THE POINT OF VIEW OF NATIONAL RED CROSS SOCIETIES IN THE EU ON PEAD

• We very much appreciate that the Commission invited us to contribute to this important meeting concerning the Food Aid Programme (PEAD) for the most deprived people within the EU and on your considerations for the future of this programme.

• I will approach my intervention as a representative of an organisation which is an integral part of civil society, globally and also in each of the EU Member States.

• My contribution to this debate is based on the experiences of National Red Cross Societies directly participating in the food supply within the PEAD framework.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies provides the global framework for our actions. Our humanitarian ideal is very much down to earth and based on caring for our fellow people, between individuals.

Responding to fundamental needs of people is at the very heart of what we are and what we do.

• As a humanitarian organisation we commit ourselves to improve the life and well-being of vulnerable people in society.

With “vulnerable people” we mean persons - citizens - who are exposed to suffering, to poverty, to social exclusion and discrimination. And we provide support to people regardless of their social, economic, religious, ethnic, cultural or legal background.

• We do this work in many different ways. Our approximately 100 million volunteers, staff and members are united by fundamental humanitarian principles and values.

We apply common working principles, methods and tools. We then adapt our services to the specific needs of very different vulnerable groups in each country, in each local community in which we operate – throughout Europe and beyond.

Being embedded in civil society allows us to reach out and engage with citizens to become committed and active for their local community.

• We are usually perceived as a service provider in areas of providing relief when disasters strike, social welfare and public health. Up to 60% of all work being done by National Red Cross Societies is devoted to health and care services to local communities.

Reaching out to the most vulnerable often requires careful and sensitive action to protect and assist efficiently, most of the time far away from public attention.

• Focusing always on the people in need in those local communities, it only seems natural that the Red Cross gets engaged in Programmes such as PEAD. It corresponds very much to our fundamental working principles, goals and objectives.

• We also take note that since the launch of PEAD, the range and profile of Member States benefiting from this scheme has changed dramatically.

And one will see that, particularly in new EU Member States, the Red Cross is a major partner for national authorities and municipalities for getting PEAD on the ground. The sheer scale of operations in several countries is huge, it shows that living in poverty is a reality for millions EU citizens and … unfortunately increasing.

• We do not participate in PEAD alone. It is a PEAD feature in many Member States to stimulate the joining of forces and close co-operation between different state and non-state actors. We believe it is of utmost importance to be part of this network.

Diversity of organisations makes complementarity much easier in providing meaningful support for those in need.

• Our member organisations are concerned that the relevance and impact of the PEAD programme is not sufficiently clear while reviewing its future. I would like to take this opportunity and give you a few snapshots what PEAD actually means for some of our National Red Cross Societies, moreover, who really benefits from the programme.

SNAPSHOTS BY COUNTRY AND NATIONAL RED CROSS SOCIETY

Belgium (francophone)

• The Belgian Red Cross is one of six organisations participating in PEAD in the French community of Belgium.

• Local Red Cross branches distribute goods on a weekly basis.

• The EU Food Aid Programme is not the only food supply scheme operated by the Belgian Red Cross. It is operated in conjunction with other schemes. Example: Belgian Red Cross also runs “épericies sociales” for poor families to buy goods for reduced prices.

• Abandoning the EU Food Aid Programme would have a grave and direct consequence for the poorest in local communities.

France

• In 2006, up to 950.000 people in need directly benefited from PEAD.

• There is very close collaboration between the four main organisations implementing PEAD at national level.

• The French Red Cross serves approximately 250.000 of all PEAD beneficiaries in France.

• Services by the French Red Cross in this sector also refer to a national food aid programme PNAA.

• Like in Belgium, PEAD in France is managed in close conjunction with other schemes and services (e.g. épericies sociales)

Italy

• Approximately 13% of the entire population in Italy (7,5 million people) is considered “living in poverty”.

• 2,6 million households live in poverty. Old people, particularly those living on small state pensions, represent the biggest group (50% of households in poverty).

• The Italian Red Cross is one of several organisations implementing PEAD in Italy. The services are operated already for several years.

• Every year the Italian Red Cross serves up to 500.000 vulnerable people all over the country.

Estonia

• Estonian Red Cross participates in PEAD since 2007.

• In 2007 Estonian Red Cross served approximately 30.000 people with low income.

• Local Red Cross volunteers cooperate with local authorities for distributing goods.

Lithuania

• Lithuanian Red Cross is one of four organisations implementing PEAD in Lithuania

• In total 266.202 people were served in 2007. Lithuanian Red Cross = 56.927

• Reviewing numbers from 2006 and 2007, a significant increase of beneficiaries is observed.

• Lithuanian Red Cross reiterates the importance of the service to poor people in local communities.

• Also: PEAD activities give local Red Cross branches an outstanding opportunity to strengthen the co-operation with the municipalities.

Latvia

• Latvian Red Cross is one of ten organisations currently participating in PEAD.

• In 2006 EU food aid was distributed to 26.600 citizens. 72% of them (19.200) were served by the Latvian Red Cross.

• PEAD in Latvia also involves the Ministry of Health, i.e. now promoting an extended variety of goods being distributed through the programme.

• From the perspective of an organisation working with the most deprived in Latvia, PEAD is considered as very necessary and important to continue.

Slovenia

• The Slovenian Red Cross is one of two organisations implementing PEAD in Slovenia.

• In 2007 EU food aid was distributed to 150.000 people in need.

• 106.000 were served by the Slovenian Red Cross.

• Comparing figures for 2006 and 2007, the number of people served is significantly lower in 2007 than in 2006; whereas the value of distributed goods has increased.

Bulgaria

• In general, Bulgarian citizens are in a specific situation due to a considerable lack of social protection in the country. The current situation demands direct services like food aid.

• The Bulgarian Red Cross is, already, a major player in the country with food supply programmes.

• PEAD services in Bulgaria start in 2008; the Bulgarian Red Cross is selected to operate the distribution.

• Plans foresee food distribution to 365.000 vulnerable people in local communities.

• The continuation of PEAD is very important; it is one of the main means to fight poverty in the country.

• A cancellation of food aid would have grave and direct consequences particularly for older and disabled people.

OVERALL OBSERVATIONS

• From the Red Cross perspective, EU Food Aid within the Community is a major instrument to provide direct aid and support to the poorest in local communities throughout the European Union.

We would therefore appreciate reviewing the relevance of PEAD from a truly European/Europewide perspective.

• National Red Cross Societies emphasise the importance and added value of close co-operation with other distributors at national and local level.

This includes in particular the municipalities. PEAD gives an outstanding opportunity to foster constructive co-operation with different actors engaged in social services.

• Food Aid is one of many forms of support provided by the Red Cross to the vulnerable people in the community.

The situation of vulnerable people is often characterised by a multitude of problems and needs. Thus, food supply should not be seen in isolation. We usually provide this in combination with other services such as:
- health services, incl. promotion of healthy lifestyles
- social activities,
- visiting services,
- individual support and care,
- assistance for independent living (e.g. tele-assistance)

as well as:
- debt counselling,
- integrative services (e.g. migrants)
- support to employability,
- and more.

I hereby would like to remark that it is important, also for the EU to look at the Programme not only out of an agricultural policy perspective.

PEAD is an important element alongside discussions held in the social inclusion and social protection debate and in relation to the health policies as discussed in the health policy forum.

• We should reiterate that PEAD is an exceptional scheme in the sense that it does not provide administrative or operational support to the distributing organisations.

It leaves participating organisations with pressure to obtain complementary support from other sources. Thanks to those private donations and national or local public funds, PEAD resources can be transferred directly and fully to the actual beneficiaries.

With those other sources, there comes an obligation to utilise those wisely and efficiently.

• The Red Cross is a humanitarian organisation that relies on the commitment and good will of its volunteers. The distribution of EU Food Aid involves thousands of local Red Cross volunteers throughout the EU. PEAD provides them with the means to make a statement of active citizenship and solidarity with the most deprived in their local community.

• From a Red Cross perspective, with numerous local branches involved in operations, PEAD has a significant relevance for the work we do for the vulnerable groups in society. We estimate more than 2 million direct beneficiaries of PEAD served by the Red Cross alone – being only one of several distributors.

• PEAD offers the opportunity to help poor peoples’ every-day situation. In several countries, Red Cross colleagues stress the high numbers of disabled and old people, with very low income like small pensions, being a main group among the PEAD beneficiaries.

• National Red Cross Societies are deeply concerned about considerations for limiting or terminating PEAD. We would not have the means to compensate an eventual loss of this major instrument with own or alternative programmes.

Neither EU nor national authorities have anything comparable in offer.

The loss of PEAD sources in the near future would have grave and immediate consequences for the well-being of millions of EU citizens.

• If indeed it is true that 16 % of the EU population lives a risk of poverty it would be unwise to slash the programme.

On the contrary with new vulnerabilities and an enlarged EU, an increase of the programme volume and scope would present a real added value to translate the principle of EU solidarity into action for those really in need, often forgotten and living in the shadows of our societies.

After all 2010 has been declared the EU Year for combating poverty and social inclusion.