MEPs called this week for EU humanitarian aid operations to focus more on preventing conflicts…

Date: 23/05/1996

...and less on trying to patch up their tragic consequences. They also want such activities to be exempt from taxation and customs duties. Both ideas are expected to be accepted by the European Commission as it updates its overseas aid policy. However, Euro MPs are unlikely to be successful in their bid for more food aid to be purchased from countries neighbouring the beneficiaries. The Commission already buys 38&percent; of its supplies in this way as part of its total 1 billion ecu a year food aid policy and does not want its hands tied further.