Brussels, 05/09/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 17 September, the European Commission is due to adopt a proposal to amend the Community programme for the distribution of foodstuffs to the most deprived persons to bring it into line with today's realities. The changes relate to member states' contribution to the funding of the programme from 2010 and the purchase of products on the market since the dramatic fall in intervention stocks.
Free distribution of food to the Community's poorest began as an emergency measure during the exceptionally cold winter of 1986-87. Surplus stocks of agricultural products were given to charities in member states for distribution to those in need. More recently, with the reduction in agricultural surpluses, the programme has received a direct financial contribution. In 2006, more than 13 million people benefited from this aid scheme. The rise in food prices has had a great effect on supplies of the programme and led to a sharp rise in its cost, the Commission points out in its report.
The Commission, therefore, proposes a number of improvements. Two sources of supply: food may be sourced from either intervention stocks or the market. Wider variety of foodstuffs to be distributed: to improve the nutritional balance of the food provided by the programme, the products distributed should no longer be limited to those for which intervention applies. They will be chosen by member states on the basis of nutritional criteria, and distributed in cooperation with civil society partners. Long-term perspective: the food distribution should be based on three-year plans. Co-financing: member states should co-finance the distribution programme. Community co-financing rates, for 2010 to 2012, will be 75% in EU member countries (and 85% in cohesion countries, i.e. the new EU member states, plus Greece and Portugal). For 2013-2015 Community co-financing rates will be 50% (75% in cohesion countries).
The total budget for this programme grew from almost €100 million in 1988 to over €300 million in 2008. In 2008, 19 of the EU's 27 member states took part in the programme: Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia and Spain. For the 2008 distribution programme, since the only major stocks remaining are sugar, the Commission has decided to allocate funding to charitable organisations so that they can buy foodstuffs on the market. (L.C./transl.rt)