G/AG/N/EU/87  
 
31 July 2023 
(23-5202) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Agriculture  Original: English  
 
NOTIFICATION  
The following submission, dated  27 July  2023, is being circulated at the request of the delegation of 
the European Union . The notification concerns new or modified domestic support measures exempt 
from reduction ( Table DS:2 ). 
 
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The notification concerns new or modified domestic support measures exempt from reduction 
(Table  DS:2) in the field of the food aid for the most deprived persons.  
 
 G/AG/N/EU/87  
 
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  Table  DS:2   
DOMESTIC  SUPPORT: EUROPEAN UNION  
Notification  under Article 18:3 of the Agreement:  
New or modified domestic support measures exempt from reduction  
 
 
(1) FULL TITLE OF MEASURE:  
European domestic aid to the most deprived persons.   
 
The European Social Fund Plus may deliver basic material assistance including food for the personal 
use of the most deprived persons within the Union.  
 
(2) DOMESTIC LEGISLATION REFERENCE:  
REGULATION (EU) 2021/1057 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL  
establishing the Euro pean Social Fund Plus (ESF+) and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1296/2013.  
 
This Regulation includes a continuation of the Union's measures currently notified under Regulation 
(EU) No 223/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2014 on  the Fund for 
European Aid to the Most Deprived.  
 
(3) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF MEASURE WITH REFERENCE TO CRITERIA:  
The Fund promotes social cohesion, enhances social inclusion and contributes to the objective of 
eradicating poverty. The Fund supports nation al schemes whereby food and/or basic material 
assistance are distributed to the most deprived persons through partner organisations selected by 
the member States.   
Support to the most deprived persons is implemented under the specific objective set out in 
Article  4(1), point (m) of Regulation (EU) 2021/1057 and covers food as well as goods and 
accompanying measures. However, in duly justified cases, this requirement may be met through 
support to the most deprived under specific objective set out in Article 4(1), point (l) of 
Regulation  (EU) 2021/1057.   
Support consists in distribution of food, hygiene products, material for homeless people, school 
material and vouchers.   
The EU member States have the possibilities to choose between food support and the other possible 
types of support as listed above, in accordance with their priorities.   
The measures covered by this notification will be notified as green box measures under:  
Annex 2 Paragraph 4 to Agreement on Agriculture   
Payments to compensate for cost incurred or revenue foregone in relation to the provision of 
domestic food aid. Eligibility to receive the food aid is based on clearly defined criteria related to 
nutritional objectives. Food purchases for the schemes are made at current market price s or lower.  
Payments from the European Social Fund Plus comply with paragraph 1 of Annex 2 to the Agreement 
on Agriculture as well as with the relevant criteria of paragraph 4.  
(4) COST OF MEASURE:  
In accordance with Article 7(5) of Regulation (EU) 2021/10 57 of the European Parliament and of the 
Council of 24 June 2021 establishing the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) and repealing Regulation 
(EU) No 1296/2013, all European Union member States shall allocate at least 3% of their resources 
of the ESF+ strand  to support the most deprived persons.   G/AG/N/EU/87  
 
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  The EU member States have programmed ESF+ resources to support the most deprived persons 
amounting to EUR 5 billion.  
The EU member States have the possibilities to choose between food support and the other possible 
types of support as listed above, in accordance with their priorities.   
The EU estimates that less than 50% of the total amount of EUR 5 billion will be spent on food over 
the period 2021 to 2027 (Article 4 on Regulation 2021/690). Exact amounts w ill be reported once 
actually spent in EU DS:1 notifications for the relevant years.  
(5) DATE OF ENTRY INTO EFFECT:  
1 January 2021 . 
(6) PERIOD OF APPLICATION:  
The Fund covers the period 2021 -2027. 
(7) PRODUCTS TO PRINCIPALLY BENEFIT (IF ANY INDIVIDUAL PROD UCT(S)):  
The fund is not intended to support individual products.  
 
 
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