Brussels, 21/10/2011 (Agence Europe) - The group of six countries blocking extension of the Community programme for the distribution of food to the EU's most deprived won the day, on Thursday 20 October. They have not yet, however, won the war. A proposal put forward for the umpteenth time by the European Commission to extend aid in 2012 and 2013 to almost €500 million annually was backed by 21 agriculture ministers, and rejected by the usual six (Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom), which hold a blocking minority. The group of six countries considers the programme is related to social policy and should therefore fall within the competence of the states, not the common agricultural policy.
Although it is felt by some that an agreement is still possible by the end of the year, the consequences of this deadlock are considerable for charity organisations that rely on the programme, and for the beneficiaries. Funding for next year's programme is cut by 80% (a little over €100 million instead of €480 million), and the mechanism is due to end completely in 2013. It is not to be ruled out, however, that the issue will be brought up during the European Council's debate on Sunday 23 October.
In early October, the Commission presented a new, amended proposal in an attempt to break the deadlock. It suggests adding another legal base to the programme, namely the objective of strengthening social cohesion in Europe in order to overcome the objections of the EU General Court. The latter had said that the programme had become removed from its initial aim of providing an outlet for surplus agricultural stocks, as public stocks had declined and purchases must be made from the market. The Commission therefore suggests there should be a double legal base for 2012 and 2013 (agriculture and social cohesion). It also proposes that the programme remain financed at 100% by the European budget, in order to overcome the difficulties highlighted by a number of countries that are struggling to come up with the national part of funding.
For once, differences were displayed in public. After a new presentation of the Commission's proposal, the president-in-office of the Agriculture Council, Marek Sawicki, first of all requested that only those delegations that have changed their stance should speak out (“we can't just drop the programme from one day to the next”, said Dacian Ciolos, Agriculture Commissioner, who vowed to no longer present the programme as part of the CAP as of 2014). A heavy silence followed Sawicki's request, and then the Polish minister said: “I can see there is no qualified majority to continue working on this proposal”.
France's Agriculture Minister Bruno Le Maire took the floor to say: “I do not believe one can bypass an issue of such political importance in this way, by sweeping it under the carpet and pretending that nothing has happened.” He expressed indignation at the fact that “we are not able today to guarantee extension of the programme for 2012 and 2013”. Not extending a programme is a bad sign for Europe and is a true threat to the wellbeing of the most deprived on the European continent, he said. It is also a threat that citizens will “find it hard to understand”, the French minister went on to say. He pointed out the concessions made by France (renouncing extension of the programme after the end of 2013, agreeing that financing should no longer be under the agricultural budget as of 2014). Le Maire said by way of conclusion: “We are up against incomprehensible intransigence on the part of the six countries. Such intransigence is not in line with the European spirit of compromise.”
The Slovenian minister, Dejan Zidan, spoke of saving the banks but being unable to extend aid to the poorest of the poor. He expressed his “shock”, regretting the lack of solidarity shown by the six member states. The Italian minister, Francesco Saverio Romano, took the view that something should be done for all those who are suffering, saying there are 18 million deprived persons who use the programme. “Let's show some courage!”, he added. He called for a gesture of generosity on the part of the recalcitrant countries. The Belgian minister, Sabine Laruelle, said this was the first time she had ever felt so “embarrassed” at being a part of the Council, and does not understand the total lack of openness shown by the group of six countries that are “blocking European solidarity”.
Spain took the view that this was not a legal problem. The Spanish representative asserted that: “The NGOs are calling on us to continue the programme. Some citizens have to go through the dustbins for food. This problem must be resolved as soon as possible.”
The food aid programme is a social issue, said Austria, a country that does not use the aid, but which nonetheless showed understanding for countries that do resort to it. “We are ready to show our agreement in favour of continuing aid in 2012 and 2013”, the minister said.
The Polish minister was somewhat forceful in calling for the group of six to take the floor. The Swedish minister said: “I am forced to say no, and have nothing to add. The CAP is not sufficiently effective in this area”. The German minister said: “We are sticking to our position.” Denmark and the Netherlands said in essence that social policy comes under member state responsibility. The United Kingdom maintained its objection saying that the change of legal base simply confirms that this is a social policy and not an agricultural policy. “We shall continue our effort and reflect on what should be done”, the Polish president opined.
Addressing a press conference after the Agriculture Council, Marek Sawicki, the Polish minister, hammered out that “if we show solidarity to the banks, we should do the same with those who are deprived”. He gave his assurance, however, that the issue is not yet dead and buried, adding: “We shall continue to work on this to raise certain political objections that we still do not understand.”
Dacian Ciolos, Agriculture Minister, found that Community spirit was lacking. He recalled that, each time there is a change made to a major instrument of the CAP, as was the case for example for the German monopoly on alcohol or for sugar quotas, a transitional period is requested and finally accepted. “I find that (the refusal of these six countries) is proof of egoism towards those who are affected by the economic crisis”, Ciolos added.
The German minister, Ilse Aigner, explained to the press: “We do not want a social policy of European scale. We fully finance it in Germany from our national budget and we believe we are right in doing so.”
During a press conference after the Council, Bruno Le Maire also said: “The national egoism of six countries has won over the spirit of European solidarity.” His negotiation with Germany for finding a compromise was tough, but he came up “against a wall” at every turn, he said. “The fight for aid for the deprived continues. We shall be proven we are right in keeping this programme in place in 2012 and 2013”, Le Maire said. He counts on the support of 85% of MEPs, as well as on that of José Manuel Barroso and Dacian Ciolos, and 21 of the 27 European member states. (LC/transl.jl)