Caritas welcomes the new European Parliament; Reminds the EU to keep its commitments towards development and to set a clear Zero-Hunger goal The European Union must set a clear “Zero-Hunger Goal” before the end of this year, with the aim of eradicating worldwide hunger by 2025. This should be taken into consideration by the new European Parliament and included among the priorities of the Italian presidency of the EU when outlining a common EU position on the Post-2015 Agenda. As the Italian government starts its 6-months presidency of the EU, Caritas Europa recalls the EU to play a major role in shaping the future of the world’s developing countries. For the Post-2015 development agenda, Caritas encourage the EU to set a Zero-Hunger-Goal and to beyond it by building up mechanisms for monitoring its commitments and shaping a principal approach of universality. Thirdly, EU’s policies must be coherent towards development, according to article 208 of the Treaty of Lisbon. Caritas Europa reminds the EU of its legal obligation to ensure the external impact of its policies does not undermine the EU’s development objective of reducing poverty overseas. In an in-depth study on Food Security and the ‘Right to Food’, Caritas Europa gives series of recommendations on how to create sustainable food systems and how the EU can champion the fight against world hunger. ‘Non-negotiable’ recommendations include: “End Hunger” Goal: addressing all the root causes of hunger, in particular those that are a result of policies pursued by the EU. The EU must contribute at all levels to its achievement, financially and by implementing the principle of Policy Coherence for Development. For this reason, regulations of agrofuels, land tenure, and trade policies should be considered from a global view by assessing all the consequences and risks they could bring. Right to Food should be a priority in all EU policies having an impact on food security. Food is a basic human right and should be acknowledged in possible reform of EU treaties; Small-scale farming: development assistance to agriculture by the EU and its Member States should focus on supporting sustainable small-scale farming activities. No funding should be allocated to agricultural activities that have negative impact on the environment; Climate change: given the huge role EU policies can have on climate change it is urgent to recall the need to secure binding targets for emissions to keep global warming below 1.5°C; Civil Society Organisations are the EU and Member States’ key partners in the fight against hunger. Their experience in working with people affected by hunger and under-nutrition must be considered in decision-making processes, including access to funding, political space and participation of the most vulnerable populations. Caritas Europa welcomes the Italian presidency’s ambitious programme on development, starting from the forthcoming informal meeting of European Ministers for Development. We expect the ‘Right to food’ to be mainstreamed in a comprehensive and holistic approach. In this way Europe can comply with its mandate of solidarity within and outside its borders and continue working towards a just and equitable future, globally rich in human dignity. Today more than 842 million people still suffer from hunger. Caritas strongly believes hunger can be defeated sustainably by 2025 and that the EU can lead the way towards this goal.
Notes to the Editor: Today more than 842 million people still suffer from hunger. More than 3 million children die each year from the causes of under- and malnutrition, and some 2 billion people suffer from one or more micronutrient deficiencies, lacking key vitamins and minerals. Still, there is enough food for everyone, according to FAO estimates. Caritas strongly believes hunger can be defeated sustainably by 2025 and that the EU can lead the way towards this goal. Caritas Europa is a network of 49 Caritas organisations working on the ground in 46 European countries. They address the challenges being faced by those who are vulnerable on a daily basis. Caritas Europa has a heartfelt commitment to analyse and fight poverty and social exclusion; and to promote true integral human development, social justice and sustainable social systems in Europe and throughout the world. In over 160 countries, Caritas works with the poor, vulnerable and excluded, regardless of race and religion. Present on the ground in local communities all over the world, Caritas has access to some of the world’s most vulnerable and marginalised people
Press contact: Thorfinnur Omarsson Public Information Officer Tel: +32 (0)4 73341393 tomarsson@caritas.eu