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 The European Commission's proposal to redirect €1 billion of unspent common agricultural policy (CAP) funds to help millions of farmers in the developing world cope with the global food crisis has been welcomed by senior leaders of the World Bank, Food & Agriculture Organisation (FAO), United Nations (UN) and many NGOs.
CONCORD, the European confederation of relief and development NGOs, whose members represent over 1600 NGOs, released a statement welcoming the proposal but urging further strong, long-term action. "This is a clear opportunity for the European Union to demonstrate leadership and solidarity with farmers across the developing world", said Tom Arnold of the CONCORD Working Group on Food Security issues. Olivier Consolo, CONCORD Director, adds: "Through this initiative of creating a fund, the European Union strives to contribute to bring a much needed short term response to the food crisis. In a longer term, a systemic answer to the crisis is needed. That is why European NGOs will continue advocating for EU policies which are more coherent with sustainable development." Ndiogou Fall, a Senegalese farmer and President of ROPPA, the network of farmer and agricultural producer organizations of West Africa, urged at a European Parliament hearing that the fund "should ensure transparency, participation and empowerment of small scale family farmers and their organisations." Source: |
