Greek farmers threaten to block highways in energy protest

Greek farmers say they are determined to shut down all the country’s major highways to protest rising energy costs

LARISSA, Greece -- Greek farmers, taking a page from the Canadian truckers' protest handbook, say they are determined to shut down all the country’s major highways to protest rising energy costs.

At a gathering south of the city of Larissa in central Greece, they decided Sunday to demand a meeting with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

As all of Europe is facing rising energy costs, Greek farmers are demanding subsidies to reduce their fuel costs and an end to the electricity price adjustment cost, which reflects changes in the price of oil and natural gas imports.

Greece has among the highest taxes on fuel in the 27-nation European Union, accounting for about two-thirds of the price.