On the occasion of the regional conference of the Germanspeaking agricultural trade unions, end of February 2017 in Vienna, the trade unions involved agreed on a joint action in the EFFAT campaign "For a social European agricultural policy". In this way, the agriculture trade unions want to strengthen the interests of the workers in European agriculture and forestry. EFFAT is thus to be strengthened towards the European farmers' association.
In a conversation with the Austrian Minister of Agriculture, Andrä Rupprechter, EFFAT Agriculture Secretary, Arnd Spahn, presented the objectives of EFFAT and sought support. Federal Minister Rupprechter emphasized the importance of measures against unfair competition and for a strengthening of agriculture and rural areas. The spokesman for the Germanspeaking agricultural trade unions, Mr Joseph Treiber, from the Austrian GÖD, asked the Minister for concrete measures to support the initiatives of EFFAT. Holger Bartels of the German IG BAU suggested that further consultations should be discussed more closely between the governments and the trade unions involved. The talks are to be continued.
In further discussions with the chairman of the Austrian GÖD and the chairman of the Austrian Chamber of Agriculture Workers, it was possible to promote the aims of the agricultural trade unions.