Policy Focus

MEPs back EU plans to commit €1bn to help resolve food crisis

EU plans to commit €1bn from its agriculture budget to help combat the impact of the global food crisis have been greeted as a ‘bold and poetic’ move.

Speaking in parliament on Wednesday, Josette Sheeran, director of the UN’s World Food Programme, said, “The world’s poorest farmers are in crisis mode.

“Some of the most vulnerable people in the world are still in the danger zone so,clearly, this money is urgently needed."

The source of the cash earmarked to help impoverished small farmers in countries like Liberia, Ethiopia and Somalia is what is known as the ´agricultural price support fund`, which forms part of the overall EU budget.

The fund is traditionally intended as a subsidy to European farmers if food prices fall below a certain level but, as prices are rising, the money would ordinarily be `refunded` to member states.

Irish EPP deputy Gay Mitchell, speaking at a news conference, said the cash was needed to meet a "serious and widespread" problem. No-one stood to lose out as the fund currently has a 2bn euro surplus,he says.

"Some member states feel that this surplus cash should be returned to them while some members of the budget committee believe that committing such a large amount to the developing world would set a dangerous precedence.

"But there is support from both the commission, parliament and the French presidency of the EU for this surplus to be used to help tackle the global food crisis," said Mitchell,who was appointed parliament´s rapporteur on the issue in July.

Rome-based Sheeran,speaking at the same event, said, "This proposal is a bold and poetic move and has the ability to put Europe at the forefront of efforts to respond to the current food crisis.

"The idea of European farmers reaching out in this way would be a sign of great leadership."

She pointed out that even with food prices reaching a historic peak, throughout the developing world, poor,small-scale farmers can barely survive from what they harvest.

This is particularly so, she says, at a time when air to poor countries has slumped and more people suffer from extreme poverty than previously thought.

The move was also welcomed by SAAPE, a South Asian alliance of civil society organisations, which said it could save "millions" from falling into destitution and hunger.

"On moral grounds,the EU must pay back to small farmers in developing countries the 1bn euros it has saved by way of farm export subsidies," said Prerna Bomzan, of the group´s EU advocacy initiative.

Parliament´s development committee will vote on the proposal on 7 October and, if the plenary backs the move, the cash will be released in time for what is seen as the crucial planting season in March.