Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2011-09-28-Speech-3-328-000"
| Predicate | Value (sorted: default) |
|---|---|
| rdf:type | |
| dcterms:Date | |
| dcterms:Is Part Of | |
| dcterms:Language | |
| lpv:document identification number |
"en.20110928.22.3-328-000"2
|
| lpv:hasSubsequent | |
| lpv:speaker | |
| lpv:translated text |
"Mr President, honourable Members, the subject we are debating today – the food aid programme for the most deprived – is an extremely important issue and of great topical relevance.
As we are all aware, following the serious economic crisis, the number of EU citizens who need these programmes in order to be fed has increased dramatically. The long queues that form outside charity organisations speak for themselves. Indeed, over the past 25 years we have had a programme that has proved its worth by supporting those organisations. A total of 440 000 tonnes of food a year is distributed to them, which constitutes more than half of what the food banks provide to the most deprived people in the Member States. Eighteen million people await our decision. An average of 18 million people benefit from this programme every year. Even though this programme exists and works properly, some want to see it disappear right at a time when we may need it more than ever.
I shall be clear on this point. The legal and financial issues that have arisen in order for the programme to continue can be resolved for 2012 and 2013. What is lacking is the political will on the part of a few. I would like to be clear on that point, as well: nobody can hide behind a ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union. The Court of Justice ruling does not challenge the advisability of this programme. Rather, it challenges the legal basis, which needs to be updated, and it is precisely the role of the political institutions to decide on the amendments that should be made to that legal basis.
From that perspective, the European Commission has made a clear choice, because, within its proposals for the new Multiannual Financial Framework for the period following 2013, it has offered to include these programmes in its economic and social cohesion policy, with a budget of EUR 2.5 million for the period 2014-2020. The aim of this is to ensure these programmes continue. For 2012 and 2013, a period that is currently under threat and needs urgent attention, the Commission’s proposal – which the Council has been debating since 2008 and which I amended in September 2010 in order to take your comments into account – would allow us to bridge the gap between current regulations, which limit purchases to intervention stocks, and 2014, after which we will also have a new legal basis within the framework of social cohesion policy.
As Mr Sawicki said, I have already warned the Council that, if it does not take this decision immediately, given that Parliament has already expressed its view, the 2012 plan will only constitute one quarter of that of past years. For 2013 there would be no plan at all, because it is unlikely that we would have significant intervention on the market so as to make public stocks available. If there is no amendment to the current regulation by means of the political decision that the Council needs to take, we run the risk of not being able to allocate a single euro to the 2013 programme, even though the budget exists.
I would like to thank you today for the continued support you have shown on this issue, and particularly for recently adopting the resolution of 7 July 2011, which stresses the need to find an agreement enabling this programme to continue.
I am also aware that many of you have spoken out in favour of the continued full financing of these programmes by the EU budget. In that respect, I have shown considerable flexibility as regards the conditions required in order for all interested Member States to be able to take part. I have also shown the Council that I am ready to be flexible if the Council can manage to find a majority in order to take this decision.
I took note of the discussion that took place in the Council on 20 September 2011; the Commission is currently looking at solutions to try to end this deadlock, and potentially to propose a shared legal basis for the common agricultural policy (CAP) and social policies so that it will be available for 2012 and 2013. I hope to be able to find a solution to this political issue in the Council.
I am counting on your active support in order to reach a swift agreement, because I think this is another opportunity to show that Europe does not just mean Brussels and Strasbourg, but rather that Europe is active in the field, and this scheme is a perfect example of a programme that works in the field. It is my belief that we should not be afraid to take political responsibility for this Europe that takes action in the field. We believe that this ideal should be put into practice on a daily basis, and I am certain that you will remain faithful to that ideal and to that principle of carrying out specific actions in the field and thereby show our citizens that Europe takes action in that way and shows solidarity."@en1
|
| lpv:unclassifiedMetadata | |
| lpv:videoURI |
Named graphs describing this resource:
The resource appears as object in 2 triples