CELEX: 51981PC0404
Language: en
Date: 1981-07-14
Title: Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the granting of food aid in the form of cereals to Niger (submitted to the Council by the Commission)

ARCHIVES HISTORIQUES
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DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM (81) 404
Vol. 1981/0125
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 ---pagebreak--- COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                                                     COM C 81 > 404 final
                                                     Brussels , 14 July 1981
                                Proposal for a
                              COUNCIL       DECISION
      on the granting of food aid in the form of cereals to Niger
              ( submitted to the Council by the Commission )
                /V           .;        A
                                        •>\
                                   • cN /
  C0M(81 ) 404 final
 ---pagebreak--- Introduction
As a result .of unusual weather conditions ( uneven pattern of rainfall ,
drought ), Niger has made a request to the Commission for food aid .
In this Communication the Commission proposes to the Council that food
aid consisting of 5 000 T. of cereals be granted to Niger .
This aid is to be taken from the overall reserve of the 1981 food aid
programme and delivered cif .
The cost of this operation is estimated at 1 330 150 ECU ,
 ---pagebreak--- A.  Niger
After six years of sustained effort , the Niger Government had an­
nounced in September 1980 that the country had , through its own
endeavour , established its own independent food supplies , and would
not need to call upon foreign aid - the first Sahelian country to
achieve this .
This declaration was made before the last rainy season , when npt all
the production regions received sufficient rain . In Niger , as in the
neighbouring Sahelian countries , pockets of drought have been recor-
                                                           \
ded in a number of departments ; cereal production in the more fortu­
nate areas has not been sufficient to supply the shortfall regions ,
The effects of this situation are serious . Niger , unlike its neighbours ,
had not requested foreign aid and is therefore in difficulties . Supplies
of cereals such as common wheat and red sorghum , which are usually dif­
ficult , • ff not impossible , to sell ( not part of normal diet ) are now -
almost exhausted . The requirements "up to 31 August 1981 are for 30% of
the population of Niger :
 «              •
                Urban population                     700 000
                Nomads , stock-farmers ,       -   ,
                farmers in shortfall areas        1 000 000
                Total                             1 700 000
These requirements are evaluated at 127 500 T. on the basis of 500 g
per person during the period 1 April to 31 August , the five months for
which stop-gap measures are necessary .
 ---pagebreak---                            •r 2
   The OPVN ( Office Produits Vivriers du Niger - Niger Foodstuffs Board )
   has 63 000 T. at its disposal ( situation end March 1981 ), including
   old stocks , commercial purchases in progress , etc . The reserve stock
   financed by German aid which had theoretically reached 45 000 T , is
   now at only 20 000 T , - the OPVN was not able to replace the quanti­
   ties released ,
B, Conclusion
   Since Niger did not submit a request for food aid before the adoption
   of the 1981 food aid programme no cereal supplies have been earmarked
   for that country . The Commission considers that food aid should be
   granted and proposes that 5 000 T , of cereals should be delivered cif ;
   this operation has no financial implications , the appropriations having
   been fixed on an overall basis when the 1981 programme was drawn up .
 ---pagebreak---                             PROPOSAL ;
                      FOR A COUNCIL DECISION
                                        Φ
                    ON THE GRANTING OF FOOD AID
'  -                    IN THE FORM OF CEREALS
                              TO NIGER
The Council of the European Communities ,
                                                                    *
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community
and in particular Article 113 thereof ,     ,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ,
                                                            1
Whereas when the Council , by its Decision of 27 May 1981 ,   adopted the
 cereals food aid programme for 1981 , it reserved certain quantities for
emergency operations and other contingencies ;
Whereas quantities are still available under this reserve ;
Whereas the Community has received a request for a food aid operation ;   .
Whereas the Community should grant this request ,
HAS DECIDED AS    FOLLOWS :
Sole Article    '                             -
Food aid in the form of cereals shall be granted from the reserve for
the 1981 programme and allocated as follows :
 ---pagebreak--- Récipient                  - Quantity ( T „)         Delivery terms
  Niger                        5 000                      cif
Done at Brussels , .......
                                     For the Council
                                      The President
See 0J No L 141