The European Commission invites charities, governments and all interested NGOs and the general public to express their views and participate in a consultation on the web regarding the European program of free distribution of food to people in the needs of the community.

The public is invited to give its opinion on a number of key issues related to the European program of free distribution of food to the neediest people of the Commonwealth by participating in a broad consultation on the internet which starts today and ends May 14.

With the evolution of the CAP, the operating conditions of the free distribution of food to charities have changed. That is why this program will be revised in 2008. The aim of the consultation is to gather comments and proposals that will examine the options for the future of the program.

Since 1986, the European Commission has allocated some € 2.5 billion under the food aid program for the poorest of the Community. In 2007, more than 13 million people in 18 Member States have benefited from this aid. The program was based on the original stocks of European intervention, with CAP reform, have greatly reduced and even eliminated in some cases. It is therefore necessary to revise the current program.

Additional information about the program and the consultation questionnaire are available on the Internet.

Visit: http://ec.europa.eu
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