A4-0126/96

Decision on the common position established by the Council with a view to adopting a Council Regulation on food aid policy and food aid management and special operations in support of food security (C4-0097/96 - 95/0160(SYN))

(Cooperation procedure: second reading)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the common position of the Council, C4-0097/96 - 95/0160(SYN)

((OJ C 87, 25.3.1996, p. 34.))- having regard to its opinion at first reading ((OJ C 17, 22.1.1996, p. 431.)) on the Commission proposal to the Council (COM(95)0283) ((OJ C 253, 29.9.1995, p. 10.)),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Article 189c of the EC Treaty,

- having regard to Rule 67 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the recommendation for second reading of the Committee on Development and Cooperation (A4-0126/96),

1. Amends the common position as follows;

2. Instructs its President to forward this decision to the Council and the Commission.

Common position of the Council Amendments by Parliament

(Amendment 1)

Recital 1

>Original text>

Whereas food aid is an important aspect of the community's development cooperation policy;

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas food aid remains as of now an important aspect of the Community's development cooperation policy;

(Amendment 2)

Recital 2

>Original text>

Whereas food aid must be integrated into the developing countries' policies for the improvement of their food security, in particular by the establishment of food strategies;

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas food aid must be integrated into the developing countries' policies for the improvement of their food security, in particular by the establishment of food strategies that are geared to alleviating poverty with the ultimate objective of making food aid superfluous;

(Amendment 3)

Recital 3

>Original text>

Whereas the European Community and its Member States closely coordinate their development cooperation policies and consult one another on their food aid programmes; whereas the Community, with its Member States, is a party to certain international agreements in this domain, and in particular the Food Aid Convention;

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas the European Community and its Member States closely coordinate their development cooperation policies in relation to food aid programmes and special operations in support of food security; whereas the Community, with its Member States, is a party to certain international agreements in this domain, and in particular the Food Aid Convention;

(Amendment 4)

Recital 6

>Original text>

Whereas food aid and operations in support of food security are key features of Community development cooperation policy and must be taken into account as objectives in all Community policies likely to affect the developing countries;

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas food aid and operations in support of food security are key features of Community development cooperation policy and must be taken into account as objectives in all Community policies likely to affect the developing countries, in particular with respect to economic reform and structural adjustment;

(Amendment 5)

Recital 6a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas, given the different responsibilities of men and women in relation to household food security, the different roles played by women and men should be considered systematically when programmes aimed at ensuring food security are prepared;

(Amendment 6)

Recital 6b (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas it is important to raise the level of participation of women and communities in the drive to ensure food security at national, regional, local and household level;

(Amendment 7)

Recital 8

>Original text>

Whereas the food-aid instrument is a key component of the Community's policy on preventing or helping in crisis situations in the developing countries; whereas account should be taken in its implementation of this fundamental role as a factor for social and political stabilization;

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas the food-aid instrument is a key component of the Community's policy on preventing or helping in crisis situations in the developing countries; whereas account should be taken in its implementation of the social and political implications it might have;

(Amendment 8)

Recital 13

>Original text>

Whereas the Community's support for the developing countries' efforts to achieve food security could be enhanced by greater flexibility in food aid, granting financial support for operations concerning food security, and in particular the development of farming and food crops, as an alternative to food aid in certain circumstances;

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas the Community's support for the developing countries' efforts to achieve food security could be enhanced by greater flexibility in food aid, granting financial support for operations concerning food security, and in particular the development of farming and food crops, as an alternative to food aid in certain circumstances, in accordance with ecological necessities and the interests of small-scale farmers and fishermen;

(Amendment 9)

Recital 14

>Original text>

Whereas the Community can assist those in need in rural and urban areas in the developing countries by helping finance operations in support of food security through the purchase of food products, seed, agricultural implements and inputs, and through storage programmes, early-warning systems, mobilization, supervision and technical and financial assistance;

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas the Community can assist those in need in rural and urban areas in the developing countries by helping finance operations in support of food security through the purchase of food products, seed, agricultural implements and inputs and other means of production, and through storage programmes, early-warning systems, mobilization, supervision and technical and financial assistance;

(Amendment 10)

Recital 14a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas regional approaches to food security, including triangular operations in the area of food aid and local purchasing operations, should be further reinforced and supported so as to take advantage of natural complementarity between countries that belong to the same region; whereas food security policies should have a regional dimension to promote regional food trade and integration;

(Amendment 11)

Recital 14b (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas, in view of the inefficiency, costs and environmental impact involved in hauling large quantities of food around the world, preference should be given to local purchases where this is possible;

(Amendment 13)

Recital 19

>Original text>

Whereas, in order to facilitate the application of certain of the measures envisaged, provision should be made for close cooperation between the Member States and the Commission within a Food Aid Committee;

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas, in order to facilitate the application of certain of the measures envisaged and in order to attune to the food security policy of the recipient country, provision should be made for close cooperation between the Member States and the Commission within a Food Security Committee;

(Amendment 14)

Article 1(1a) (new)

>Text following EP vote>

1a. Short-term food aid operations in disaster areas shall be carried out under the humanitarian aid Regulation and shall not fall within the scope of this Regulation. In the case of major crises all instruments of Community aid policy shall intervene, acting in close cooperation to assist the populations affected.

(Amendment 15)

Article 1(3), 1st and 2nd indents

>Original text>

- to promote food security at household, local, national and regional levels;

>Text following EP vote>

- to promote food security targeted on combating poverty in favour of the peoples of developing countries and regions;

>Original text>

- to raise the standard of nutrition of the recipient population;

>Text following EP vote>

- to raise the standard of nutrition of the recipient population and promote their access to balanced nutrition;

>Text following EP vote>

- to improve supplies of drinking water to local peoples;

(Amendment 41)

Article 1(3), 6th and 7th indents

>Original text>

- reduce their dependence on food aid;

- encourage them to be independent in food, either by increasing production, or by enhancing and increasing purchasing power;

>Text following EP vote>

- to encourage them to be independent in food with the objective of reducing their dependence on food imports;

(Amendment 16)

Article 2(2), introduction and 1st to 3rd indents

>Original text>

2. Food aid shall primarily be allocated on the basis of an objective evaluation of the real needs justifying such aid, with economic considerations also being taken into account. To that end, consideration shall be given to the following criteria, without excluding other relevant considerations:

>Text following EP vote>

2. Food aid shall only be allocated on the basis of an objective evaluation of the real needs justifying such aid, where such operations appear the only appropriate way of enhancing the food security of groups without the ways and means of coping with a food shortfall themselves. To that end, consideration shall be given to the following criteria, without excluding other relevant considerations:

>Original text>

- food shortages;

>Text following EP vote>

- fundamental food shortages;

>Original text>

- per capita income and the existence of particularly poor population groups;

>Text following EP vote>

- nutritional status measured by indicators of human and nutritional development such as infant mortality rates, average weight at birth, anaemia rate among women, life expectancy, population with access to safe water and other nutritional data;

>Original text>

- social indicators of the welfare of the population in question;

(Amendment 17)

Article 2(3)

>Original text>

3. The granting of food aid shall, where necessary, be conditional on the implementation of short-term, multiannual development projects, sectoral operations or development programmes, and as a priority those which promote sustainable long-term food production in the recipient countries within the framework of a food policy and strategy. Where appropriate, this aid may take the form of a direct contribution to the implementation of such projects, operations or programmes. Where Community aid is intended for sale, such complementarity must be ensured by the use of counterpart funds for purposes agreed by the Community and the recipient country. Where aid is provided as backing for a development programme spread over a number of years, it may be supplied on a multiannual basis linked to the programme in question. Besides the allocation of basic foodsuffs, aid may be used for the supply of seed, fertilizer, tools, other inputs and commodities, the creation of reserves, technical and financial assistance and awareness and training schemes.

>Text following EP vote>

3. The granting of food aid shall, where necessary, be conditional on the implementation of short-term, multiannual development projects, sectoral operations or development programmes, and as a priority those which promote sustainable long-term food production and food security in the recipient countries within the framework of a food policy and strategy. Where appropriate, this aid may take the form of a direct contribution to the implementation of such projects, operations or programmes. Where Community aid is intended for sale, such complementarity must be ensured by the use of counterpart funds for purposes agreed by the Community and the recipient country or, where applicable, the body or non-governmental organization in receipt of the aid. Where aid is provided as backing for a development programme spread over a number of years, it may be supplied on a multiannual basis linked to the programme in question. Besides the allocation of basic foodsuffs, aid may be used for the supply of seed, fertilizer, tools, other inputs and commodities, the creation of reserves, technical and financial assistance and awareness and training schemes.

(Amendment 18)

Article 3, 3rd paragraph

>Original text>

The purpose of these operations shall be to support, using the resources available, the framing and execution of a food strategy or other measures fostering the food security of the countries concerned and to encourage them to reduce their food dependency and their dependence on food aid, especially in the case of low-income countries with serious food shortages. The operations must help to improve the living standards of the poorest people in the countries concerned.

>Text following EP vote>

The purpose of these operations shall be to support, using the resources available, the framing and execution of a food strategy or other measures fostering the food security of the population concerned and to encourage them to reduce their food dependency and their dependence on food aid, especially in the case of low-income countries with serious food shortages. The operations must help to improve the living standards of the poorest people in the countries concerned.

(Amendment 19)

Article 4

>Original text>

A developing country eligible for Community food aid operations under this Regulation may receive part or all of the food aid that has been - or may be - allocated to it in the form of operations in support of food security, with particular account being taken of trends in production, consumption and reserves in that country, the food situation of its inhabitants and the food aid granted by other donors.

>Text following EP vote>

A developing country and international or non-governmental organizations eligible for Community food aid operations under this Regulation may receive part or all of the food aid that has been - or may be - allocated to them in the form of operations in support of food security, with particular account being taken of trends in production, consumption and reserves in that country, the food situation of its inhabitants and the food aid granted by other donors.

(Amendment 20)

Article 5, introduction

>Original text>

Operations in support of food security shall take the form of technical and financial assistance aimed, in accordance with the objectives laid down in Article 1, at improving food security by helping finance, inter alia:

>Text following EP vote>

Operations in support of food security shall take the form of technical and financial assistance aimed, in accordance with the objectives laid down in Article 1, at improving long-term sustainable food security by helping finance, inter alia:

(Amendment 21)

Article 5, 2nd to 8th indents

>Original text>

- rural credit support schemes,

>Text following EP vote>

- rural credit support schemes, with particular focus on women,

>Original text>

- storage schemes at the appropriate level,

- operations concerning the marketing, transport, distribution or processing of agricultural and food products,

>Text following EP vote>

- storage schemes at the appropriate level,

- measures to supply drinking water to the populations,

- operations in support of those concerned with the marketing, transport, distribution or processing of agricultural and food products,

>Original text>

- measures in support of the private sector for commercial development at national, regional and international level,

>Original text>

- applied research and field training,

- projects to develop the production of food crops,

>Text following EP vote>

- applied research and field training,

- projects to develop the environmentally sustainable production of food crops,

>Original text>

- flanking, awareness, technical assistance and field training operations,

>Text following EP vote>

- flanking, awareness, technical assistance and field training operations, in particular for women and producer organizations,

>Text following EP vote>

- projects to produce fertilizers from raw materials and primary products in recipient countries,

>Text following EP vote>

- support for local food aid structures, including field training,

(Amendment 22)

Article 6, 2nd paragraph

>Original text>

Such operations should take account of other Community aid instruments, including the use of counterpart funds generated by the sale of food aid, and be compatible with Community development policy.

>Text following EP vote>

Such operations should be consistent with other Community development aid instruments, including the use of counterpart funds generated by the sale of food aid, and be compatible with Community development policy.

(Amendment 23)

Article 8, 1st indent

>Original text>

- early-warning systems and systems for gathering data on trends in harvests, stocks and markets, and in nutritional and vulnerability levels with a view to improving understanding of the food situation in the countries concerned,

>Text following EP vote>

- early-warning systems and systems for gathering data on trends in harvests, stocks and markets, household nutrition and the vulnerability of the population with a view to improving understanding of the food situation in the countries concerned,

(Amendment 24)

Article 9(2)(a)

>Original text>

(a) be non-profit-making autonomous organizations in a Member State of the European Community under the laws in force in that Member State;

>Text following EP vote>

(a) in the case of European non-governmental organizations, be non-profit- making autonomous organizations in a Member State of the European Community under the laws in force in that Member State;

(Amendment 25)

Article 11(1)

>Original text>

1. Products shall be mobilized on the Community market, in the recipient country or in one of the developing countries (listed in the Annex) if possible one belonging to the same geographical region as the recipient country.

>Text following EP vote>

1. Products shall in the first instance be mobilized in the recipient country or in a developing country belonging to the same geographical region as the recipient country. If this is impossible, aid shall be mobilized in another developing country listed in the Annex to this Regulation or, failing that, on the Community market.

(Amendment 26)

Article 11(3)

>Original text>

3. Food products available on the internal market may be mobilized on the market of a developing country, if the economic efficiency of doing so compares favourably with that of mobilizing products on the European market.

>Text following EP vote>

3. Food products available on the internal market shall be mobilized on the market of a developing country, if the economic efficiency of doing so compares favourably with that of mobilizing products on the European market or if such mobilization ensures greater effectiveness of the food aid operation or greater effectiveness in promoting food security in the country of purchase.

(Amendment 27)

Article 11(4)

>Original text>

4. Where food is purchased in the recipient country or in a developing country, steps must be taken to ensure that such purchases threaten neither to disrupt the market of the country concerned or of any other developing countries in the same region nor to affect adversely the supply of food to their inhabitants. Such purchases shall be integrated as thoroughly as possible into the implementation of Community development policy towards these countries, particularly with regard to the promotion of food security in the country concerned or at regional level.

>Text following EP vote>

4. Where food is purchased or sold in the recipient country or in a developing country, steps must be taken to ensure that such purchases threaten neither to disrupt the market of the country concerned or of any other developing countries in the same region nor to affect adversely local food production or the supply of food to their inhabitants. Such purchases or sales shall be integrated as thoroughly as possible into the implementation of Community development policy towards these countries, particularly with regard to the promotion of food security in the country concerned or at regional level.

(Amendment 28)

Article 12, 2nd paragraph

>Original text>

In such cases, the Community contribution may take the form of a foreign- currency facility to be made available to private-sector operators in the country concerned, subject to the operation being part of a food-security policy (including the strategy on the importation of basic foodstuffs) consistent with the economic policy in question.

>Text following EP vote>

In such cases, the Community contribution may take the form of a foreign- currency facility to be made available to private-sector operators in the country concerned, subject to the operation being part of a socio- economic and agricultural policy, (including the strategy on the importation of basic foodstuffs) the objective of which is the alleviation of poverty. Recipients shall be required to provide proof of proper use of funds made available. Priority shall be given to small and medium scale private sector operators in order to ensure the complementarity of the operations. The Commission, insofar as its implementing powers are concerned, may decide positive discrimination measures in favour of the small and medium scale private sector operators.

(Amendment 29)

Article 15, 4th paragraph

>Original text>

Any counterpart funds shall be used in accordance with the objectives laid down in this Regulation and managed in agreement with the Commission.

>Text following EP vote>

Any counterpart funds shall be used in accordance with the objectives laid down in this Regulation and managed in agreement with the Commission. The competent authority of the recipient country shall keep a record of their receipt and use and shall be required to render account thereof.

(Amendment 30)

Article 17, 1st paragraph

>Original text>

Participation in invitations to tender and other procedures for the award of contracts shall be open on equal terms to all natural and legal persons in the European Community and the recipient countries. It may be extended by the Commission to operations under Article 1(2) to include natural and legal persons in the countries where the aid is mobilized.

>Text following EP vote>

Participation in public tendering and other procedures for the award of contracts shall be open on equal terms to all natural and legal persons in the European Union and the recipient countries. It may be extended by the Commission to operations under Article 1(2) to include natural and legal persons in the countries where the aid is mobilized.

(Amendment 31)

Article 19(2)

>Original text>

2. Aid shall not be implemented unless the recipient complies with these conditions.

>Text following EP vote>

2. Aid shall not be implemented in favour of recipient countries or international or non-governmental organizations unless the recipient complies with these conditions.

(Amendment 32)

Article 20, 2nd paragraph a(new)

>Text following EP vote>

The Commission shall ensure the necessary harmonization between its different directorates-general and departments in order to ensure compatibility between operations in the field of food aid and food security and in other fields, in particular the common agricultural policy.

(Amendment 33)

Article 21

>Original text>

1. The Council, acting by a qualified majority on a proposal from the Commission and after consulting the European Parliament, shall determine the Community share of the overall amount of cereals aid laid down in the Food Aid Convention as the total contribution of both the Community and its Member States.

2. The Commission shall coordinate the operations of the Community and the Member States as regards the supply of cereals aid under the Food Aid Convention and shall ensure that the total contribution by the Community and its Member States is at least as high as the quantities provided for in the said Convention.

>Text following EP vote>

In the area of food aid, the Council, acting by a qualified majority on a proposal from the Commission and after consulting the European Parliament, shall:

- allocate the cereals aid laid down in the Food Aid Convention between measures by the Community and by individual Member States;

- allocate the cereals operations by the different Member States under the Food Aid Convention among the Member States.

(Amendment 34)

Article 22, 3rd indent

>Original text>

- determine each recipient's share, in terms of quantity and cost, of the products which may be mobilized, within the budget limit for each product;

>Text following EP vote>

- determine each recipient's share, in terms of quantity and cost, of the products;

(Amendment 35)

Article 23, 1st indent

>Original text>

- granting food aid or aid for an alternative operation and laying down the conditions for the supply of that aid,

>Text following EP vote>

- granting food aid or aid for an operation in support of food security and laying down the conditions for the supply of that aid,

(Amendment 36)

Article 26(2)

>Original text>

2. The Committee shall examine the long-term implications of any proposal to commit funds for food security at household, local, national and regional level in the recipient countries, bearing in mind the principles laid down in Article 1. It shall also analyze and monitor food-security policies which are in receipt of Community aid and examine proposals for joint initiatives.

>Text following EP vote>

2. The Committee shall examine the long-term implications of any proposal to commit funds for food security at household, local, national and regional level in the recipient countries, bearing in mind the principles laid down in Article 1. It shall also analyze and monitor food-security policies which are in receipt of Community or national aid and examine proposals for joint initiatives.

(Amendment 37)

Article 28(1), 1st subparagraph

>Original text>

1. In order to guarantee the principle of complementarity referred to in the Treaty and enhance the effectiveness and consistency of the Community and national food-aid provisions and operations in support of food security, the Commission shall seek to ensure that its own activities are as closely coordinated as possible with those of the Member States, both at decision-making level and on the ground, and may take any appropriate initiative in pursuit of this end.

>Text following EP vote>

1. In order to guarantee the principle of complementarity referred to in the Treaty and enhance the effectiveness and consistency of the Community and national food-aid provisions and operations in support of food security, the Commission shall seek to ensure that its own activities are as closely coordinated as possible with those of the Member States and with other EU policies, both at decision-making level and on the ground, and may take any appropriate initiative in pursuit of this end.

(Amendment 38)

Article 28(1), 2nd subparagraph

>Original text>

To that end, Member States shall notify the Commission of their national food- aid operations. The Commission, acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 27, shall stipulate how notification of national operations is to be effected.

>Text following EP vote>

To that end, Member States shall notify the Commission of their national food- aid operations, and their food security programmes. The Commission, acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 27, shall stipulate how notification of national operations is to be effected.

(Amendment 39)

Article 30, 1st paragraph

>Original text>

The Commission shall undertake regular evaluations of significant food-aid operations to establish whether the objectives laid down in the appraisal of those operations have been achieved and to provide guidelines for improving the effectiveness of future operations. It shall inform the committee periodically on the evaluation programmes.

>Text following EP vote>

The Commission shall undertake regular evaluations of significant food-aid operations to establish whether the objectives laid down in the appraisal of those operations have been achieved and to provide guidelines for improving the effectiveness of future operations. It shall inform the committee periodically and the European Parliament at least once per year on the evaluation programmes.

(Amendment 40)

Article 30, 2nd paragraph a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

The Commission shall also undertake evaluations on the complementarity of food aid and food security operations with other EU policies.