Mitchell: Use Euro farm cash windfall to feed hungry

Windfall profits from Europe’s farm budget should be used to help the world’s needy, a conference in Brussels was told today.

The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is in surplus to the tune of €997m - money saved because high world food prices mean lower rates of EU support for farmers.

Normally the cash should be reimbursed to the member states which fund the Cap.

But today Fine Gael MEP Gay Mitchell lead calls for the money to be donated to efforts to help victims of the current global food crisis.

Addressing talks between MEPs and three United Nations aid agencies in Brussels, Mr Mitchell said: “Soaring food prices have led to hunger and hardship for millions in developing countries, but they have also allowed the EU to ”save“ a billion euro this year on price support for farm exports.

“The surplus brings with it two choices: give it back to member states, or use it to help the victims of the food crisis in the developing world.”

The European Commission is in favour and Mr Mitchell called for swift agreement between EU governments and the European Parliament to allow the bulk of the surplus to be put to use before Christmas to offset the impact of high prices on developing countries.

The special meeting of the European Parliament’s Development Committee heard from leading aid agencies that the continuing rise in food prices is expected to push about 100 million more people into poverty, nearly 30 million of them in Africa.

Food production will need to rise 50% by 2030 to meet growing demand, they warned.

The executive director of the World Food programme Josette Sheeran, the director-general of the Food and Agriculture Organisation Jacques Diouf, and the vice-president of the International Fund for Agricultural Development Kanayo Nwanze, told the talks that the three organisations were now working together to respond to high food prices.

Between them they have already committed hundreds of millions of pounds to counter shortages and malnutrition.

Pressure on the EU to pitch in hundreds of millions more came in “Africa Week” at the European Parliament.

Mr Mitchell is author of a report to MEPs urging the setting up of a special rapid response mechanism to channel cash aid where it is most needed.

The aim is to target Cap money on farming improvements in developing countries, encouraging increased food production by providing seeds and fertilisers, as well as offering emergency food aid.

The full European Parliament is expected to approve Mr Mitchell’s report next month, paving the way for three-quarters of the surplus to be dispatched by the end of the year and the balance early next year.