About 500 agricultural workers and union representatives from across Europe rallied in Brussels, Belgium on Tuesday, urging the European Union (EU) to account for mounting production and employment pressures in its reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
Ongoing geopolitical conflicts and rising energy and raw-material prices have driven up agricultural production costs across Europe, adding to pressure on farmers.
"We do represent Italian farmers. Our farmers have seen rising costs of production at a level that is unbearable. Fertilizers have doubled, fuel prices have gone up and now some of them are even questioning keeping on with activity due to the impossible production costs and the low selling price for their products. So there's no revenue. If there's no revenue for the farmers, there's no food for the future of our country," said Arianna Giuliodori, director of the Brussels Office of Coldiretti, Italy's main agri-food sector association.
The rally's organizer, the European Federation of Food, Agriculture and Tourism Trade Unions (EFFAT), said the pressures extend beyond costs to workers' job security and income. Europe has about 12 million agricultural workers, many in seasonal or temporary jobs that can mean unstable employment and low wages.
The union said EU public funds should play a greater role as production costs rise, supporting agriculture while protecting workers' basic rights.
"We are in a situation where the geopolitical context is, of course, extremely challenging. It's extremely challenging because of the cost of fertilizers, which are very much linked to gas prices, the cost of raw material in general. And therefore we call on the European Union to take the necessary actions in this respect. But it's also important to underline that it's also very important that the money that exists is spent in a good way," said Enrico Somaglia, EFFAT secretary-general.
European countries are also facing pressure to consolidate public finances while meeting other spending needs, including aid to Ukraine, drawing attention to how resources for agriculture are allocated. Rising energy and fertilizer prices continue to add to the strain on agricultural workers.
European farmworkers rally in Brussels over rising costs, job insecurity
European farmworkers rally in Brussels over rising costs, job insecurity
European farmworkers rally in Brussels over rising costs, job insecurity
