Bulgarian-Greek Border at “Promachon” Closed

The Border Police of Bulgaria on December 3 confirmed to BNT that the crossing at “Kulata–Promachon” is closed in both directions.

The closure of the Bulgarian-Greek border comes at the request of Greek authorities due to blocked roads and motorways in the areas of Neo Petrici and Siderokastro. Bulgarian authorities added that the border will remain closed for an indefinite period.

The General Directorate of Border Police advised travellers in the region to use the “Ilinden–Exochi” border crossing instead.

At exactly 12:00, hundreds of farmers blocked the entrance to the city of Serres. Despite attempts by the police and gendarmerie to stop them en route to Promachon, the police blockade was bypassed several times. Using heavy agricultural machinery, the farmers blocked the road between Greece and Bulgaria near Promachon, about 10 kilometres from the border.

Babis Fenis, grain producer from Serres:
“The Greek government is destroying our sector. That’s why we’re here, and that’s why there will be road blockades. They haven’t paid us for a long time. Some have received money — not the amounts we expected, but half of it. Prices are very low, and we’re barely surviving.”

Papiras Mazis, farmer from Serres:
“They stole our EU funds, ruined us, left us hungry. Now, since we have nothing to eat, we protest. If we weren’t here, it would be foolish.”

The protests and blockades will continue until the Greek government pays the subsidies expected by the farmers. If this does not happen, the country may face blockades even during the holidays.

Kanazis Pischios:
“Until Easter, not Christmas — we will stay here until Easter. What can we do? Without money, where can we go? They’ll take our dairies, they’ll take our houses. They killed 310 of my sheep and didn’t give me a single penny, that’s why we came here.”

Farmers’ blockades are also occurring at border crossings with North Macedonia and Serbia, as well as on Greece’s main motorways.