Military strategy

Members of unions representing farmers in central Greece met on Wednesday to discuss plans for a fresh round of road blockades in protest at the government's taxation plans for their sector.

The aim of the meetings, sources said, was for farmers to prepare road blockades such as those set up this time last year at key road junctions.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov and Transport Minister Ivaylo Moskovski will hold on Monday a meeting with representatives of road hauliers who are planning to stage blockades at checkpoints along the border with Greece in response to the blockades organised by Greek farmers in February.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsirpas will meet on Monday noon with the representatives of the farmers in an effort to de-escalate the tension occurred and persuade the farmers to put an end to their protest actions.

Bulgaria's Transport Minister on Saturday voiced his outrage at action of Greek farmers and their intermittent blockade of the common border.

The minister took part in negotiations with other Bulgarian and Greek officials and representatives of the protesting farmers. Talks, however, did not result in a decision to end the blockade.

In a declaration adopted on Friday, the Bulgarian parliament called on the European Commission to take immediate action, including launching an infringement procedure, against the Greek government for its failure to lift the border blockade staged by Greek farmers in the past month.

Tensions in the Greek capital escalated on Friday as protesting farmers and police clashed in central Athens.

The police fired tear gas to disperse the farmers who were throwing stones at the building of the agriculture ministry.

Hundreds of farmers from all over Greece are expected to gather in the capital for a large-scale protest on Friday and Saturday.

Greek farmers continue their protest actions by blocking the roads all over Greece. With the country split right down the middle, they hold a meeting on Sunday at Nikaia to decide their next move.

Representatives of 135 blockades set all over Greece are expected to participate in the meeting. Their common demand is the withdrawal of government’s draft of the social security reform.

Greek farmers escalate their protest actions and block the roads and customs all over Greece stretching Greek economy to its limits.

Businessmen have expressed their concerns on huge problems in the market due to the blockades and call farmers to limit their protest actions, even though they understand their demands.

The French farmers are getting ready to set blockades throughout France’s road network arguing that they are in despair and demand government action to help them cope with the crisis.

Greek farmers concluded their meeting at Tempi where representatives of 35 blockades took part and announced that they are ready to protest against government’s measures by demonstrating in Athens.