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European Community (Food Aid)

Volume 83: debated on Monday 22 July 1985

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asked the Prime Minister if she will raise at the next meeting of the European Council the failure of the European Economic Community to deliver the pledged total of food aid to the drought stricken nations of North and East Africa; and if she will call for a report from the Commission on this issue.

The European Council will not meet again until 2 December. My right hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development will continue to monitor closely the rate of deliveries of Community food aid for the rest of the year. He saw for himself last week at Port Assab in Ethiopia that the great bulk of the grain being unloaded was from the European Community. Community food aid will continue to play a very important role in the months to come. However, the ports serving famine affected countries in the Sahel and East Africa are congested with food at present. The priority now is to improve internal distribution; we and other member states of the Community, together with other donors, are making every effort to overcome this problem.