MEPs conclude food security fact-finding visit to Madagascar
Five members from the Committee on Development travelled to Madagascar from 23-25 May to assess the impact of the famine in the country’s southern Grand Sud region.
Led by MEP Karsten Lucke (S&D, DE), the Development Committee MEPs undertook a two-day field visit to this region, visiting school feeding and nutrition projects and rural development projects supporting smallholder farmers. The delegation visited projects carried in the south of Madagascar supported by EU and member states. They also met with representatives from cooperation partners, including the World Food Programme and UNICEF, as well as representatives from local government and civil society organisations.
In addition to their focus on food security and nutrition, MEPs also spoke with local representatives working in the fields of anti-corruption, peacebuilding and human development, sanitation, and the sustainable management of natural resources. During their time in Antanarivo, delegation member also met with the Speaker of the Senate and the Director of the President’s office of Madagascar. The visit follows on from a resolution adopted by the European Parliament in February 2020 on the situation of child labour in mica mining in Madagascar.
Speaking at the conclusion of the visit, the head of the mission Karsten Lucke said:
“We had very fruitful discussions in the capital, and our field trip allowed us to get an unfiltered picture of the challenges in the south of Madagascar. We take back with us three main messages. First, we highly appreciate the work of the government of Madagascar on its strategy for the development of the south of the country. We encourage the authorities to make this strategy operational, to coordinate with development partners and focus on better governance, and the provision of infrastructure and basic social services. We are, however, concerned about the lack of progress on anti-corruption and dealing with child labour in Madagascar.
“Second, the EU and partners should maintain assistance in support of the urgent needs in the south of Madagascar, while at the same time encouraging long-term development through sustainable agriculture, water and sanitation, and family planning. In other words, what we call the nexus approach, and interconnected solutions, are of absolute relevance in the South.
“Third, Madagascar has also reminded us of the potential impact of the worsening global food security crisis, exacerbated by price rises and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The EU and member states must urgently step up with financial means to respond to the unprecedented humanitarian needs.”
The delegation was composed of:
Karsten Lucke (S&D, DE) - Chair of delegation
Mónica Silvana Gonzalez (S&D, ES)
Stéphane Bijoux (Renew, FR)
María Soraya Rodríguez Ramos (Renew, ES)
Ryszard Czarnecki (ECR, PL)
Contacts:
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Eoghan WALSH
Press Officer