Greek farmers block border crossing routes in escalating dispute over delayed EU subsidies

THESSALONIKI Greece AP Farmers in northern Greece disrupted traffic at limit crossings on Wednesday in an escalating protest over delayed European Union -backed subsidy payments linked to an study into a corruption shame Convoys of tractors blocked routes to North Macedonia Bulgaria and Turkey forcing drivers into lengthy detours At the weekend hundreds of farmers took to the streets blocking roads with tractors in several areas Protests by farmers are common in Greece but the latest unrest erupted over delays in subsidy payments following revelations of widespread fraudulent alleges for EU funds The shame prompted the resignation in June of five senior cabinet executives and the phased shutdown of a state agency that handled agricultural subsidies Dozens of people have been arrested across Greece in fresh weeks for allegedly filing false insists in response to an scrutiny led by the European Society Prosecutor s Office The independent EU body that deals with financial crime mentioned at the end of October that the probe was linked to a systematic large-scale subsidy fraud scheme and money-laundering programs Michalis Chrisochoidis Greece s minister for residents order declared this week the regime remained open to talks with protest leaders but would not tolerate the shutdown of major transit points including ports and railway hubs Source