quoted by Kathimerini.
Marinakis reiterated the government’s zero-tolerance stance, citing an incident in which a group of farmers attempted to approach Thessaloniki’s Macedonia Airport with the aim of blocking it. He added that the government supports dialogue with farmers and has already taken measures in favour of the majority of lawful farmers and livestock breeders, but said dialogue cannot take place during serious incidents, including attacks on police officers that left one officer injured.
Deputy Minister of Civil Protection Yannis Lambropoulos told Parliament that it is unacceptable to block roads, prevent the transport of goods, hinder people’s travel before Christmas, or close ports, airports, customs offices, and border crossings. He noted that all subsidies will be paid by the end of December.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis urged protesting farmers to present concrete demands and said the government is ready for dialogue, according to ANA-MPA. He stressed that protests should also take into account the wider society.
Officials said that communication channels with farmers must remain open, but there are “red lines” regarding violence and attempts to block critical infrastructure, including border checkpoints, ports, and airports. Greek authorities also indicated that the government’s approach to farmers will remain unchanged for now, maintaining a moderate tone until the next tranche of primary subsidies is paid. However, any attempts to occupy essential infrastructure or acts of violence will trigger a stricter response. Greek Farmers’ Protest Causes Truck Delays at Kulata Border Crossing, Government Issues Zero-Tolerance Warning Amid Violence 2025 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2025-12-06 14:52:00 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law