Social Conditionality in EU CAP: Challenges and Recommendations

Social conditionality in the EU's Common Agricultural Policy faces challenges due to fragmented coordination and weak data collection. Only 13 of 27 Member States report occupational injuries among self-employed farmers. No EU-wide data exists on CAP beneficiaries employing workers, limiting assessment of policy effectiveness. Recommendations include EU-level research on workforce coverage, enforcement guidance for temporary work, and capacity-building for labor inspection. Member States should launch awareness campaigns, strengthen advisory services, and improve collaboration with social partners. The SafeHabitus project, funded by the EU, involves universities, NGOs like OXFAM Intermón, and sectoral bodies such as CIEHAM ZARAGOZA and Newcastle University, aiming to improve agricultural working conditions.