At the end of the G7 in Brussels, Emmanuel Macron announced the launch of a European initiative to try to alleviate the shortage of cereals which is looming in Africa and the Middle East because of the war in Ukraine. Russia and Ukraine are among the main producers of wheat and cereals in the world. It is a question of setting up a system of solidarity.
With our special correspondent in Brussels, Anthony Latier
Russia is the world’s largest wheat exporter, Ukraine the fourth. Dozens of countries depend on their production. If nothing is done now, the French head of state fears the worst in the months to come.
” We are entering an unprecedented food crisis, because other countries, Near and Middle East, Africa, are very dependent to feed their population on what is produced today in Ukraine and Russia. “, did he declare.
Emmanuel Macron is therefore launching a European initiative called FARM. The French president would like grain stocks to be released to avoid any shortages.
He also wants the countries that can produce more cereals to help those who lack it: ” Which means very concretely, for us Europeans, to assume to produce more by respecting our standards, by respecting our rules, but by raising the objectives which are ours to contribute to this solidarity effort. “, he thus affirmed.
This European initiative still needs to be clarified: it will be carried out in conjunction with the World Food Program and the African Union.
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