Brussels, 11/06/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 12 June, in Strasbourg, the European Parliament will vote on the budget allocated to the European fund to help the very poor and on the rules for taking part in this programme. Members of the employment and social affairs, budgets and agriculture committees voted on 20 May this year in favour of maintaining the budget at its present level, i.e. €3.5 billion for the period 2014-2020, which will be intended for food aid and for material assistance to the poorest EU citizens.
The European Parliament committee on social affairs was two votes off gaining a majority for approving the negotiation mandate with the Council, due to the difference of views over the rules for member state participation (see EUROPE 10849). Most MEPs considered that the money should remain available for the poorest even if the member states decide not to take part in the funding. The final amount of the European fund for aid to the most deprived will depend on the outcome of the current negotiations between the Parliament and Council on the multiannual financial framework 2014-2020.
On 20 May this year, the social affairs committee at the European Parliament took a stance in favour of reducing by €1 billion the European fund to the most deprived, as proposed by the European Commission. MEPs requested that the support granted to the most vulnerable citizens should be kept at the 2007-2013 level, namely €3.5 billion.
The new programme for 2014-2020 aims to replace the food distribution programme designed to use the food surpluses from the common agricultural policy. The scope of the new fund will be extended in order to provide not only a distribution of food but also basic material aid for the most deprived European citizens. (LC/transl.jl)