Brussels, 06/04/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 5 April, France reiterated that it is doing all in its power to keep the European programme for food aid to the poorest in the CAP (common agricultural policy). Readers may recall that in September 2010, the European Commission, supported by the European Parliament, proposed keeping the current system as it stands in the future CAP. However, seven member states, including Germany and the UK, oppose this: they take the view that this aid comes under the heading of social policies, not agriculture, and is therefore a matter for the member states themselves.
Bruno Le Maire, the French agriculture minister, and Laurent Wauquiez, the French minister for European affairs, state that although it represents just 1% of the budget of the common agricultural policy, “the financial stakes of this programme are much higher for charity associations, some of which get up to 50 % of their resources from this programme”. Because it helps to bring the European Union closer to its very poorest citizens, France staunchly defends keeping this programme “at the heart of the new CAP up to 2013”, the two French ministers state. (L.C./transl.fl)