Universal food security

 

Doc. 7552

9 May 1996

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

presented by Lord MACKIE OF BENSHIE and others

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only the members who have signed it

1.         800 million world citizens do not have access to an adequate level of food to lead a healthy life and many millions more are affected by natural or man-made disasters - including in Europe. The number of refugees and displaced persons in the world reached 500 million in 1995, compared with one million in 1970.

2.         The world population, according to the latest forecasts, will increase by 2,600 million inhabitants, or 45%, by the year 2025. Efforts to educate the population in birth control must be a first priority, but an enormous increase in food production will be needed to ensure that people have enough to eat (according to FAO forecasts, an increase of more than 75% by the year 2025).

3.         Excessive urbanisation and rural decline will increase poverty and human suffering in the world.

4.         The challenge of feeding an increasing world population must be based on sustainable resource management policies, respectful of the natural environment and its biodiversity.

5.         International solidarity and co-operation, including fair trade, are essential to universal food security.

6.         The Assembly is of the opinion that only a new global political initiative in favour of sustainable agriculture, aquaculture, forestry and fisheries, and rural development in general, can assure the world's population adequate access to healthy food at all times.

7.         It welcomes in this connection the convening of the World Food Summit in Rome from 13 to 17 November 1996, and wishes to contribute to this Summit.

8.         The Assembly decides to examine the conclusions of the World Food Summit with a view to submitting proposals for the achievement of universal food security to member governments, governments of countries having observer or special guest status with the Assembly, the European Union, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the United Nations.

Signed[1]:

Mackie of Benshie, United Kingdom, LDR

Hardy, United Kingdom, SOC

Cummings, United Kingdom, SOC

Mihaylova, Bulgaria, LDR

N�meth, Hungary, LDR

Gelderblom-Lankhout, Netherlands, LDR

Telgmaa, Estonia, EDG

Seiler, Switzerland, LDR

Scheer, Germany, SOC

Szakal, Hungary, EDG

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[1]        SOC : Socialist Group

            EPP : Group of the European People's Party

            EDG : European Democratic Group

            LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers Group

            UEL : Group of the Unified European Left