Casa leading an increase in funds for those worst affected by COVID-19

10.06.2020 14:31

Casa leading an increase in funds for those worst affected by COVID-19

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Views expressed here are the views of the national delegation and do not always reflect the views of the group as a whole
Quaestor David Casa MEP
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MEP David Casa has been appointed EPP Group rapporteur for the change in regulations to allow flexibility in the use of FEAD - the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived - in order to better assist those who have been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Reacting to this new appointment, Casa stated: “Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, we had a number of people across Europe being deprived from basic essentials, such as food or clothing. Undoubtedly, the loss of jobs and economic turmoil we are experiencing at the moment, and which is evident in many Member States, will lead to an increase in the number of people and families facing such difficulties. This is a reality which we must address immediately.”

The FEAD is one of the EU’s important tools in providing aid, such as food, clothing, sanitary supplies and much more to those who are most vulnerable. Member States are free to choose the type of assistance provided, which is then approved by the European Commission. For example, in Malta, these funds are used to provide food packages to certain families with material deprivation. The change in the regulations which MEP Casa will be negotiating will increase such resources for this year and the upcoming two years.  

Parliament’s Quaestor Casa added: “Recently, we saw the European Commission speaking about its proposal of €750 billion to ensure a sustainable, inclusive and fair recovery from COVID-19. All this is well and good - but individuals who cannot afford to buy food or clothes are not interested in the billions proposed by the Commission, but in tools which can improve their quality of life today. That is our role as Parliamentarians, and we will make sure that this assistance arrives to these people as quickly as possible.”

Currently, MEP Casa is also Parliament’s Rapporteur on the European Social Fund Plus, and is currently negotiating with the Council of Ministers to ensure that this new fund is up and running by the beginning of next year.

FEAD is one of the financial tools which forms part of the European Social Fund Plus, which brings together also the Youth Employment Initiative as well as the EU Programme for Employment and Social Innovation.

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The EPP Group is the largest political group in the European Parliament with 187 Members from all EU Member States

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