Brussels, 15/12/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 15 December, the Council of Ministers of the EU adopted conclusions analysing special report N° 6/2009 from the Court of Auditors on European Union food aid for deprived persons. The Council notes that, in September 2008, the European Commission brought forward a proposal for amending the EU aid scheme for the most deprived in the Community. It takes note of the fact that the Court of Auditors recognises that the Commission proposal for amending this scheme would address some of the observations made by the Court of Auditors. Division over this proposal has been clear in the Council, for example, during the public debate on 28 November 2008.
In a statement, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom reiterate their opposition to the Commission proposal. They believe that “there are factors confirming them in their opposition to this proposal, in particular, the European Court of Auditors' conclusion according to which the Commission proposal is not compatible with the CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) or with funding from the EAGF (European Agricultural Guarantee Fund)”. (L.C./transl.rt)