The spending of millions of euros by the European Commission from 2007-13 on food supplies to ease humanitarian emergencies will have greater flexibility under proposals developed for the European Union’s (EU) medium-term budget.


The Commission has tabled a ‘thematic programme’ for this expenditure, erasing current bureaucratic rules earmarking and funnelling food spending in advance on specific regions. The programme would also focus on direct investments, creating food production in countries facing hunger, rather than working through local governments, cutting waste and fraud, promoting hands on management. The relevant budgets are now being finalised by the EU Council of Ministers and the European Parliament.