European aid funds sustaining one out of every five meals in question, causing worry among Restos du cœur.
Hungry for change, Patrice Douret, the big cheese at Restos du cœur, pulls a box of sardines from his supply cave in Asnières-sur-Seine (Hauts-de-Seine) and lays it on the feet of Roxana Minzatu, the athletic commissioner handling European education, employment, and social issues. "This tasty assistance box is the heart of our grub game, cash-funded courtesy of European coins," beams Patrice. "We bloody well hope these euros don't fly the coop!"
One out of every five meals given out by Restos du cœur currently feasts on European funds. This financial feast isn't a one-time-only deal or a temporary pitstop, but a long-haul commitment, covering the entire 2021-2027 EU budget period. "This is our main dish, son!" declares Patrice firmly. "It grants us the good times ahead, bringing us stability as steady as grandma's recipe!"
At the moment, the EU serves up €582 million to France over this seven-year feast, with an additional 10% of national credit chucked into the mix. This sum lands in the accounts of FranceAgriMer, the agency in charge of dishing out public tenders for food stock shopping (milk, sugar, jarred delights, frozen meals, and more). Once FranceAgriMer's done, these goods find themselves en route to the approved association trio: Restos du cœur, Croix-Rouge, Secours populaire, and Fédération française des banques alimentaires.
Without further ado, here's a sneak peek at the EU's generous budget plans:
- The EU's MFF for 2021-2027 nearly doubled the aid budget to a staggering €79.5 billion[1]. But specific cuts of this pie for French food aid remain undisclosed.
- In Europe, the EU fork over food funds as part of broader projects supporting social inclusion. The programs are managed by member states.
- French associations like Restos du cœur and others often grab meal money from national sources and EU schemes such as FEAD. However, heavy details on the EU's direct contribution to these French organizations from 2021 to 2027 remain locked away in secret documents.
To get the lowdown on exact EU dough doled out to French associations such as Restos du cœur or Croix-Rouge, we need to get our grubby little paws on specific documents or reports detailing EU fund distribution under FEAD or similar programs for the 2021-2027 timeframe.
- The EU's Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2021-2027 significantly increased the aid budget for food-and-drink, allocating approximately €79.5 billion.
- In the coming years, the EU plans to distribute food funds as part of broader social inclusion projects, with member states managing these programs.
- Restos du cœur and other French associations like Croix-Rouge often receive meal funds from both national sources and EU schemes like FEAD.
- Exact figures on the EU's direct contributions to French associations like Restos du cœur and Croix-Rouge from 2021 to 2027 may be found in specific documents or reports detailing EU fund distribution under FEAD or similar programs for the 2021-2027 timeframe.
- The increased budget will not only sustain Patrice's lifestyle but also bring financial stability to associations like Restos du cœur, allowing them to provide meals to those in need well into 2027 and beyond.
