Proposal for a Council Decision establishing the position to be adopted, on behalf of the European Union, within the Food Aid Committee as regards the extension of the Food Aid Convention, 1999

The Food Aid Convention (FAC), 1999 was concluded by the Community by Council Decision 2000/421/EC. Originally introduced in the 1960s, it was created as an instrument for a coordinated and acceptable disposal of agricultural surpluses from developed countries to developing countries in need. It remains in force until 30 June 2012, following an extension by decision of the Food Aid Committee at its 104th session on 18 May 2011.

The FAC and the Grains Trade Convention (GTC), 1995 are linked in so far as the FAC may only be extended when the GTC exists for the same period. The GTC has been extended until 30 June 2013, thus allowing formally the FAC to also be extended for one year. As the FAC expires on 30 June 2012, the question of an extension will be formally addressed in the meeting of the Food Aid Committee in June 2012.

At its 103rd session on 14 December 2010, members of the Food Aid Committee agreed to start the formal renegotiation of the FAC. While the EU would have wished the negotiations to be finalised by June 2011, the final steps of the negotiations of a modernised Food Assistance Convention is only expected to be concluded in April 2012.

The question of a possible further extension of the FAC will be formally addressed by the Food Aid Committee in its meeting in June 2012. Therefore, the EU has to prepare a common position. Based on discussions with EU Member States in the Council Working Group on Humanitarian Aid and Food Aid (COHAFA) on 29 February 2012, the Commission and EU Member States would favour a six-month gap rather than an extension of the current FAC, as it is most likely that the latter would be for one year (until 30 June 2013).

If the FAC is not extended, it will cease to exist. Subsequently, there would be no minimum commitments directly determined in the Food Assistance Convention, each Party thereto determining the amount of the minimum commitment it undertakes to fulfil. This would not affect the budgetary allocation to humanitarian food assistance and food security under the EU General Budget. However, there might be consequences such as a negative perception by recipient populations/countries, who may fear that the predictability of food aid/assistance will deteriorate.

Therefore, communication and dialogue will be required to reassure them that the EU's commitment to address food and nutrition insecurity of the most vulnerable remains. The expected conclusion of the Food Assistance Convention by the EU is proof thereof, with a strong political and financial commitment. It will also be important to remind that the EU has been the driving force behind the renegotiation.

EUR-Lex: COM(2012)211: Follow the progress of this document through the decision-making procedure http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/HIS/?uri=COM:2012:211:FIN

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