Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2008-04-22-Speech-2-247"
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"en.20080422.49.2-247"2
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"Mr President, President-in-Office of the Council, Commissioner, I welcome your report. You are absolutely right, particularly when it comes to Africa. The PPE-DE Group is extremely concerned by the food shortage which affects numerous poor countries around the world, but also by the significant increase in the cost of the consumer’s shopping basket in Europe. We do not hear enough about this.
First of all, the food crisis calls for emergency measures to help starving populations. In this respect, I welcome the release of funds to the World Food Programme. However, these measures, as positive as they are, will only bring temporary relief to the problem. In reality, it is the world’s agriculture which must undergo root-and-branch structural reform. The food crisis is a chance to have an in-depth discussion the desired position of food and agriculture in the world economy and in the European economy.
Today, Europe is aware that, more than ever, it needs agriculture to guarantee its food security. To meet the increased demand of emerging economies, we need to encourage the agricultural development of those countries. The major challenge for poor countries is food self-sufficiency, so we must help them establish agriculture which is economically viable.
The freeze on production in Europe is no longer appropriate, as you pointed out. In terms of the number of days of consumption, the EU’s cereal reserve has halved since 2005, and in a crisis would only last a month. Imports would not be enough, since many third countries tend to keep their production for the domestic market. They are right to do so. Commodities have become the subject of speculation. A tonne of wheat might be resold several times before it gets to the mill.
Many people think that agrofuels are to blame for the current food crisis. This is far from being the case. They represent only 2% of current agricultural production in Europe. What I would like to say is that I do not want to defend the lobby in favour of agrochemicals, but we should not give up straightaway. We should hang on to this 2%, so that Europe is also involved in the development of agrochemicals for the future.
We need to turn to plant varieties that are resistant to the new challenges presented by climate change and the increasing shortage of water resources. To do this, we must invest in agricultural research and reflect realistically and responsibly, and I mean properly reflect, on the issue of GM crops. Let us open our eyes. The Health Check of the Common Agricultural Policy is the ideal time to launch a real debate on Europe’s agricultural and food policy.
Remember the old US policy? Two sacrosanct policies that no one could touch, defence and food security; that is what Congress told us. We should stop advocating simplistic and purely economic solutions which do not provide long-term solutions to the current crisis. Let us also recognise that the answer to the food problem can only be global. Europe must find solutions in collaboration with international organisations such as the World Bank, the IMF and, of course, the WTO. We must find a way of limiting the harmful effects of financial speculation while populations are hit by famine. Some countries have significant reserves which they continue to restrict to export. Speculators are gambling with the lives of entire populations. We must do everything to quash these phenomena and to facilitate trade.
Finally, there needs to be an inquiry into why the price increase is so high, when agricultural commodities only represent a very small percentage of the total price of processed food. Responsibilities are not yet clearly defined, and it would seem that not everyone is doing badly out of the food crisis.
Commissioner, we have to take things in hand, we have to carry out the various studies needed so that no one can profit at the expense of the world’s poorest or Europe’s most disadvantaged citizens."@en1
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