The AgriFish Council’s Partial General Approach on the post-2027 Common Agricultural Policy drops the only mechanism linking CAP payments to compliance with labour rights. EFFAT calls for its reinstatement and will mobilise in Brussels on 3 November.
EFFAT expresses its deep concern at last night’s decision by the AgriFish Council to adopt a Partial General Approach on the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) that excludes Social Conditionality from the agreed text.
Social Conditionality ties the receipt of CAP payments to employers’ compliance with basic labour and employment standards. It is a safeguard for agricultural workers, who are among the most vulnerable in the European labour market, and it protects responsible farmers and employers from unfair competition by operators who undercut standards.
“Today’s outcome is a serious political setback for workers’ rights in European agriculture. Removing Social Conditionality is not simplification, it is deregulation, and it is justified by misleading arguments. Public money must never subsidise violations of workers’ rights,” said Enrico Somaglia, EFFAT General Secretary.
The process is not over.
The Council’s position is only one step in the legislative process. EFFAT will continue to engage with the European Parliament, the Commission and national governments to ensure that Social Conditionality is reinstated and strengthened in the final CAP framework.
EFFAT is calling on workers, trade unionists, responsible employers and civil society to join its demonstration:
“Hands off Social Conditionality – For Fair Work in European Agriculture”
📅 3 November 2026, 14:00
📍 Place Jean Rey, Brussels
Join the mobilisation on 3 November!
#SaveSocialConditionality
