EU Billion Update

Nov 12th, 2008 5:14 PM EST
By Chris.Scott

Our Government Relations Manager Eloise Todd checks in with an update on the EU Billion:

With just a week to go until the EU institutions negotiate the budget, we’re working hard to make sure that the EU’s governments and European Parliamentarians deliver on the billion for poor farmers. The main concern is whether the money will really be additional. There are rumours that some negotiators want to simply raid other pots of development money to fund this Food Facility which would be disastrous. This funding was intended to fill the huge funding gap that has been caused by the food crisis and to deliver swift aid to farmers in developing countries – the seeds, tools and fertilizer they need to get back on their feet again.

Despite these rumours, we know that there are lots of good people working on the inside and outside of this process to deliver this money and we’re working very closely with them. Just a few leaders and Finance ministers who keep putting new obstacles in the way of this Food Facility and we need to keep the pressure on to make sure they know we’re watching and we’ll name and shame those countries who are trying to deliver this money without stumping up fresh funding.

On Sunday I’ll be travelling to Strasbourg to the EU’s Development Days to keep passing the message on to the Ministers that will be there. After that I’ll be lobbying decision-makers in the European Parliament. We’ll keep you posted

-Eloise Todd

TAGS: Agriculture, EU Billion, European Union, ONE Members