PvdA Europees parlement
"KEEP BILLION EURO AID PROMISE", SAY SOCIALIST EURO MPs
21 november 2008
On the eve of key negotiations between EU ministers, Euro MPs and the
European Commission, Socialist MEPs today urged member states to keep
their promise of a one billion euro food facility to help poor
countries face the food crisis.
Said Alain Hutchinson, socialist spokesman on development policy:
"Promises have been made at the highest political level of the EU by
the head of states and government to provide additional aid to poor
countries. Five months later, these countries are still crying for our
help in order to face the food crisis.
"As a result of rising food prices in 2007 and 2008, poverty has
increased for more than 154 million people in developing countries.
There is great urgency. The EU needs to act now."
Said Catherine Guy-Quint, socialist spokeswoman on the budget: "How
are we going to explain to these countries where people live with on
less than one dollar a day, that the EU has been able to save its
banks with a plan worth several hundred billion euros but can't find
one billion euros for them.
Said Jutta Haug, spokeswoman of the European Parliament on the 2009 EU
budget: "We know that money is available in the EU budget. The EU has
always been a key political and financial actor in fighting poverty
and promoting economic and social development. Failure to act now will
seriously damage Europe's image in the world".