The farmers’ blockades are heading toward a temporary de-escalation ahead of New Year’s Day, with producers in many parts of the country lifting roadblocks and easing their protests in order to facilitate holiday travel. At the same time, farmers are awaiting the decisions of the nationwide assembly scheduled for January 4 in Malgara, where the next steps of the mobilizations will be determined.

Temporary pause in farmers’ blockades ahead of New Year’s

More specifically, farmers’ blockades in Macedonia are being temporarily suspended for the next few days ahead of New Year’s, to help travelers and while awaiting the decisions to be taken at the nationwide meeting of people from the primary sector on January 4 in Malgara regarding the next phase of their actions.

Within this framework, the Evzones border checkpoint will be open to all vehicles from today until January 2, while the same applies—at least until New Year’s Day—to the Promachonas checkpoint. All vehicles are passing normally through the Exochi Drama crossing point, where farmers and livestock breeders are considering reinstating a ban on heavy vehicles from 12:00 noon on Friday, January 2. At the Niki border checkpoint as well, vehicle passage will take place without blockades today, tomorrow, and the day after.

Similarly, both at the Malgara toll station and at the Chalastra junction, traffic will move unhindered at least until New Year’s Day, so that those wishing to travel will not face problems with their journeys.

Meanwhile, producers from Halkidiki who are participating in the blockade at “Green Traffic Lights,” near Thessaloniki’s Macedonia Airport, are examining the possibility of withdrawing from the site, possibly around midday. They are then expected to head back toward their base and set up a new blockade in an area of the first “leg” of the peninsula.

It is recalled that the nationwide assembly of farmers and livestock breeders will take place at 12:00 noon on Sunday at the facilities of the Malgara Cultural Center.

Lifting of temporary traffic measures on the Athens–Thessaloniki national highway in Pieria

The Pieria Police Directorate has also decided to lift the temporary traffic measures “that were in force due to farmers’ mobilizations on the section from the northern grade-separated junction of Katerini (kilometer 438) to the southern grade-separated junction of Katerini (kilometer 434) of the Thessaloniki–Athens national highway, in the direction toward Athens.”

According to the relevant announcement, traffic heading toward Athens will initially proceed via the right and middle lanes, then only via the right lane. After the end of the Katerini Tunnel (Tunnel T4), traffic will proceed via the left lane.

If required by traffic conditions, vehicles will also be routed via the Katerini ring road through the northern grade-separated junction of Katerini, and then re-enter the motorway through the southern grade-separated junction of Katerini.

Vehicles entering Katerini while traveling toward Athens will do so via the northern grade-separated junction of Katerini and the semi-grade-separated eastern junction of Katerini.

Farmers remain at blockades in western Thessaly

At the same time, farmers remain at blockades in western Thessaly, on the E65 near Karditsa and at the Loggos tolls, also on the E65 near Trikala. Daily assemblies are being held to update participants on the course of the mobilizations and to plan various actions and interventions in local communities. Meanwhile, representatives of organizations, associations, and unions are visiting the blockade sites to express solidarity with the farmers’ struggle, while farmers at both blockades emphasize that they will spend New Year’s Day there.

Antirrio–Ioannina motorway reopened near the Angelokastro tolls

The Antirrio–Ioannina motorway has also been reopened to traffic near the Angelokastro tolls, following the decision of farmers and livestock breeders who had set up a blockade in the area to move tractors and agricultural machinery to the side of the roadway, in order to facilitate holiday travel.

Specifically, by decision of the Aetolia police director, traffic for all vehicles is allowed, until further notice, in one lane per direction, on condition that the required warning and informational road signage is in place.

In Thebes, farmers decided to keep both directions of traffic open until January 3.

The longest-lasting blockade in Boeotia

The most time-consuming blockade is in Boeotia, where vehicles are diverted from Martino to Kastro.

In Kastro, Boeotia, farmers are allowing one lane of traffic in both directions on the Athens–Lamia National Road. This arrangement will remain in effect until Monday, January 5, 2026, at 08:00, when they will reassess their stance.

The second major trouble spot is the Nikaia junction in Larissa, with a detour causing about a half-hour delay.

At the Nikaia blockade, farmers facilitated New Year’s holiday travel by opening the overpass above the blockade site.

One lane open on the Ionian Motorway

From today, one traffic lane is expected to be opened on the Ionian Motorway to facilitate travelers. Farmers from the Angelokastro blockade, together with livestock breeders and beekeepers, carried out a symbolic protest in the center of Agrinio, throwing oranges, hay, and manure outside the offices of government MPs in the prefecture.