European Parliament Votes Resolution "On Rising Food Prices in
the EU and the Developing Countries"
In a non-binding resolution, by a 485-52 (7 abstentions) vote, the European
Parliament (EP) formulated on May 22, its recommendations to
solve the world food crisis.
Even if still mixed up with some free trade and green
ideology, the resolution clearly reflects the impact of Helga
Zepp-LaRouche's call and our overall mobilization to return to
massive investment in agriculture and scrap overinvestment in
biofuels.
The next day, British EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson
was ridiculing the very idea of food security in the May 23
International Herald Tribune, while the resolution itself
staunchly "takes the view that countries must have the right to
food sovereignty and food security, and that they are entitled to
protect their markets." The resolution echoes the concerns of
the Belgian Socialist Party which earlier this month proposed
national legislation to outlaw financial products based on rising
food prices, in the wake of Belgium-based KBC Assurance's proffer
in February of a hedge fund product that boasted just that
speculation. The resolution states the EP "is concerned by the
effects of speculation in food commodities, including commodity
hedge funds, on hunger and poverty; invites the Commission to
analyze the effect of speculation on food prices and to come up
with appropriate measures." Noteworthy is also the fact that the
EP wonders if the EU's cereal reserves, presumably at a 30 day
capacity "are at the right level"?
Here are some quotes of the official EP's communiqué
summarizing the resolution. (Emphasis added.):
"The EP reaffirms the right to food and the need to improve
access for all people at all times to enough food for an active,
healthy life. Two billion people still live in dire poverty and
850 million human beings are hungry daily; "
"[The EP considers] that priority should be given to
{investment in agriculture}}, aquaculture, rural development and
agribusiness in developing countries."
"Priority needs to be given to {food over fuels} and biofuel
production should be linked to strong sustainability criteria.
The House accepts that {EU subsidization of crops intended for
biofuel production is no longer justified}, but emphasizes that
only 2-3% of EU agricultural land is currently being used for
this kind of production and media reports blaming biofuels for
the current food crisis are exaggerated as far as the EU is
concerned."
"Fairer international trade rules and an assessment of the
{effects of speculation on food prices} are also underlined by
MEPs" (Members of the European Parliament);
"Small farmers in poor countries, who are mainly women, need
to have access to land, financial services and credit,
{high-yield seeds, irrigation systems and fertilizers}, says the
resolution.
"MEPs call on the European Investment Bank (EIB) to
investigate possibilities for the immediate setting up of a
{guarantee fund} in support of national micro-credit and loan
schemes and risk-hedging schemes that operate close to the needs
of local food producers."
"The European Council [ministers] should step up its
commitments to the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) by adopting
an EU MDG Agenda for Action at the June European Council. The
House invites the Commission to analyze the effect of speculation
on food prices and to come up with appropriate measures.
"Analyzing the discrepancies between farmgate prices and
those charged by the major retailers should be done by Commission
and the Member States. An impact assessment of the role of
retailers in the food chain, as retail food prices is also called
by MEPs.
"The current {EU cereal stocks would last only 30 days}, and
questions {whether our food stocks are at the right level}, says
the resolution which calls for better forecasting of agricultural
output.
"The current crisis demands an immediate and thorough
discussion among the EU institutions and the Member States on the
role that modern biotechnology can play in ensuring the continued
production of food at reasonable prices, says the resolution."
"EU Member States and the international community are asked
to meet the extraordinary emergency appeal of the World Food
Program to assist it in facing up to the new challenges in the
fight against hunger."
The full resolution is available here:
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//
TEXT+TA+P6-TA-2008-0229+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN&language=EN
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