European Parliament
A7-0032/2012
Daciana Octavia Sârbu  (S&D ).
(RO)
Mr President, I would like to begin by thanking all those involved for the efforts they made in finding a compromise on this programme. Poverty is worsening in the European Union and millions of people can only afford to have a hot meal every couple of days. More than 18 million Europeans have received food via this programme. This is why it would have been a disastrous decision to cut the funds allocated to this programme or finance it from national budgets, especially at a time of economic crisis.
I would like to stress the need to maintain this programme with funding from the CAP even after 2013. I wish to express my concern about the statements made by the German and French governments about getting rid of it. I wish to convey to them that the right to food is a fundamental right. Moreover, during a difficult time of deep economic crisis, we have an enormous duty to the most vulnerable population groups. Just as Member States have a duty to help those who cannot help themselves, the European Union must likewise demonstrate that solidarity is more than just a principle on paper.

