Brussels, 20/11/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 20 November, the European Commission published the food aid plan for the neediest people for the year 2010. Originally set up to provide surplus stocks of farm produce to needy people (intervention stocks), the scheme was amended in the mid-1990s to make it possible to supplement intervention stocks with market purchases in certain circumstances. This year, existing intervention stocks (cereals, sugar, milk powder, butter) broadly covered needs for the 2010 plan, so only limited recourse to market purchases is necessary, the Commission notes in a press release. The budget allocated is by way of €500 million and corresponds to that of the 2009 plan. This year, 19 member states decided to take part in the programme.
The Commission points out that: - participation of member states in the programme is voluntary; - member states wishing to participate in the programme must notify the Commission early each year and inform it of their product needs. They must also provide a report on implementation of the programme; - the Commission adopts a new plan each year; - aid is generally provided to different categories of persons living in poverty, mainly families in difficulty, elderly and older persons with insufficient means, persons with no fixed addressed, persons with disabilities, children in danger, poor workers, migrant workers and asylum seekers; - and 17% of the European population live below or at the limit of the poverty level and face the prospect of food poverty which means they are unable to have a balanced meal every day. (G.B./transl.jl)