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Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on ‘the agricultural employment situation in the EU and the accession countries: options for action for 2010’

(2004/C 108/21)

On 23 January 2003, the European Economic and Social Committee, acting under Rule 29(2) of its Rules of Procedure, decided to draw up an opinion on the agricultural employment situation in the EU and the accession countries: options for action for 2010.

The Section for Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment, which was responsible for preparing the Committee's work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 18 December 2003. The rapporteur was Mr Wilms.

At its 405th plenary session, held on 28 and 29 January 2004, (meeting of 29 January), the European Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion by 65 votes to 2, with no abstentions.

1.   Introduction

2.   Starting point

2.1   Competitive and sustainable farming

2.2   Sustainable farming can only work as part of an integrated policy for rural areas

2.3   Safeguarding of farmers' incomes

2.4   Employment in agriculture

2.5   Farm incomes

2.6   Social criteria in sustainable agriculture

2.7   Social security

2.8   Basic and further training

2.9   Co-determination and participation

3.   A vision for 2010

3.2   The EESC is looking forward to a competitive, sustainable agricultural sector offering employment and social balance.

3.3   The EESC is calling for an integrated policy for rural areas. Such a policy should take the impact of upstream and downstream sectors into account.

3.4   The EESC demands the establishment of a uniform system of aid in Europe, which safeguards farm incomes.

3.5   The EESC is expecting employment in agriculture to pick up.

3.6   The EESC wants the social partners to conclude collective agreements to safeguard adequate levels of income.

3.7   The EESC is calling for equal treatment for seasonal workers.

3.8   The EESC is hoping for social criteria and indicators for certifying businesses where farming is the main activity, as a contribution to sustainable farming.

3.9   The EESC believes that effective social security systems will make jobs in agriculture attractive.

3.10   The EESC is looking forward to a sector-based strategy for lifelong learning to underpin employment.

3.11   The EESC is calling for civil society players to be involved in the sustainable development of rural areas.

4.   Possible courses of action

4.1   Achieving a competitive, sustainable agricultural sector

4.2   Integrated rural development

4.3   Safeguarding incomes in the agricultural sector

4.4   Measures to boost employment in agriculture

4.5   Collective agreements to be concluded by the social partners

4.6   Seasonal work

4.7   Introduction of social criteria and indicators for certifying businesses where farming is the main activity

4.8   Social security systems in sustainable agriculture

4.9   A sector-based strategy for lifelong learning in the agricultural sector

4.10   Civil society players are to help shape sustainable development in rural areas

Brussels, 29 January 2004.

The President

of the European Economic and Social Committee

Roger BRIESCH

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(1)  Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on policy to consolidate the European agricultural model, OJ C 368, 20.12.99, pages 76-86

(2)  The European Commission's Comprehensive monitoring report on the state of preparedness for EU membership, 2003

(3)  Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament: Mid-term review of the Common Agricultural Policy, COM(2002) 394 final, page 8.

(4)  Communication from the Commission: Second progress report on economic and social cohesion, COM(2003) 34 final, pages 13 and 14.

(5)  Ibidem.

(6)  ‘Social economy’, or ‘third sector’, businesses and organisations encompass socio-economic bodies which basically have the following principles in common: they are not-for-profit organisations which operate independently of the public and private sectors, target a more participatory form of organisation and are geared to serving the community ; they cater for needs and public services which the market does not cover and, to this end, engage in economic activity and employ staff; and they are mostly small and medium-sized businesses in local communities whose work is geared to long-term regional development (See footnote 5).

(7)  Communication from the Commission: Acting locally for employment - A local dimension for the European Employment Strategy COM(2000) 196 final, pages 11 and 12.

(8)  Ibidem.

(9)  See footnote 2.

(10)  EFFAT-GEOPA agreement on vocational training

(11)  The term ‘reasonable income’ implies that employees will receive an agreed performance-related income to satisfy their economic, social and cultural needs. Income trends in agriculture must be geared to general income trends.

(12)  cf. footnote 1.

(13)  EESC Opinion on the Elaboration of an initiative aimed at establishing a regulatory framework for the employment of migrant agricultural workers from non-EU states (Own-initiative Opinion, OJ C 204 of 18.7.2002, page 92).

(14)  See EESC Opinion on the CAP review, CESE 591/2003, pages 10 and 11.

(15)  See EESC Opinion on the CAP review, CESE 591/2003, p 11.

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