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| EU's 'spare 1bn euros' for Africa | |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| The European Commission has backed a plan to give 1bn euros (£800m) of unspent EU farm subsidies in aid to African farmers. | The European Commission has backed a plan to give 1bn euros (£800m) of unspent EU farm subsidies in aid to African farmers. |
| The cash could help farmers boost output, thereby tackling food shortages and soaring prices. | The cash could help farmers boost output, thereby tackling food shortages and soaring prices. |
| The money has been allocated to the EU agriculture budget, but not spent. | The money has been allocated to the EU agriculture budget, but not spent. |
| Some countries have queried the move's legality. But if EU ministers and the European Parliament agree, it could take effect in early 2009. | Some countries have queried the move's legality. But if EU ministers and the European Parliament agree, it could take effect in early 2009. |
| European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said: "The impact of high food prices is particularly severe for the world's poorest populations." | |
| Without European help, United Nations goals to halve world poverty might fail, and tensions between countries in Africa over resources might intensify, he said. | |
| The fund would be used to boost the supply of fertiliser and seeds for African farmers, helping increase production over the next two years, said EU spokesman Johannes Laitenberger. |