Brussels, 17/12/2008 (Agence Europe) - After the European Parliament delivered its opinion on 4 December (see EUROPE 9789), the EU Council of Ministers, on Tuesday 16 December, adopted, without debate, a regulation setting up a rapid response facility to soaring food prices in developing countries from 2008 to 2010. The Community has set aside €1 billion for this purpose, under financing arrangements and a timetable for payments negotiated between the European Parliament and the Council (see EUROPE 9789). The European Commission will bring forward a general plan listing the third countries targeted by the regulation and those players who will implement the measures.
The primary aims of the food facility are to: - encourage a positive supply response from the agricultural sector in target countries and regions; - support activities to respond rapidly and directly to mitigate the negative effects of volatile food price on local populations in line with global food security objectives; - strengthen the production capacities and the governance of the agricultural sector to enhance the sustainability of intervention. Taking into account the specific country-level conditions, support measures that might be used are: - measures to improve access to agricultural inputs and services, including fertilisers and seeds; - safety net measures designed to maintain or improve agricultural production capacity and address the basic food needs of the most vulnerable, including children; - other small-scale measures to increase production based on country needs (microcredit, investment, equipment, infrastructure and storage, and training). These support measures will be focused on small and medium-sized farms and food-producing agriculture, particularly those run by women, and poor populations most affected by the food crisis (any form of distortion of local markets and production is to be avoided, the regulation states). (L.C./transl.rt)