(21 January 2021) – The European Parliament has voted through the political agreement to provide more funds to support the most deprived in Europe in the recovery phase.
EU Member States can soon use money from the Recovery Assistance for Cohesion and the Territories of Europe package (REACT-EU), which provides additional resources to tackle the social and economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic, for programmes financed by the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD).
The FEAD is already providing food, clothing and other basic material assistance to those who need it most, and finances activities to support their social inclusion. On average, since 2014, roughly 13 million people benefit each year.
According to a report of the European Food Banks Federation, the demand at food banks has increased up to 50% compared to the pre-coronavirus period.