MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the Scheme for food distribution to the most deprived persons in the Union

4.7.2011

to wind up the debate on the statement by the Commission
pursuant to Rule 110(2) of the Rules of Procedure

Csaba Őry, Giovanni La Via, Georgios Papastamkos, Mariya Nedelcheva on behalf of the PPE Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0397/2011

B7‑0398/2011

European Parliament resolution on the Scheme for food distribution to the most deprived persons in the Union

The European Parliament,

–   having regard to Article 27 of Regulation 1234/2007 and Regulation 983/2008,

–   having regard to Commission proposal COM(2010) 486,

–   having regard to the judgment of the European Court of Justice in Case T-576/08,

–   having regard to its resolution on ‘Food distribution to the most deprived persons in the Community (amendment of the Single CMO Regulation’ (A6-0091/2009),

–   having regard to its resolution on ‘the CAP towards 2020: meeting the food, natural resources and territorial challenges of the future’,

–   having regard to Rule 110(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas the Commission estimates that 80 million people in the EU are at risk of poverty and that due to the financial and economic crisis the number of people affected by poverty could increase,

B.  whereas 13 million people affected by poverty have been supplied by the food programme of intervention stocks,

C. whereas the EU intervention stocks have been reduced drastically,

D. whereas the Commission bought up food due to low stocks in order to distribute them among the most deprived persons,

1.  Considers that the regulation 983/2008, article 2 cannot be used as a legal basis for food distribution for the needy due to the judgment;

2.  Welcomes the Commission initiative together with the agencies of the United Nations to put up a common front against food insecurity and malnutrition throughout the world;

3.  Is aware that 13 million people in the Union depend on food aid;

4.  Calls for the retention of the scheme to provide support for the most needy of society;

5.  Stresses that the right to food is a basic and fundamental human right and it is achieved when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to suitable, safe (from the point of view of health) and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and preferences for an active and healthy life;

6.  Points out that poor nutrition negatively influences health and employability;

7.  Calls therefore on the Commission to find a legal basis for existing food programme or for a new programme for the needy in order to help them;

8.  Expects from the Commission to ensure, regarding the adjustment of the structural funds, that individual professional and educational qualifications will be increasingly promoted so that the most deprived persons will be able to participate to social welfare by their own work;

9.  Calls on the Commission to consider a possibility of increasing products supply for the programme enabling purchases of products being withdrawn from the market by means of instruments other than intervention like export refunds or private storage;

10. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission and the governments of the Member States.