Brussels, 18 July 2025 – The new proposal for reforming the post-2027 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is weak in terms of budget and goals and fails to make the agriculture sector more attractive.
The rebranding of ‘conditionality’ as ‘farm stewardship’ introduces no new protections for workers. EFFAT deeply regrets the lack of ambition to improve labour standards in European Agriculture.
Social Conditionality remains, but with worrying lacks
Thanks to EFFAT advocacy efforts against deregulation, the overall structure of social conditionality remains. However, EFFAT regrets lack of improvements in terms of scope and enforcement. There are no incentives tied to creating quality jobs or rewarding social performance. Hectare-based payments remain the main criterion, disregarding the quality and quantity of employment and, ultimately, the human labour behind agricultural production.
A Dangerous Weakening of Sanctions and Controls
EFFAT is alarmed by Article 62 of the proposed Regulation on establishing the European Economic, Territorial, Social, Rural and Maritime Sustainable Prosperity and Security Fund, which introduces two serious threats:
- Exemption for Farms Under 10 Hectares
A derogation for farms under 10 ha would exempt over 70% of EU farms from controls and penalties. This effectively limits social conditionality to just 30% of holdings. Worker protection should not depend on farm size. Excluding small farms sends a harmful message: that violations of workers’ rights are acceptable if farms are small. - Unclear Relation between Social Conditionality and national employment
The proposal appears to allow reductions in social conditionality penalties if national employment sanctions apply. This would undermine the system’s integrity. Employment sanctions are legal consequences for violating labour laws, aimed at enforcing compliance. Social conditionality ensures that EU taxpayer money only goes to beneficiaries who respect those laws.
‘We need urgent recognition of their distinct roles to ensure each mechanism functions effectively without undermining the other as they operate in different domains: one enforces labour law, the other protects the credibility and fairness of public spending’ says Ivan Ivanov, Agriculture Political Secretary at EFFAT
The Threat of a Single Fund
Finally, EFFAT is concerned about the creation of a Single Fund for CAP and cohesion. This scenario risks diluting agricultural and labour priorities, increasing fragmentation and re-nationalisation, as well as competition for limited funding.
EFFAT views with concern the CAP budget cut from €386.6 billion to €302 billion — a 22% reduction — especially as it comes alongside a sharp rise in military spending, signalling a troubling shift away from social and agricultural priorities in the EU.
‘Labour priorities must be safeguarded through dedicated funding and distinct policy tools. Merging them into a Single Fund risk diluting their importance, leaving their fate at the discretion of Member States—and subject to their willingness, or lack thereof, to uphold workers’ rights and support genuine social progress and inclusion’ concludes Fabrizio De Pascale, EFFAT Agriculture Chair.
EFFAT Will Continue to Advocate for a Social CAP
‘The fight is far from over’, says Enrico Somaglia, EFFAT General Secretary, and added – ‘The secretariat along with our affiliates will actively engage with the European Parliament and the Council throughout the legislative process to ensure that workers’ rights are no longer sidelined and our demands are met’
The CAP must evolve into a policy tool that promotes decent work, fair pay, and safe conditions for all agricultural workers – he added.
Ends
