Thousands of farmers demanding compensation for low prices blocked highways across Greece for a ninth day on Tuesday, hampering the transport of medicine and keeping the Bulgarian border shut despite protests from Sofia.
Business leaders said the roadblocks were worsening the impact of an economic slowdown in Greece, which fuelled the worst riots in decades last month and worried investors.
Farmers' leaders held talks to discuss a government package of 500 million euros in subsidies and tax rebates but vowed to continue their action despite appeals from the Greek social security fund, which said it was delaying vital medicine.
More than 60 roadblocks caused travel chaos across Greece, cutting Athens off from the second city of Thessaloniki in the north and also closing the border with Macedonia.
"This is another blow to the confidence of foreign investors," said Vassilis Thomaides, head of the Greek exporters association, adding there were no goods shortages so far.
Greece's trade with Bulgaria, which is mainly in non-agricultural products like clothes, plastic and machinery, had been severely hit by the protests, he said.
PRESSURE ON GOVERNMENT
Farmers' leaders said they were closing the borders to pile pressure on Greece's conservative government, which has a one-seat majority in parliament.
"We are still discussing our next move. But I can't see why we should stop. The government hasn't announced anything new," Giorgos Goniotakis, head of the Greek Federation of Farmers Unions, told Reuters.
Farmers are demanding measures to tackle price cartels as well as details of specific subsidies for products like cotton and olive oil. The government has said it will not increase its aid package as it faces a hefty 2009 budget deficit.
"The government is taking a great and brave step, especially in light of the financial crisis and the restrictions in tax funds," Agriculture Minister Sotiris Hatzigakis said.
In a letter to the European Commission on Monday, Bulgaria's Transport Ministry demanded Athens open a corridor for Bulgarian trucks, saying the roadblocks violated EU citizens' rights.
It also conveyed to Brussels an appeal from the Association of Bulgarian Transport Companies for compensation for losses, estimated at 10 million euros, after tonnes of fruit and meat rotted and drivers faced penalties for late deliveries.
Greece's main social security fund appealed to farmers after a truck with anti-cancer drugs was turned back from a roadblock on the Isthmus of Corinth, linking the Peloponnese peninsula to mainland Greece.
"We hope farmers will be understanding and let medicine and vaccinations pass," said Dimitrios Kirzopoulos, the fund's deputy head. "Even in times of war medicine is allowed through."
The head of the pharmacists' association of Athens, Constantinos Lourantos, reported no shortages in the capital.
