PM willing to meet farmers on Monday, gov’t spokesman says

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis "is willing to meet [the protesting farmers] on Monday," provided they lift their road blocks on the national highway network, government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said on Thursday.

"The prime minister has made it quite clear that open roads mean the dialogue can continue. We do not want to reach a point where citizens' free movement is obstructed," he added.

Frustrated farmers announced an escalation of mobilizations on Tuesday, including blockades on the country's highways and a possible march to Athens next week.

Aiming to end escalating mobilizations, the government announced a package of measures including an extension of  a special tax return on agricultural diesel by a year, settlement of debts to PPC of the Local and General Land Improvement organizations, as well as a guarantee of a medium-term reduction in...