Activities of Stéphane LE FOLL related to 2008/0149(COD)
Plenary speeches (1)
Facility for rapid response to soaring food prices in developing countries (debate)
Amendments (5)
Amendment 1 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) As a consequence, it is necessary to adopt a specific financing facility, complementary to existing development instruments and the Humanitarian Aid Instrument, to adopt. That facility should form part of an overall development strategy with precise objectives and adequate resources, ensuring coherence between the facility and the existing aid provided under the EU’s short-, medium- and long-term instruments. The facility should also allow urgent and supplementary measures to be adopted that address rapidly the consequences in developing countries of the present soaring food prices situation. It should also, in conjunction with existing programmes, make it possible to provide much more substantial, priority aid, through resources distributed over time, to sustainable development of agriculture and agricultural production in the poorest countries with a view to increasing their food supply and reducing their food dependence. The facility should take into consideration the recent recommendations by the United Nations drawn from the International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD) study, particularly on seeking involvement by local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and producer organisations in implementing sustainable development projects based on the optimum use of local resources.
Amendment 2 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) The measures adopted with this facility should help developing countries to boost agricultural productivity in the next seasons, to respond rapidly to immediate needs of the countries and their population and to take initial steps needed to prevent as far as possible further food insecurity situations, and also contribute to mitigating the effects of the high food prices globally, to the benefit of the poorest people but also of the European consumers and farmers. It will only be possible to mitigate the effects of high global food prices if all the countries in the world - and the rich countries having a major responsibility - consider together the planet’s food balance and act to stabilise global prices so that all the world’s regions are able to develop their agriculture and meet the needs of their populations. This objective requires intelligent regulation of the agricultural economy and the compiling of security food stocks to deal with emergencies (natural disasters, etc.). Furthermore, the Union should promote regional integration among developing countries, which, over and above any geopolitical interest, has the advantage of taking a first step towards the emergence of agricultural policies along the lines of what the Community undertook over fifty years ago. Community assistance should, finally, be made dependent on fulfilment of minimum environmental conditions and compliance with the basic Conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
Amendment 3 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
The Commission shall adopt the measures referred to in paragraph 1. They shall finance international initiatives supporting the purpose and objectives of this Regulation and which are implemented through regional and global public or private International Organisations in conjunction with local producer organisations. It shall inform the European Parliament and the Council thereof. The European Parliament shall thus be regularly informed on the implementation of the facility through meetings arranged at the Commission's initiative, and then through an initial written interim report in June 2009. The European Parliament shall have a right of veto over expenditure.
Amendment 4 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 5
Article 1 – paragraph 5
5. International Organisations, including Regional Organisations, whether public or private, such as NGOs or local banks (hereafter ‘International Organisations’), will be selected on the basis of their capacity to deliver a speedyily the most cost- effective and high est-quality response possible with the minimum of administrative bureaucracy to meeto the specific needs of the targeted Developing Countries in relation to the objectives of this Regulation.
Amendment 5 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) measures to improve access to agricultural inputs and services, including fertilizers and seedsthe infrastructure and means of production of the poorest small-scale farmers to support local and sustainable development, i.e.: - access to agricultural inputs (tailored to the optimum use of local resources) and services (extension, vocational training), - access to land, water and financing (microcredits), - the collective organisation of producers (for production and setting up local markets and local seed banks), - crop storage;