Banks in Europe

EUROPEAN COMMISSION, AGRICULTURE DG
TIME TO SAVE THE E.U. FOOD AID PROGRAM (PEAD)

First introduced in 1987, the European Program of Food Aid for the most Deprived persons provides food coming from surplus stocks of farm produce, called "intervention stocks", to the needy people in Europe. But these stocks are at a very low level due to the market conditions and the high demand of food products in the world.

The Program has successfully contributed to combat poverty and promote social inclusion, and, in 2011, 18 million European citizens in 20 different Member States benefited from the program.

In September 2010, the European Commission made a proposal to allow the EUR. 500 million food aid program to continue at the same level in 2012 and 2013. In April 2011, the intervention stocks having declined, the European Court of Justice judged illegal the purchase of food products for the program in the open market. So the funding for this program was reduced to the limit of the available intervention stocks from 480 million Euros to 113.5 million Euros, a drastic cut of 76%, even though there is a budget of 500 million Euros foreseen.



Given the market situation, the fear is that there will be no budget available for the 2013 program as no intervention stocks are expected in 2012.

Support for the European Food Aid Program

There is much support for this vital program.

The Members of European Parliament voted on July 7th 2011 with a majority of 85% for a transitional solution for 2012 and 2013 and a new program beyond.

The President of the European Commission, Mr. Barroso has always supported the program of food aid.

However, at the Council of European Ministers of Agriculture of September 2011, 6 countries formed a blocking minority: Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden and United Kingdom. They persist in being against the principle of solidarity between Member States of the European Union and have prevented the adoption of a transitional solution. 2

The European governments, the national representatives in Europe, the journalists and the media are concerned and do not understand such a dramatic downtrend.

The Food Banks, the Red Cross, Caritas, Diakonie, the Salvation Army, the Social Action Centers, Saint Vincent de Paul charities, San’t Egidio in Italy, Restos du Coeur and Secours Populaire in France and over 30.000 charitable organizations receiving food aid for the most deprived persons are alarmed by a situation that compromises the future of food aid.

The European Commission proposes new amendments to change the situation.

On October 3rd 2011, the European Commission has put forward a new amended proposal to allow the food aid program to continue. The amendments introduce another legal basis: social cohesion reflecting the important social dimension of the program. Another amendment removes the proposed provision for co-financing from the Member States.

The European Commission also prepared a proposal to extend the program beyond 2013. The Commission will study the incorporation of the program among the EU social policy instruments in 2014.

Mr. Ciolos, EU Commissioner for Agriculture, said: "With the change of the legal basis, we address the problems seen by some Member States for the program in the short time. We now call on Member States to take their responsibility with regards to the millions of citizens who are waiting for the decision. The money is available and can be allocated if we can get a political agreement".

Mr. Andor, Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs, said: "Solidarity must remain a key element in Europe’s social engagement. Hunger in the EU is simply not acceptable. I am confident that today’s proposal will help avoid dramatic cuts in resources for organizations providing food to deprived persons"

The European Program of food aid has the support of the European Parliament and the European Commission. We only need a political agreement at the Council of European Ministers of Agriculture.

Some figures

In Europe, 79 million people live below the poverty line and among them, 30 million suffer from malnutrition

(Source Eurostat and European Congress of Experts on Nutrition, 2009).
Increasing number of EU food aid recipients