EUROPE-Fifteen million poor people in Europe at risk of hunger

Rome (Fides Service) - The Regulation 562/2011 adopted by the European Commission on June 10, cuts 80% of food aid for the poor provided by EPFA (European Program of Food Aid). This means that about 15 million Europeans are at risk of hunger. The European Federation of Food Banks (EFFB) therefore launches an appeal to the European Council of Agriculture Ministers in order to reach an agreement on new forms of funding. The International Council General of Saint Vincent de Paul, the Community of Sant'Egidio and Caritas Italian adhere to the request.
In a statement by EFFB, of which a copy was sent to Fides, stressed that the European Commission's decision to cut down the budget of the European program of food aid from 500 million euros to 113 million, will have a serious impact on charities and non- government organizations, such as the food banks. "In 2010 - continues the statement -, our network covered 40% of the food delivered by the European Program. The 240 food banks distributed 360 000 tons of food products to charities and social services in 21 European countries. In turn, these charities gave them to deprived people in the form of packages or meals. 51% of this tonnage came from the European Program, the other part from company donations and local collections. If nothing is done, this decision will lead to a serious crisis".
The statement recalled that according to European statistics, 43 million people are at risk of food poverty, meaning that they cannot afford a proper meal every two days. The current financial crisis compels some European countries to implement drastic austerity measures and the number of people in precarious situations is therefore growing. After stressing that "food is the basis of life as well as a fundamental human right", the statement points out that "this decision has been taken not because of a funding problem, but on a legal basis. Enforcing this decision would enhance the perception of a technocratic Europe that does not care about the fate of people". (SL) (Agenzia Fides 06/28/2011)