Farmers: 48-hour blockades begin at the Promachonas, Exochi, Evzones and Niki border crossings

At different starting times but with the common denominator of a 48-hour shutdown, producers are launching lengthy protest actions today, Thursday (8 January), at the Promachonas and Exochi border posts on the Greek–Bulgarian border, as well as at Evzones and Niki on the border with North Macedonia.

The decisions were taken during the general assemblies of the blockades held yesterday afternoon, following government announcements, and fall within the framework of the decisions of the Panhellenic Committee of Blockades, which met in Malgara.

At the Promachonas blockade, farmers and livestock breeders will block the entry and exit of all types of trucks from 12:00 noon today until the same time on Saturday, 10 January. As for the passage of private passenger vehicles, decisions on whether and when they will be allowed through will be taken periodically during the 48-hour blockade.

In Nevrokopi, Drama, farmers and livestock breeders will block trucks and professional vehicles from 8:00 to 18:00 until Saturday, 10 January, while private passenger cars and tourist buses will be diverted to alternative routes. The blockade has been set up approximately 500 metres from the Exochi border crossing.

At the Niki border crossing, the 48-hour mobilisation begins at 11:00, with the closure of entry and exit for all trucks, private passenger vehicles and tourist buses. However, producers are leaving open the possibility of allowing the periodic passage of private passenger vehicles and tourist buses for specific time slots, depending on decisions taken by the general assembly of participants in the agricultural and livestock blockade.

At the Evzones border crossing, the mobilisation starts at 18:00, with a complete closure of entry and exit for all vehicles, allowing passage only in emergency cases. The blockade has been reinforced by producers from Aridaia, Edessa, Almopia and Dervenio.

Moreover, according to the decisions taken, a blockade of the tunnels in the Tempi Valley is scheduled for today at 11:00, with the participation of tractors and agricultural vehicles.

Lamia: Vehicle diversions begin at Kastro, Boeotia

Farmers gathering in the area are preparing to proceed with the closure of both the Athens–Lamia national highway and its service roads at the height of Kastro, Boeotia, further escalating their mobilisations.

Shortly after 10:00 in the morning, traffic police implemented vehicle diversions. Specifically, in the direction from Lamia towards Athens, vehicles are being diverted from the Atalanti area and routed via the old national road, following the Kalapodi – Palaios Leventis route, continuing towards Orchomenos, Livadeia and Thebes, before rejoining the Athens–Lamia national highway at Ritsona, at the 75th kilometre.

As for traffic heading north towards Lamia, vehicles are being diverted at the level of Ritsona. They are directed via Thebes and Livadeia, with their final destination point, for the time being, being the area of Bralos.

According to information, further traffic regulations cannot be ruled out, depending on how the mobilisations develop.