Brussels, 04/04/2006 (Agence Europe) - Three hundred and ninety-one MEPs from all political groups responded to the appeal made by their colleagues - Marie-Arlette Carlotti, Philippe Busquin, Joseph Daul, Mario Mauro and Boguslaw Sonik - to sign a written declaration on the provision of approved charity associations for implementation of the European food aid programme for the very poor. These organisations - such as the food banks of various Member States, their European federation and Secours populaire français - had rallied to explain the initiative in Strasbourg alongside five MEPs who launched it, a press release states, specifying that they acted on behalf of thousands of other associations that depend on such provision to help the millions of persons who are suffering from food shortages and nutritional deficiency as well as other difficulties (42 million persons). In a Europe that is growing larger and which sees its rate of poverty increasing, the associations state they are waiting for measures to perpetuate and develop the programme's potential in favour of the poor.