PURPOSE: to approve the Food Aid Convention 1999, on behalf of the European Community.
COMMUNITY MEASURE: Council Decision 2000/421/EC on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Community, of the Food Aid Convention 1999.
CONTENT: the Convention relative to food aid was due to expire on 30 June 1998 but was extended for one year up to 30 June 1999 in order to allow sufficient time for its re-negotiation. A new text was agreed by the parties on 24 March 1999. The aim of this Decision is to allow the Community to approve the new 1999 Convention. This Convention seeks to contribute to global food security and to improve international capacity to respond to emergency needs in terms of food and other food needs in developing countries. Provision is made that food aid provided to the least developed countries can be granted in the form of donations. In total, food aid supplied to the least developed countries can be granted in the form of donations. In total, food aid supplied in this form will not represent less than 80% of the contribution of a member (more if possible). For it to be applicable, the new Convention will have to be the subject of ratification by at least the government-parties holding 75% of the votes. It will be opened for ratification by its member-parties (including the Community) from 11 May to 30 June 1999 at the UN headquarters in New York. Given that the time limit set will not permit the Community to approve the Convention - given its internal procedures - the Community will have to make a declaration facilitating the application, on a provisional basis, of the Convention in question.�