During a debate in Strasbourg on Wednesday 18 December, the European Parliament called for greater efforts to improve the working conditions and mental health of farmers in these difficult times.
Commissioner for Agriculture Christophe Hansen explained that, among farmers, suicide rates in some Member States are 20% higher than the national average in other sectors.
Herbert Dorfmann (EPP, Italian) advocated measures to improve working conditions for farm managers and employees (ongoing training on safety in the workplace). Every effort should also be made to ensure that farms have the necessary financial resources and to “combat undeclared work”, according to Mr Dorfmann.
Dario Nardella (S&D, Italian) said that social conditionality in the CAP should be implemented by all Member States by 2025 “with the full involvement of the social partners”. The strategic dialogue that has taken place on the future of agriculture and the ‘Vision for Agriculture and Food’ that the Commission will present in February 2025 “constitute an important first step”, he said. Commissioner Hansen replied that the vision for the future of agriculture would include a pillar devoted to social aspects and work-life balance.
International context. Raffaele Stancanelli (PfE, Italian) emphasised the poor working conditions (high pressure, exhausting working hours, unstable wages) “leading to stress and burnout”. He suggested measures to guarantee stable incomes and develop the local agricultural workforce. He also pointed the finger at the “insufficient defence of the sector in the international context”.
“We need to be better prepared to allay any fears that some of our agricultural sectors may have”, stressed Mr Hansen.
Veronika Vrecionová (ECR, Czech), Chair of the European Parliament Agriculture Committee, said it was essential to simplify administrative procedures. Young people also need to be helped and motivated. “Otherwise, we will soon be faced with threats to food security and further depopulation of the countryside”.
Elsi Katainen (Renew Europe, Finnish) condemned the low economic profitability of farms. Measures have already been taken to rectify the situation, notably in Finland (the ‘Taking care of the farmer’ project), Belgium and Ireland. “It is not clear that linking common agricultural policy subsidies to labour legislation is the right solution”, said the MEP.
For Thomas Waitz (Greens/EFA, German), when the price of milk falls below production costs, “it generates a great deal of frustration”. He lamented the fact that 800 farms close every day in the EU. He advocated a CAP that “respects people, animals and the environment”.
Tilly Metz (Greens/EFA, Luxembourgish) raised the problem of regular exposure to pesticides, which leads to occupational illnesses, many of which are not recognised by the social security system. “We must put an end to payments per hectare”, she concluded. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)