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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| EU's 'spare 1bn euros' for Africa | EU's 'spare 1bn euros' for Africa |
| (about 1 hour 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." | 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. | Without European help, United Nations goals to halve world poverty might fail, and tensions between countries in Africa over resources might intensify, he said. |
| 'Rapid instrument' | |
| 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 commission spokesman Johannes Laitenberger. | |
| "There's a fairly broad consensus on the need to act here, given the crisis which is taking place," he said. | |
| "In the Commission's opinion, this is the most efficient and most rapid instrument that could be used." | |
| The EU's vast agriculture budget eats up more than 40% of the EU's annual expenditure, and is worth about 120bn euros. | |
| At least eight EU member countries, including Britain, Sweden and the Netherlands, have questioned the legality of the scheme, though they have not challenged the merit of the idea, Reuters reports. |