Brussels, 22/12/2011 (Agence Europe) - The European Economic and Social Committee welcomes the agreement in principle reached by the EU Agriculture Council on 15 December to continue the EU Food Aid Scheme for the poor in 2012 and 2013. In a press release published on 19 December, the EESC “deeply deplores the uncertainty about the scheme's continuation after 2013 and encourages the Commission to use its right of initiative to draw up a new proposal. The EESC backs the 'aid for the needy' scheme to continue from 2014 onwards.”
At the EESC's plenary on 8 December, it voted by a large majority to adopt the Opinion on the distribution of food products to the most deprived persons in the European Union. The Committee was asked by the Council to issue its opinion as a matter of urgency. The rapporteur was Yves Somville (Belgium - Various Interests Group). The EESC put forward the following key messages: the EESC agrees with the financing of the scheme from the CAP budget, with the current level of funding, in 2012 and 2013. Solidarity with disadvantaged groups is a value that the European Union has always upheld across its various policies, and it must continue to do so; the EESC is pleased to note that the food aid scheme will continue to be fully funded from the EU budget, with no requirement for co-financing by the member states; the EESC is pleased that certain administrative, transport and storage costs incurred by the designated organisations will be eligible for financing. However, it draws attention to the fact that these will be deducted from the financial resources available to implement the plan; the EESC supports the possibility to compensate for the shortfall in intervention stocks by purchasing food products on the market; the EESC welcomes the fact that member states will have the option of giving preference to products of Union origin in their calls for tender.
In the EESC's view, this EU-funded programme gives the European public a positive image of the European Union and deserves to be continued in 2014 and beyond. (LC/transl.fl)