– Avant le vote:

  Pervenche Berès (S&D). - Madame la Présidente, avant de procéder au vote du rapport de Mme Costello et de l'accord qui a été élaboré en codécision, nous avons besoin que le commissaire fasse, au nom de la Commission européenne, une déclaration sur le sort qui sera réservé aux épiceries sociales dans le cadre de cette nouvelle législation.

  László Andor, Member of the Commission. - Madam President, the draft Regulation for the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived does indeed provide that the food and goods shall be distributed free of charge to the most deprived.

This choice was dictated by the Financial Regulation rules relating to the generation of revenue, which require that any amount gained when executing a project should be limited, or even deducted, from the EU contribution. This amount is subject to control. This does not mean that social groceries distributing food against a small fee cannot participate in the Fund. What is required from social groceries is that those products that are co-financed by the Fund are distributed free of charge.

Since I have the floor, let me take this opportunity to thank Parliament, and in particular the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, for their critical role in defending this Fund. Without Parliament we would by no means be certain of having such a Fund today to express EU solidarity with the most deprived citizens.