All the decisions taken by the farmers' representatives at the meeting in Nikaia
The representatives of the farmers decided during their crucial meeting in Nikaia, Larissa, to escalate their mobilisations with simultaneous blockades of national roads and customs from tomorrow and, at the same time, a rally with tractors in Athens next week.
Statements by farmers after the Nikaia meeting:
The farmers put forward seven demands:
- Tax-free agricultural oil
- 7 minutes per kilowatt hour of electricity
- Subsidy on supplies and animal feed
- The new CAP should not be implemented and renegotiated
- 100% compensation and replacement of lost income on products
- No to the illegal Hellenisations
The individual requests of the Thessaly farmers regarding the restoration of the damages caused by Storm Daniel will be listed in an appendix to their main requests.
The farmers, after a two-and-a-half-hour meeting, decided to escalate their mobilisation in three main ways:
- To close at the same time at all points in the national, provincial and customs with tractors from tomorrow.
- Actions in the cities as well.
- Next week, rally in Athens with tractors
At this time, the farmers are closing with their vehicles the national road in Nikaia.
Avgenakis: 'The government is open to dialogue with farmers'
"The government is open to dialogue with farmers," Rural Development and Food Minister Lefteris Avgenakis said on Tuesday, at the start of the debate on a draft bill relating to agricultural issues in Parliament's Committee on Production and Trade.
Ahead of decisions that protesting farmers are expected to make on Tuesday, Avgenakis noted that the government has made clear in all ways and on all levels "that supporting the primary sector and solving the sector's problems is a priority for us."
"We know that many of these problems have worsened due to climate change and the energy crisis. We are here to discuss things and make realistic decisions, together with the farmers," he said.
"Decisions that will ensure a more stable future for agricultural production without undermining the future of the country and the long-term sacrifices of the Greek people," he added.
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