Athens – On February 13, 2026, thousands of people gathered in front of the Greek Parliament, while nearly seventy tractors flooded the heart of Athens to demand a stronger response from the government to the crisis plaguing the agricultural sector. This demonstration, one of the largest in several months, marks the resumption of a protest movement that began in late 2025 and which farmers refuse to end until their demands are fully met.
Investigations conducted since 2018 into fraud involving European agricultural subsidies point to losses estimated at over 22.67 million euros¹, involving practices such as falsifying records of farmland or livestock. On April 22, 2026, the Greek Parliament officially lifted the immunity of several members of the New Democracy majority who were implicated in a massive fraud involving European agricultural subsidies.
Among the grant applications were banana plantations on Mount Olympus, olive groves on military air bases, and sheep pastures at sea.
This decision follows a request from the European Public Prosecutor, who suspects a network of having embezzled tens of millions of euros in subsidies over several years, notably through false declarations of farmland and livestock, via OPEKEPE, the agency responsible for managing the subsidies.² The lifting of immunity now paves the way for their criminal prosecution, at a time when Greek farmers, already hit by payment delays linked to this scandal, continue to denounce both the corruption and the fragility of their income.
Since late November 2025, roads, border crossings,
and certain airports have been regularly blocked by convoys of
tractors from across the country. Farmers are lamenting a deep
economic crisis, fueled by rising energy costs, massive delays
in European aid payments, and a sustained decline in
their incomes. Amid this anger, livestock farmers are also grappling with the consequences of the culling of more than 470,000 sheep and goats, necessitated by an outbreak of sheep pox.
Despite a relative lull in January 2026, when the
roadblocks were partially lifted following government promises, the
discontent never truly subsided. Union leaders are emphasizing the pledge
made in Athens: “We will continue the fight to the end,” insisted
agricultural leader Costas Tzelas before the crowd gathered in Syntagma
Square, according to an AFP article.
Today, protesters are demanding more than just a one-time boost. They are calling for tax breaks, lower energy prices for farms, and increased support for incomes already undermined by low-cost imports, particularly from Bulgaria and Ukraine. Agricultural organizations also point out that Greek consumers have faced shortages of dairy products and meat, a situation for which they believe farmers should not be held solely responsible. Beyond the issue of subsidies alone, Greek farmers are calling for a more comprehensive reform of national agricultural policy, which is deemed inadequate in the face of the climate crisis and the growing disparities between producers and distributors. The unions also criticize the government for failing to sufficiently punish those responsible for the scandal rather than the “real farmers.” The Greek government has already announced several measures: additional aid, reductions in agricultural energy costs, and VAT cuts on certain inputs. The authorities emphasize budgetary constraints, stating that they cannot go much further without jeopardizing the country’s macroeconomic stability. However, this response has not convinced the unions, which continue to maintain pressure and prepare for further mobilizations, including the possibility of a national solidarity strike.
1 : Greek farmers pocket over 22 million euros in EU farm aid fraud, minister says. Septembre 2025. REUTERSURL : https://www.marketscreener.com/news/greek-farmers-pocket-over-22-million-euros-in-eu-farm-aid-fraud-minister-says-ce7c50d3df8ffe25?utm_source=copy&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share
2 : It’s the big fat Greek farming scandal – devised by the political elite and paid for by ordinary people. septembre 2025. ALEXANDER CLAPP.
URL : https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/sep/05/greek-farming-political-elite-eu-subsidy-scandal-greece?CMP=share_btn_url