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15.6.2011 Official
Journal
of
the
European
Union L
156/5
DECISIONS
COUNCIL DECISION
of 27 May 2011
establishing the position to be taken by the European Union within the Food Aid Committee as
regards the extension of the Food Aid Convention, 1999
(2011/339/EU)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
took the position that it will work towards taking a
decision in June 2011 as to the future of the Food Aid
Convention and that formal renegotiation should start
directly without any prejudice to the formal position
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European
that will be communicated in June 2011.
Union, and in particular Article 214(4), in conjunction with
Article 218(9), thereof,
(5) The
members
of
the
Food
Aid
Committee
further
agreed
to begin the formal process of renegotiating the Food
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
Aid Convention, with a series of negotiation sessions.
Whereas:
(6)
The aim of the Union is for members of the Food Aid
Committee to finalise the renegotiation of the Food Aid
Convention and reach agreement on a new Food Aid
Convention text prior to the session of the Food Aid
(1) The
European
Community
concluded
the
Food
Aid
Committee in June 2011.
Convention, 1999 by means of Council Decision
2000/421/EC ( 1 ). The Food Aid Convention was
extended by various decisions of the Food Aid
Committee.
(7) The
Union
has
to
prepare
a
common
position
in
view
of
the session of the Food Aid Committee in London in
June 2011 for two possible alternative scenarios as
follows:
(2) The
current
Food
Aid
Convention
expires
on
30
June
2011 and the question of a renewal will be addressed
in the session of the Food Aid Committee in June 2011.
(a) the renegotiation of the Food Aid Convention by the
members of the Food Aid Committee reaches a final
stage prior to the session of the Food Aid Committee
(3) Pursuant
to
Article
XXV(b)
of
the
Food
Aid
Convention,
in June 2011, in which case an extension of the Food
its extension is conditional upon the Grains Trade
Aid Convention for 1 more year will be the most
Convention, 1995 remaining in force during the same
appropriate means to avoid a vacuum between the
period of extension. The Grains Trade Convention
existing Food Aid Convention and the entry into
remains in force until 30 June 2011 and the Union, by
force of a new Convention; or
means of Council Decision 2011/224/EU ( 2 ), has taken
the position, within the International Grains Council, in
favour of its extension. Its extension should be decided
on by the International Grains Council on 6 June 2011.
(b) the renegotiation of the Food Aid Convention has
not reached a final stage prior to the session of the
Food Aid Committee in June 2011, in which case an
extension of the Food Aid Convention for 1 more
(4) At
its
103rd
session
on
14
December
2010,
the
year will not be appropriate, and the Commission, on
members of the Food Aid Committee agreed that the
behalf of the Union and its Member States, should
issue of the extension of the Food Aid Convention will
formally oppose the emergence of a consensus in the
be revisited closer to the date of its expiry. The Union
Food Aid Committee, pursuant to Rule 13 of the
Rules of Procedure under the Food Aid Convention,
( 1 ) OJ L 163, 4.7.2000, p. 37.
1999, in favour of an extension of the Food Aid
( 2 ) OJ L 94, 8.4.2011, p. 28.
Convention.

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L 156/6
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
15.6.2011
(8) Whether
the
renegotiation
of
the
Food
Aid
Convention
final stage prior to the session of the Food Aid Committee
has reached a final stage or not should be assessed prior
in June 2011, and provided that the Grains Trade
to the session of the Food Aid Committee in June 2011
Convention, 1995 remains in force during the same
by the Council Working Group on Humanitarian Aid
period of extension; or
and Food Aid (COHAFA), which, for the Food Aid
Convention negotiations, serves as the committee
referred to in Article 218(4) of the Treaty.
(b) to oppose, if the renegotiation of the Food Aid Convention
has not reached a final stage prior to the session of the
Food Aid Committee in June 2011, the emergence of a
(9) The
Commission,
which
represents
the
Union
in
the
consensus in the Food Aid Committee, pursuant to Rule
Food Aid Committee, should therefore be authorised
13 of the Rules of Procedure under the Food Aid
either to favour an extension of the Food Aid
Convention, 1999, favouring an extension of the Food
Convention for 1 year, i.e. until 30 June 2012, or to
Aid Convention.
oppose a consensus in the Food Aid Committee
favouring such extension,
Article 2
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
The Commission is hereby authorised to express this position
within the Food Aid Committee.
Article 1
The position of the Union within the Food Aid Committee shall
Done at Brussels, 27 May 2011.
be either:
For the Council
(a) to vote in favour of the further extension of the Food Aid
Convention for a period of 1 year, i.e. until 30 June 2012,
The President
provided that the renegotiation of that Convention is in a
NYITRAI Zs.

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