Greek farmers blocking the border checkpoint at Kulata – Promahon were scheduled to meet the country's agriculture minister Katerina Batzeli after they had reportedly reached a "consensus" with representatives from other farmer's groups which also are on strike.

They had agreed on a common list of demands to be submitted to the Greek minister on February 9 2010 following a meeting with their counterparts from another blockade at Nikaia in central Greece, Greek daily Kathimerini reported on February 9 2010.

Bulgarian Agriculture Minister Miroslav Naidenov and Greek ambassador to Bulgaria, Magdalini Koumanakou, met on February 4 2010 to assess the situation at the Greek-Bulgarian frontier. At the time, Koumanakou said that the "Greek farmers do not have a single agenda and a united front".

Subsequently, the Greek government's task of dealing with the farmers was made considerably more difficult because decisions taken would have to be "favourable" for most, if not all, of those organising the blockades.

This time around, however, representatives from about 18 roadblocks at major arteries, key junctions and border crossings will meet Batzeli for talks aimed at finally reaching a compromise on their financial demands.

This is a new development, after last week the farmers had said that "they no longer regard Batzeli as a legitimate partner in the discussions", and snubbed her altogether, demanding that they are granted a meeting with the country's prime minister, George Papandreou, instead.

On February 8 2010, protesters at Promahon and Nikaia remained resolute that the blockade would continue until the Greek government agreed "to at least some of their demands" for financial assistance for their ailing sector.

As previously reported, this is the full list of farmers' demands:

"The immediate disbursement of compensation for lost income and the announcement of minimum prices for crops; the protection of domestic agricultural produce from the competition posed by foreign imports; the reduction of rising production costs through the abolition of value-added tax on agricultural supplies and machinery and the scrapping of tax on fuel; the imposition of a three-year freeze on the repayment of farmers’ loans; and the reduction of the minimum retirement age to 60 for men and 55 for women".

Congestion continued at the Kulata – Promahon border crossing as disruption to cross-border trade and transport continues fully or partially with vehicles being allowed to pass at what appears to be irregular intervals.