On Tuesday, the EP Committee on Employment and Social Affairs will hear a proposal to increase support from EUR 2.5 billion, which was proposed by the European Commission, to EUR 3.5 billion in the 2014-2020 budget.
"Poverty and social exclusion in EU members states are, unfortunately, not decreasing," Lithuanian representative at the committee, Vilija Blinkevičiūtė, told BNS.
"The Commission proposal was that EUR 2.5 billion be allocated for the next seven years for support for the most deprived. We in the European Parliament suggested increasing this fund by one billion to EUR 3.5 billion," the Lithuanian MEP said.
The EP also suggests that the fund be used to provide support not only in the form of foodstuffs. "It could also be, for example, clothes or school supplies for children from poor families," Blinkevičiūtė said.
The committee is scheduled to vote on the proposal during a plenary session in Strasbourg on May 20. It's only the first hearing at the committee. If the committee approves the proposal, agreement with the EU Council and the entire Parliament will be sought. The final decision might be made at the end of this year.
The EU fund for the most deprived is expected to help around 2 million EU citizens each year.
EUR 3.5 billion were allocated for the EU's food distribution program in the last multiannual budget. Around 340,000 people receive support in the form of food in Lithuania every year.
The EU's “Food Distribution program for the Most Deprived Persons of the Community” was created in 1987.
