The fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD) in 2014-2020 will be maintained at €3.5 billion, the same figure as in 2007-2013, under an informal deal concluded by Parliament and Council negotiators.

“The fund is aimed at helping the most deprived in all Member States. Sadly, 40 million people across Europe cannot afford to put basic meal on their table every second day. Four million people are homeless. The fund will seek to alleviate the immediate effects of extreme deprivation and will support the process of bringing people in from the margins of society”, said Parliament’s rapporteur for the FEAD, Emer Costello.

The new programme for 2014 to 2020 is intended to replace the Food Distribution Programme, which was designed to use up food surpluses produced under the Common Agricultural Policy.

The fund’s scope will be expanded to include two operational programmes designed to provide food distribution aid and basic material assistance and also social inclusion measures for the EU’s most deoprived citizens.

FEAD will also support food donations and in particular the collection, transportation and distribution of food, thus helping to reduce food waste. It will also support measures contributing to a healthy diet.

Henry Borzi