Food aid policy: management of EC food aid and special operations in support of food security in developing countries

The rapporteur, Mr TELKÄMPER (Greens, D), said that it was necessary to re-examine the reasons behind the food aid policy and to begin by converting industrialised society to a new way of thinking. The new regulation was aimed at promoting self-sufficiency in food supply. Mr Telkämper stressed that the reconstruction of a subsistence economy had to be stimulated at local level and that the existing programmes were in need of reform. He also focused on the important role that women had to play in the area of food security. The Commissioner, Mrs BONINO, thought that this sector had undergone numerous changes, including those of a macro-economic nature, and that the problems in this area had got worse since the 1980s. She believed that the FAO summit had been a turning point for food security. The Commission accepted most of the amendments, including those relating to greater respect for environmental requirements, improved water supplies, positive discrimination in favour of small and medium-sized private undertakings and the greater involvement of women and local communities in food security. The Commission was prepared to accept the content of Amendments Nos 4, 8, 11, 12, 13 and 14, but wanted their wording to be revised. However, it was not prepared to accept Amendment No 16, as this would reduce the scope of the food aid; Amendment No 21, because the funding was for all operations and not just individual persons; No 25, because while it agreed with the ‘triangular procurement’ approach the Commission was opposed to establishing a hierarchy of the three possible options; and Amendments Nos 32, 33 and 39. Mrs Bonino concluded by stating that the common objective was to help transform the recipients of Community aid into active participants in their own future.