National Roadblock Committee

Unionists representing farmers in Nikaia, central Greece, are preparing to set up a two-hour roadblock on the national highway linking Athens and Thessaloniki at the Platykambos junction, following a meeting on Monday.

The highway will be closed from 4.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m.

The Agricultural Development Ministry said on Monday night it was keeping lines of communication open with unionists representing farmers in Nikaia, central Greece, who were meeting to discuss whether to scale up their protest action.

Farmers have set up 23 roadblocks around Greece over the last two weeks, demanding tax breaks and lower production costs.

As has become almost customary at the start of each year, disgruntled farmers on Tuesday warned that they will be rolling out their tractors on the country's highways next week.