European farmers and unions protest EU agricultural policy changes

Farmers and labor unions are organizing protests in Brussels to oppose proposed changes to the European Union’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for the 2028–2034 period. A primary concern for agricultural organizations is a potential 30 percent reduction in CAP funding proposed by the European Commission, which could impact national budgets, such as a projected 13 percent decrease in France.

Labor unions, including the European Federation of Food, Agriculture and Tourism Trade Unions (EFFAT), are specifically fighting to maintain “social conditionality.” This mechanism, introduced in 2021, links the receipt of EU subsidies to compliance with labor laws and workplace safety regulations. Protesters argue that removing these requirements would unfairly benefit employers who use illegal or undeclared labor, placing law-abiding producers at a competitive disadvantage.

Additional pressures on the sector include rising production costs, droughts, and high energy prices. Following previous large-scale demonstrations in Brussels, agricultural groups like Copa-Cogeca are discussing further wave of protests for late 2024 if budget negotiations do not meet their demands for inflation-adjusted funding levels.