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DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM(80)631
Vol.1980/0200

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COMMISSION OFTHEEUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
COM (80)631 final
Brussels .22nd October 1980
FOLLOW-UP TOTHE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE
ONHONGER INTHE WORLD
(Commission Communication tothe Council )
/r-\
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COM (80)631 final

Draft
Commission CommurhcationtotheCouncil
Follow-uptotheparliamentary debateonworldhunger
-Council(Development )meetingof18November
Parliament'sdebateonworldhungerwastheoccasionforintensive
workanddiscussions,culminatingintheadoptionofacomprehensively-worded
resolutioncoveringallthevariousaspectsofthisissueunderfourmain
headings:
I.Thefightagainsthungerinthecontextoffuturerelationsbetween
industrialized anddevelopingcountries.
II.Agricultural andruraldevelopment inthedevelopingcountries.
III.Communityfoodaid., .>'
IV.International tradeinagricultural productsandfoodstuffs.
TheCommission,asitpointedoutinthecourseofthedebate,endorses
thebulkoftherecommendations madeintheresolution andintends
totakethenecessaryactiononthemasswiftlyaspossible.Anumber
ofproposalsnowbeforetheCouncilinfactalreadycorrespondtosome
oftheguidelinescontainedintheresolution (withregardtofoodaid,for
example).TheCommissionwillalsoputtingforwardeithertotheCouncil
orinthepoliticalcooperation framework,anumberofotherinitiatives
aimedeitheratimprovingorsupplementing theCommunity'scapabilities in
thisfieldoratsuggestingpositionswhichtheCommunityassuchcould
supportininternational fora(particularly theNorth-South Dialogue)concerned
withdevelopment,particularlyagricultural andnutritional,inthe
developingcountries.

Itwillmoreoverendeavourtodirectorreorientactivitiesforwhose
implementation itisresponsible (programming underLom£IIandthe
selectionofprojectsfornorrassociateddevelopingcountries)alongthelines
proposedbyParliament.Anditwilldoallitcantopreparethevarious
studiesandreportsrequestedofitsothatitandtheotherinstitutions can
havethefactsandfiguresneededtoassessthesituationandarriveat
decisions.
TheactionstowhichtheCommission hascommitteditselfinorderto
implementtheresolutionwillofcoursehavetobematchedbyequaldetermi-r
nationonthepartoftheCouncil,whichwillberequiredtoexpressits.
ownopiniononboththegeneralguidelinessetoutintheresolutionandthe
proposalswhichhavealreadybeenoraretobesubmittedtoitforthis
purpose.
>Accordingly,theaimofthisCommunication ,takingasabasisthemajor
themesoftheresolution,istolaybeforetheCounciltheinformation which
\
willenableittoviewincontexttheproposalswhichhavebeenorwillbe
submittedtoitaspartofthecomprehensive approachtotheproblemsof
worldhungerwhichisunderwritten bybothParliamentandtheCommission,
andthushelpittotakethenecessarymeasures.
InsoactingtheCommunitywoylddecisivelystrengthenwhateverimpactthe
parliamentary debatemayhavehadontheEuropeanpublic,whomustbekept
constantlyawareofthisissue.Itwouldalsoincreasetheeffectiveness of
theCommunity'svariousmeansoftacklingthisscourge.

3.
I.Thefightagainsthungerinthecontextoffuturerelationsbetween
industrialized anddevelopingcountries
TheresolutionadoptedbyParliamentrightlydevotesconsiderableattention
tothegeneraldevelopmentissueswhichtoagreatextent
determinehowmuchprogresscanbelookedforinthespecificfieldofthe
struggleagainstworldhunger,aswellasinotherspecificfields.
However,itisundoubtedlydesirabletogobeyondthemeritablygeneral
¥^ ,
recommendations containedinsuchadocument.Accordingly,initsproposals
regardingtheagendafortheglobalnegotiations,theCommunityhasidentified
theissueofagriculture andfoodasoneofthethreekeyelementsofany
futureNorth-Southdialogue.TheCommissionwillsubmitdetailedproposals
onthismatterifagreementisreachedontheconditionsunderwhichsuch
adialoguewouldbeconductedandonthebasisoftheagendaadopted.'r
;'
Itisnottheaimofthispapertogointothesevariousissues,which {'
wouldeachhavetobedealtwithatgreatlength. •'' .$
However,theCommissionwouldpointoutthatithasalreadydrawn (
extensivelyonParliament'sviewsinitsproposalsdesignedtoprepare . j.
theCommunitypositionontheInternational DevelopmentStrategyfor j
theThirdDevelopment -Decade.ThetextoftheStrategynegotiatedatthe
11thspecialsessionoftheUnitedNations,whichwillbesubmittedfor l>
approvalbythe35thGeneralAssembly,incorporates initschapteron
agricultureandfoodmanyofthesuggestionsputforwardonthisbasis J
bytheCommunity." j
./.vi1

4.
Inthemeantime,however,twospecificsuggestions areunderconsideration
byCommissionstaff:
i.Communityparticipation inthereplenishment andboostingofIFAD:
theIFADauthorities arecurrentlyholdingconsultations onthis
question,andtheirfindingsshouldbeavailableintimeforthe
nextmeetingoftheGoverningCounciltowardstheendoftheyear.
TheCommissionwillsubmittheproposalsitconsidersnecessaryassoon
asthisinformation comestohand.
iieAnewIMFfacilitytoassistcountriesfacingfoodproblemscausedbythe
risingcostoffoodimports.TheIMF'sBoardofGovernorsistocontinue
discussions onthistopic.TheInterimCommittee,meetingattheendof
SeptemberinWashington,expressedinterestinsuchaschemeandhoped
thattheBoardwouldtakearapiddecision.

5.
II.Agricultural andruraldevelopment inthedevelopingcountries
Onthispointtheresolutionhighlightstheneedtogiverealpriorityto
improvinglocal,nationalandregionalself-sufficiency andfood
security. ,,
Inparticular,theresolutionstressesthecrucialimportanceofthe
decisionswhichthedevelopingcountries'authorities havetotake
withintheframeworkoftheirnationaldevelopment programmestolaydown
(1)thelinesalongwhichtheagricultural andruralsectorofthe
economyistodevelopandinthisconnectionrecommendsthatfoodplans
orstrategiesbeadoptedatnationallevel.
TheCommissionentirelyagreeswiththeviewsexpressedbyParliament
regardingboththisgeneralapproachandthemorespecificrecommendations
stressingtheneedforaproperbalancebetweenagricultural andindus­
trialdevelopment orbetweencropsfordomesticconsumption andexport
crops,andthekeyimportanceofintegratedruraldevelopment programmes,-
ofstructuralpolicy(agrarianreform,reorganisation ofmarketing
structures,etc.),ofthevitalneedforcoherentinternalpricesand
creditpolicies,ofgrassrootsparticipation andofthefundamentalrole
ofwomen.TheCommissionhassought,andthishasbeenstressedduring
itsmeetingsandattheplenarysession,,tochannelitstechnicaland
financialaidresourcesalongthelinesindicated;itwillcontinuealong
νtheselinesandtrytogoevenfurther.
Itisthereforedoingitsbest,inprogrammingaidunderLomeIIto
bringthishometothebeneficiaries ;itisalsocallingforagricultural
(2)andruraldevelopmentstrategiestobedefined •
(1)Inthebroadestsense,includingfisheries,animalhusbandry,forests
(2)Forexample,theCommissionwilltakepartina"workshop"organizedby
theWorldFoodCounciltobeheldthisNovemberwiththeaimofhelpingany
Africancountrieswhichareinterestedtodrawupsuchstrategies.Ithasalso
undertakentosupporttheattemptsofthePermanentIntel–StateCommittee
forDroughtControlintheSaheltodeviseanddevelopnationalandregional
grainpolicies.
,,7 ;■"i :■pi!;r:th"T' H;T 'rlirv»f\WVn

6.
Itisnottheintentionheretogiveacompleterun-down
ofallcurrentorplannedoperations (atthisstageofprogramming
theACPStatesareintendingtodevotemorethan40%ofthe
fifthEDFtoruraldevelopment schemes,whilethenon-associated
countriesusealmostallEECmoneyforthatpurpose),butto
indicatethedirectioninwhichtheCommissionisintending
to,pushitscommitment,totheextentthatitsdeveloping-country
partnersarewillingtoletitdoso.OntheotherhandtheSTABEX
systemhas,byitsverynature,acertainstabilisingeffecton
theincomesofalargeproportion ofthepeasantpopulationin
theACPcountries.
Anumberofotheractivitiesareorshortlywillbeunderway.
Inthefieldofresearch,forinstance,theCommunitymakesan
annualcontribution (aspartoftheEDFandofitsaidtonon-associated
developingcountries)toresearchcentresorinstitutes.TheCommission
isreadytoextendthisfacilityifaskedtosobyACPStates.
(ThecreationoftheEEC/ACPTechnicalCentreofAgricultural and
RuralCooperation shouldstimulatesuchdemands).

III.Foodaid
A.Communityfoodaid
(a)Thekeyprincipleinformingtheresolutiononthisissueisthat
foodaidshouldbecomemuchmoreofaninstrumentofthe
Community'sruraldevelopment andfoodsecuritypolicythanithas
beenhitherto. -
V•
Thisistheideabehindtherecommendations to: '
-linkmorefoodaidoperationstodevelopmentprojects,particularly
undertheEDF,whichmustincludethepossibility of
kmultiannual foodandcommitments '
-incorporate foodaidinfoodsecurityschemesand,withinthis
framework,offerthepossibility ofusingitforstockpiling.
Sometimeago,theCommissionputforwardanumberofproposals
onthesematters<C0M(80)478final),andhopesthattheCouncil
willadoptthedraftresolutiononthisissueatitsdevelopment
(1>meetingon18November .
(b)ThesecondprinciplelaiddownbyParliamentconcernstheneedto-
/•• 'x *ensurethatfoodaidissuited,inbothquantitative and
qualitativeterms,totheneedsofthedevelopingcountries ,(and
nottothestateofCAPsurpluses). "
Improvingthequalityoffoodaidcanbedoneinvariousways:
(1)thissupposesthatitprovespossible -fortheCounciltoadopt
theproposedregulationconcerningfoodaidpolicyandits'management
referredtoinpara.9ofthisdocument,which,amongstother
things,allowsformultiannualfoodaidcommitments Dythe
Communityaswellastheuseoflimitedquantities offoodaidfor
stockpiling.

8.
-byofferingproductswhicharebetteradaptedtorecipierfe'needs :
inthisconnection newproductsmustbeincludedintherange
suppliedbytheCommunity,whethertheyareavailableinternally
.orpurchasedindevelopingcountries("trianauLar""operatfohs)T~
TheCommission hassubmitted aproposaltotheCouncil
onthisauestionwhichithopeswillbeadoptedatthe
18Novembermeeting.(1)
MoreovertheCommissionrequeststheCounciltoapprovetheproposals
toenter5millionEUAundertheheading"Otherproducts",andto
increasethesugarallocation byabout4000tonnesparticularly
tomeetrequestsforemergencyaid.
-bybetterqualitycontrol:theCommissionhasadoptednewrules
toallowmoreeffectiveactioninthisfieldandhopesalsothat,
thebudgetaryauthoritywillgiveitthefundsneededtoimplement
properlythecomplementary controlswhichmaybeneeded
(1)documentC0M(80)478,finalof28July1980
(2)EECRegulation no.1974/80of22July1980(O.J.no.L192of
26.7.80)layingdowngeneralimplementing rulesinrespect
ofcertainfoodaidoperationsinvolvingcerealsandrice.
(3)article9261ofthebudget.

-Asregarcfefoodaidquantities,theCommissionhasproposedthat,
forcereals,theamountbeincreasedtothelevelwhichthe
CommunityundertooktosupplyundertheFoodAidConvention.This
wasacceptedbytheCouncilatitsfirstreadingofthe1981budget.
AnotherCommissionproposalisthatthequantitiespreviouslyproposed
formilkpowderbemaintainedwhilstthoseforbutteroil'be slightly .
increasedcomparedwiththe1980budget.Onthislastpoint,itis
worryingtonotethattheCouncil,inspiteofthisevidenceofmode­
ration,doesnotaccepttheCommission'sproposition . v
c)ThethirdprincipleproposedbyParliamentconcernsimprovements tothe
administration offoodaid.
Inparticular,itasksthat: */.
-theCounciladoptwithoutdelaytheregulationonfoodaid;
-theCommissionstrengthen,reorganize andimprovethecoordination of
itswork.
Onthefirstofthesepoints,theCommissionlikewiseconsidersitessential
(1)thatthedraftregulationsubmittedalmosttwoyearsagobeadoptedat
thenextCouncilDevelopment meeting,sincethisisvirtuallyasinequanon
(2)forimprovingtheeffectiveness ofaid
Anessentialpre-requisiteforbetteruseoffoodaidisanincreasein
thenumberofstaffinthefoodaiddivision.Proposalsforsuch
anincreaseareincludedinthe1981preliminarydraftbudget.TheCouncilis
askedtoconsiderthisrequestbearinginmindthatthisisafactorwhich
coulddecisivelyaffecttheeffectiveness ofCommunityfoodaidoperations.
(1)COM(79)1final
(2)seepage7,footnote

1ο.
B.Actionatinternational level
TheParliament'sresolutioncontainstwomainrecommendations
i.renewbeyondthepresentyeartheexistingFood-AidConvention
>andallowforartappropriateincreaseintheCommunity'scommitment;
theCommissionwillmakeproposalsaboutthis
attheappropriate time,i.e.duringthefirsthalfof1981;
ii.theInternational EmergencyFoodReserveshouldbeguaranteed by
adoptingtheFAOproposalandbasingitonaninternational conven-
·\
tionfromnowon.TheCommunityexpressedgrave
(1)reservations regardinganinitiative whichoffersnoguarantee
thatitcanincreasegovernments' emergencyaidcommitments and.
;whichcannotbereliedupontobesomuchmoreefficientthanthe
A''«presentsystem,sincethecentralization ofschemesofthistype
providesnoassurancethatthiswillbeso.TheCommunityconsiders
thatthesameobjective cout>dbe*attainedbystrengthening thema­
chineryforcoordination betweentheReserveitself<towhich
contributions wouldremainvoluntary)andtheaidfromthevarious
donors.Moreover,theCommission hasalreadyvoicedthisopinion
withintheCommitteeonFoodAidPoliciesandProgrammes,held
<atRomefrom13-20October1980.
(1)itisrecalledthatin1979theCommunityandMemberStates
contributed morethan35%oftheReservestotal.v

11.
IV.International tradeinagricultural products
Theresolutionstatesthatinthecontextofthecampaignagainstworldhun­
gertheCommunityshouldsetitselftwomainobjectives :
i.theencouragement ofgreaterparticipation bythedevelopingcountries
ininternational trade;
ii.thepromotionofthestabilization oftheirexportrevenueandoftheir
foodsupplies.
TheCommissionisalsorequested"to <jrawupatradepolicyinthe
agricultural sectorwhichwouldbecompatiblewiththeCommunity's
developmentpolicy".
DuringthedebatetheCommissionhasalreadyhadtheopportunity ofputting
rightcertaincriticismsconcerningtheconnectionbetweentheCAPandthird
worldagricultural development .InfacttheCommissionconsidersthat
itispossibletodevelopthecomplementarities betweeninternal .and
externalagricultural policiesoftheCommunity.Withthisinmindit
agreedtoundertakethestudycalledforintheresolutionconcerning :
"-theeffectsoftheCAPoninternational tradeinfoodstuffs
-theeffectsofCommunityagricultural exportsonworldmarkets
andonthedevelopingcountries". '.
Inthelightofthisstudyitwillbepossible >ifitprovesnecessary,
tof-ormulatespecificproposalsandputthemtotheCouncil.
TheCommissionconsiders,however,thatitshouldalreadybringtothe
Council'sattentionsomeofthemajormeasuresatpresentunderdiscussion
orbeingimplementedinthesphereoftradeandtheorganization of
international tradeinagricultural products:
./.

12.
Tariffdismantling :duringthedebate,theCommissionpointedout
that50'/.ofthethirdWorld'sagricultural productswerealready
enteringtheCommunityduty-free,45Xatreducedratesofdutyand
57.atthefullratesofduty.Overall,theCommunityis
theworld'stopimporterofagricultural products.Themostrecent
initiatives takeninthisrespectconcerntheoffermadefortropical
productsintheTokyoRoundwithoutanydemandbeingmadeforrecipro­
city,andimprovedarrangements foraccessbyagricultural products
ofimportancetotheACPStates,whichareamongthemostdependenton
agricultural exports.Inthesecircumstances ,theCommissioncould
proposeonlylimitedimprovements towardsgreaterliberalization inits
proposals .undertheGSP.
\
Integrated ProgrammeandCommonFund:thenegotiations recentlyconcluded
ontheestablishment oftheCommonFundconstitueaninitialstepforward
towhichtheCommunitymadeanactivecontribution .Apartfromthe
SecondWindow,the"raisond'etre"ofthisFundliesinthesupport
whichitcangivetotheoperationofthecommodityagreements.
Itisthereforeimportantthat,asrecommended byParliament,the
Communityshouldparticipate inasconstructivespiritaspossiblein
thecurrentnegotiation ofagreementsforwhichtheCommission has
presentedproposalswhetheritisthecocoaagreement(seeC0M(80)
546final)thatisinvo.lvedortheCommunity'sadhesiontothe
sugaragreement(C0M(80)475final).1

13.
iii.Securityofgrainssuppliesfordeveloping countries :the
Communityisatpresenttakingpartinthetechnicaldiscussions
beingheldinpreparation forapossiblefurthernegotiating corife^-
renceonagrainsagreement.Onthisoccasion,theneedfor
international aidforstockpilinginthedeveloping countriesmustbe
takenintoaccount;ifitappearsunlikelythatthismattercanbe
(1)dealtwithinthecontextoftheagreementitself .owingtoits
essentially commercial nature,amechanism mustbefoundwhichcan
helptowardsfinancingstockpiling infrastructures andthereserve
stocksheldbythedeveloping countriesthroughcombinedactionby
bilateraldonorsandinternational organizations suchastheWorldBank
•(seeinthisconnectionitspaperonthestockpiling anddistribution
_ofgrainsintheeighties)ortheIMF,asDartofitsmachiheryfor
financingbufferstocks.
(2)TheCommission considersthat,withinaframeworkstilltobedefined
theCommunityshouldtakethenecessaryinitiatives atinternational
leveltosecuretheadoptioninparallelwiththeconclusionofanew
grainsagreement,ofprovisions enablingthedevelopingcountriesto
benefiteffectively fromthenewmachineryforstabilizing themarket
ingrains.
(1)Seedocument -CL90/7Add.4of6June1980oftheExecutiveSecretariat
oftheInternational WheatCouncil.
(2)Thismayformatopictobedealtwithintheglobalnegotiations.

··,//' ·14.
r »
Communityagricultural exportpolicy:aspointedoutbythe
>K
Commissionrepresentative at,theparliamentary debate,the
Communitymustconsiderwhat,actionitcanandmusttakeat
worldlevelinthecampaignagainsthunger;itmust
ensurethatitsownagricultural Wtrategycanhelptomeet
thedevelopingcountries'heedsinwayscompatiblewiththeirown
developmentpolicy.Inorderforthistobedoneandforthe'
Community'sactiontobesufficiently predictable,theCommission
indicatedtha£theCommunityshouldhavethenecessarymeansto
makemedium-andlong-termcommitments .Thiselementwillobviously
betakenintoaccountinthestudywhichtheCommissionisunder­
takingintot.herSletheCommunity'sagricultural policyhasin
tradewiththethirdworld.Itwillcontributetotheconsiderations
currentlybeinggiventoagricultural policywhich,asindicated
bytheCommissionmustbeconsideredasan"essentialpartof-
theCommunity'scontribution totheworldfoodstrategy".
I
Actionalongtheselineshasalreadybeeninitiatedwithregard
totheACPStates.Itshouldbepointedoutthat,undertheinterim
measures,theCommunityacceptedtheadvanceapplication ofthe
declaration includedinthemihutesofthesigningofthesecondLom6
ConventionconcerningthesupplytotheACPStatesofagricultural
productsavailableintheCommunity;theCouncilapprovedaCommission
proposaltothatenc|,namelythataproposalbeputbeforethe
Co-ChairmanoftheACP-EECSpecialized Committeeontrade*Cooperation
concerningthesettingupof'aihACP-EECgroupofexpertstoenable
theCommissiontoprovidedetailedinformation ontheopportunities
offered,inthissphere,bytheinstruments ofthecommonAgricultural
policy,andalsotoenablethfeACPstatestoindicatetheirlong-term
fteeds. v i'
./.

15.
TheCouncilisthereforeasked:
-topronounceonthegeneralorientations andlinesofactionproposed
bytheCommission,asafollow-uptotheparliamentary resolution
onhungerintheworld
-totakethedecisionsrecommended bytheCommission onthespecific
propositions currentlysubmitted.