Plenary Debate on Global food crisis
Wednesday, 23 April 2008 21:38 | 
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The rising price of food in particular has triggered global alarm. World food prices have risen 45 % in the last nine months and there are serious shortages of rice, wheat and maize. In many parts of the world - Haiti, Egypt, the Philippines and parts of West Africa there have been protests and riots against the soaring prices of food products. In the debate on rising food prices MEPs stressed the problem's global dimension and the combination of causes behind it - namely climate change, lack of supply, higher demand and consumption and record oil prices on 22 April. The House was united in a call for an urgent global response. Among issues raised in the debate were bio fuels and the role played by financial speculation in the current crisis.
Speaking in the debate the leader of the right of centre EPP-ED group Joseph Daul stressed the need for agricultural reform, noting that "only a worldwide solution will work". He also pointed the finger at financial speculators, who he described as "playing with people's lives".
For the Socialist PSE group Martin Schulz called for greater control over world economic systems, raising the issue of large investment funds taking over the food sector: "We should not allow the financial system to contribute to hunger!" he told MEPs.
For the Liberals Graham Watson stressed the multiple reasons for of high food prices. In his view "rather than using the bio fuels as a scapegoat we must move to end agricultural protectionism and export restrictions."
Friedrich-Wilhelm Graefe zu Baringdorf for the Greens said the EU is the world's biggest importer of food and foodstuff; and criticised the dumping of European food products on developing countries markets destroying any viability for agriculture in those countries. He said that "agrifuels will not be the panacea for everything, but we have to ensure that the waste stuff can be converted into energy".
Luisa Morgantini (GUE/NGL) welcomed a UN proposal for a "five year moratorium on bio fuels".
The European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid - Louis Michel, warned MEPs of "economic, political and social destabilisation" and stressed the need for both humanitarian action and longer term structural measures.
MEPs will vote on a resolution on food prices when they meet in Strasbourg between 19-22 May.
Speaking in the debate the leader of the right of centre EPP-ED group Joseph Daul stressed the need for agricultural reform, noting that "only a worldwide solution will work". He also pointed the finger at financial speculators, who he described as "playing with people's lives".
For the Socialist PSE group Martin Schulz called for greater control over world economic systems, raising the issue of large investment funds taking over the food sector: "We should not allow the financial system to contribute to hunger!" he told MEPs.
For the Liberals Graham Watson stressed the multiple reasons for of high food prices. In his view "rather than using the bio fuels as a scapegoat we must move to end agricultural protectionism and export restrictions."
Friedrich-Wilhelm Graefe zu Baringdorf for the Greens said the EU is the world's biggest importer of food and foodstuff; and criticised the dumping of European food products on developing countries markets destroying any viability for agriculture in those countries. He said that "agrifuels will not be the panacea for everything, but we have to ensure that the waste stuff can be converted into energy".
Luisa Morgantini (GUE/NGL) welcomed a UN proposal for a "five year moratorium on bio fuels".
The European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid - Louis Michel, warned MEPs of "economic, political and social destabilisation" and stressed the need for both humanitarian action and longer term structural measures.
MEPs will vote on a resolution on food prices when they meet in Strasbourg between 19-22 May.
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