The Commission's proposal to finance a one billion euro aid package from unused Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) funds has been delayed by objections from the Member States.  Many EU countries are reluctant to approve the aid package, which would help developing world farmers address the recent soaring food prices, due to budgetary pressures arising from the global financial crisis. Member States and the Parliament are currently looking for other sources of financing within the EU budget to help African farmers, but have said that the overall amount could be less than the proposed billion euro.

This delay was strongly criticised by Development Commissioner Louis Michel. "Blocking on pretexts is unacceptable, we need this billion, it is urgent," he said "All international organisations ... and the people who need this billion to save their 2009 and 2010 harvest are waiting for this tiny gesture," Michel said.

European NGO network Solidar released a statement urging all Member States "to resist the temptation to water down their Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) commitments" and "to support binding timetables in order to ensure the predictability of aid and fulfil the promises we have made."

Angela Corbalan of Oxfam International commented: "Ahead of the Doha Financing for Development Conference in December, all eyes will be on European leaders to see if they can live up to the EU's reputation as the global leader on development. The one billion ‘food facility' is a necessary first step. For millions of the world's poorest citizens, the credibility of Sarkozy's leadership of Europe will literally be a matter of life and death."

Sources:

• http://www.euractiv.com/en/sustainability/eu-food-aid-doubt-economic-crisis-takes-toll/article-177074
• http://africa.reuters.com/top/news/usnJOE4A90L6.html
• http://www.europeanvoice.com/CWS/Index.aspx?PageID=210&articleID=63018