Banks in Europe

Commercial banks

2012-09-28T22:28:00.003-07:00

The second level of the British banking system are the commercial banks and finance companies.
UK commercial banking system is highly differentiated. In it, the principle of special banks. In this case there two trends. On the one hand, specialization is an attempt to change adaptation banks money supply and demand. On the other hand, there is a tendency to expand the operations of the largest commercial banks and savings banks abroad.
British banks group is not easy. The Bank of England divides operating in the UK commercial banks into 3 groups:
1. deposit banks (retail (retail banks) or "high street banks (" high street banks "));
2. house accounts;
3. acceptance at home, foreign banks, and other banks.
Deposit bank
The most important deposit bank of England are clearing banks. This is the largest joint stock banks, which are connected by clearing obligations. After the last major mergers in the late 60's at the head of all the clearing banks is "Big Four": Barclays, National Westminster, Midland, and Lloyds. These giants, add a small caveat has 2 banks - "Williams End Glines" (controlled by the "Standard Charted") and "Kauts" (controlled by "Neshnl Westminster"). These six banks now have in England and Wales, more than 12 thousand units. In Scotland and Northern Ireland, the largest British banks are prohibited from opening branches, so they have this many participations in local deposit banks, and that in Scotland and Northern Ireland to be able to influence the policies of commercial banks. These six banks (including their affiliates) drops almost 90% of the operations of all deposit banks and half of all sterling deposits in UK banks. Compared with other countries, the giant British banks held at the beginning of the 70's the lead, but in the early 80's their situation has worsened. The situation did not change, and especially in the nineties.
The largest bank in the UK - "Barclays Bank". Around it are grouped many subsidiaries, which is typical for the other giant banks. In addition to "Barclays Bank JK Management Limited", there are subsidiaries in which "Barclays Bank" has a 100% interest. This - "Barclays Merchant Co., Ltd." 1650 branches in 50 countries, "Barclays Inshurens Service Company Ltd." (As an insurance company) and "Barclays Bank Trust Company." We should also call the company "Barclays Export End FINANCE COMPANY LTD.", Which deals in leasing, export financing and factoring. There are many smaller subsidiaries.
Basic operation of the clearing banks - taking deposits and issuing loans. Clearing banks settle payments for large, medium and small industrial enterprises, as well as to the public. Payment transactions between banks is within the clearing agreement, which means the offset of mutual claims and transfer balances. In the 80 years of the annual count towards more than £ 1 billion on checks between banks. In clearing banks pronounced tendency to universalise, and they have more non-banking services. Services include preparation of individual construction, service industry financial transactions, preparation and export financing, leasing companies computers for payroll, etc.
New to the clearing banks became agents for life insurance and travel arrangements. All this allows us to characterize clearing banks as financial conglomerates, whose banking operations are only part of the activity.
The liberalization of financial markets and the progress in communication and computer technologies have created opportunities for the continued expansion of services. Intense competition is in banking pushed banks to merge with other financial institutions. A striking example of this process was the formation of the UK's largest bank Financial Association - Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Holdings, ranked 9th in the world. In this association included international, mostly Asian, capital and two British banks - Samuel Montagu and Midland Bank.
Sphere of interest groups - Asia, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada and the UK. It provides specialized associations and foundations, in particular, Wardly Group consisting Hohg Kong Bank Group and Montagu Private Equity in the Midland Group.
Its range of services to the Group virtually unlimited:
§ retail and corporate services;
§ payment operations service trade;
§ individual and investment banking services;
§ Capital Markets;
§ consumer and commercial finance (hire purchase financing);
§ management of pension and investment funds;
§ custodial control over the different types of property in trust;
§ insurance;
§ service and safety.
By clearing banks should include a banking institution control money orders as "Neshnl Giraud" (Girobank), based post office in 1968, despite a long and severe protests by the major banks. "Neshnl Giraud" provides new postal services and check that the clearing bank is serious competition. Set up a center of electronic payments in Bootle, and the "Giro" serves postal payments through a network of offices in 22 thousand postal services. Already in 1973 he had over 500 thousand customers in the industry and the community. In contrast to the clearing banks that charge high fees and often unpredictable for the translation, "National Giro" charges based on correct and the published rates. Together with a special bank "Merchant Credit" gives as postal services loans for up to 5 years on favorable terms. In addition, "National Giro" cooperates with similar companies in other countries.
To deposit money banks are so-called financial houses, which include, above all, special banks consumer credit. About 2/3 of their active operations account for consumer loans in installments, in turn, more than 60% of these loans is financing car purchases. For registration of the issuance of consumer credit customer fills the application form. After the analysis of data that it contains the bank's decision to provide the loan. Before issuing a defined amount of the loan and the term of repayment. Currently, loans are in excess of 500 GBP, 100 fold, and there is no upper limit. Private individuals the opportunity to repay the loan insurance. The maximum loan period of use - 5 years.
Growing importance of leasing operations. Financial houses are usually subsidiaries of major banks and insurance companies that support the credit of these banks within their means. Major financial houses are trying to maximize the banking operations to be able to attract savings deposits and develop into universal banks. The financial houses should also include the special banking outlets in shopping centers (MoneyShops). First specialized bank branches appeared in 1970. These were the offices of the American "First National City Bank of New York." Later, the largest and British banks began to open branches in shopping centers. At the end of 1974 it had dropped to 120. They are designed for those people who do not have bank accounts. Despite the strong development of the largest banks of checks by using checks and credit cards, designed primarily for individuals, in 1974 only 35% and in 1981 57% of all adult Britons have current accounts. Particularly prevalent among workers cash payments at the end of the week or ten days. By connecting specific bank branches. They simulated stressed confidential atmosphere, and they are open longer than clearing banks, even on a Saturday. First of all, provided with individual loans, ie, loans to individuals with little financial security. Increasingly, however, they begin to carry out normal banking operations, including investment. Financial houses are paid through bank loans, discounting bills, and by attracting deposits of large industrial and commercial companies.
Merchant banks
The next group of deposit banks are commercial banks (Merchant Banks). They are widely distributed in the UK and have a long tradition. Merchant banks are difficult to differentiate and compare with the clearing banks, as they are much smaller than the latter. The largest of them - "Gambros Bank" held in 1982 in the list of the leading banks in the world only 173 seats. However, trade, banks play a role not only in internal operations, but also in international business. They originated in trade, which gradually mastered banking. Some modern commercial banks, along with bank operations serve more industrial and commercial functions. Merchant banks "NM Rothschild and Sons," "J. Henry Schroder Wagg & K", "Berring Brothers", "SG Warburg & K," or "Lazard Brothers & K" have existed for over 100 years. However, some of the major clearing banks or have their special trading banks, as is typical, for example, of the "Barclays" or participate in traditional retail banks.
Honors merchant banks from clearing, while their privilege is that they are not obliged to publish the details of the financial condition and on its operations. With this privilege merchant banks could over the years to develop freely.
Merchant banks are mainly engaged in 3 major areas:
1. Truly banking. They are understood traditional acceptance and credit operations. This applies to the Committee acceptor houses (17 famous merchant banks in the so-called "Committee of acceptor houses" - Acceptiry Houses Committee). If the merchant bank declares himself ready to accept the bill and thus pay the bill at the time of submission of a short-term, this bill gets especially high confidence. If this bill will be considered in other banks, the discount rate on it could be lower. Acceptance and, therefore, guarantee of payment merchant bank that owns the right to acceptance, is valued much higher than that of a foreign bank. The next type of merchant banking is accepting and issuing loans in pounds sterling for a period of one day to six months. However, contributions may be made in foreign currency, but the loans are usually in pounds sterling. From the beginning, merchant banks have played a huge role in the development evrooperatsy, and two of them were, in fact, the inventors of the Eurodollar. If you have large funds needed for long periods, the trading banks create consortia. Together with other banks or other holders of consortia issue debt and, under certain circumstances and Euroloan. These activities include field and export financing.
2. Provision of services to entrepreneurs. Behind this advice to entrepreneurs, such as mergers, revealing to them the best opportunities of financing; advice about whether to purchase the shares, as well as the development of new forms on the stock market.
3. Securities management. These services include not only holds securities, but, above all control of the societies, which can be treated as joint-stock companies of industry and trade, and investment companies, pension funds, as well as other private foundations. To maintain its exclusivity in the management of funds, the largest retail banks do not take in their portfolio (total securities) values below the value of 100 thousand GBP.
Merchant banks involved in these three areas of the business to the same extent. Between major banks specialization exists. Bank "Samuel Montagu" not engaged in service businesses, it is one of the largest gold trader in the capitalist world and the largest currency trader in London. Bank "Robert Flemming" primacy in portfolio transactions and manages the fund assets. "Rothschild" is mainly engaged evrooperatsiyami and trade in gold. In the so-called gold room Rothschild banking house in London is daily trading in gold (goldfixing). This involved, except for the banking house of Rothschild, which traditionally takes place presiding, 4 more retail bank admitted to trading gold in London: "Johnson Mathey & K", "Samuel Montagu & K", "Goldsmith Mokatta End End Sharps" , "Pixley". Gold Trading takes a few minutes and the results at one time extended to all financial centers of the world. But London has lost its former significance. At present 85% of the gold coming from South Africa to the international market, passes through three Swiss banks in Zurich and only 15% - London.
As London and Zurich almost agree on supply and demand, as well as on prices, on this basis, the City of London can still continue to deal in gold. Gold Trading is not much different from trade in other commodities, such as trading on the London Stock Exchange or the London Stock Exchange precious metals. Description of the activities of commercial banks shows that they are not much different from the clearing banks in terms of the types of transactions. Differences are only in the way of implementation. In the economic literature clearing banks with their standard banking services called "garment shop owners", and trading houses - "fashion financial transactions."
User home
The next type of bank account in England are at home. Currently in London, operates on 8 accounts and individual homes, small specialized firms, brokers (running brokers, money brokers), which together form a discount market in London.
User home together in London's association accounting market (London Discount Market Association, LDMA), whose members are the home user: CL Alexanders Discount Plc.; Cater Allen Ltd.; Clive Discount Co. Ltd; Gerrald and National Ltd; king and Shaxson Ltd; Quin Cope Limited; Seccombe Marshall and Campion Plc; Union Discount Company Ltd.
Credentials at home - this is a specific type of financial institution, the London market. They provide a convenient outlet for liquid assets by banks guaranteed deposits on demand (at an agreed rate of credit to, or within the due date). These funds are used to buy various assets, including short-term treasury bills (T-bills), commercial paper (commercial bills) and first-class paper stock (gilt-edged securities, gilts). In addition, the user at home - it is the market sales and purchase bills.
User home act as a buffer between the Bank of England and the rest of the banking system, through which the Bank of England provides the financial resources of the banking system, withdraw them. The Bank of England also has an impact on interest rates.
For British companies main functions are to provide credentials houses leveraged through discounting (rediscounting) of bills, as well as offering various forms of short-term investments in portfolio investment.
In the field of government finance their main task - to ensure the sale of short-term Treasury bonds, which are very essential part of short-term government borrowing activities. User home - active agents to sell short-term government securities (stocks), as well as shares and bonds of local authorities. Activity accounts homes is on the secondary market the assigned dollar and sterling certificates of deposit.
Firm-brokers (brokers) are agents that mediate the acquisition of bills for payment. Accounts collect free money home almost around the clock. In this case, it is a perpetual or current accounts mainly clearing banks, as well as the money of industrial and commercial companies. Specificity clock collected funds is that they can one day go on to another investor. Opportunity to review the daily mean, on the one hand, a greater degree of insurance for investors, who may in the day, as put money back to provide a loan. On the other hand, for the money you can earn interest and, therefore, for the clearing banks more profitable to invest in accounts at home instead of keeping them at home, as a rule, no profitable use. These funds invest at home user backup supply of the Bank of England in securities, such as commercial bills, treasury bills (short-term government securities) and government loans with a really short-lived, as well as municipal bonds and debt securities of other banks. Possibility of daily review of contributions and their practical room for 30, 60, 90 days, and sometimes longer requires the ability to quickly mobilize resources. If, for example, a separate investor suddenly withdraw a large sum of money, you have to be quick to raise new funds. If the discount house an unexpected seizure contributor very large amounts are not able to immediately find new tools, it applies to the Bank of England for a loan. But this is possible only for the special accounts of houses, for example, Seccombe Marshall & Campion plc, which is a link between all accounting houses and Bank of England. Such an opportunity to refinance at the Bank of England is a privilege, relating only to the records home. They buy the privilege almost to commit to subscribe to all the notes of the Treasury, the Bank of England daily writes. This relationship accounts with the Bank of England houses involves two aspects of monetary policy. On the one hand, the Bank of England is trying through daily communication with the accounting houses affect existing bank funds to more profitable use, and on the other hand, it is through your home holds its credit interest rate policy by adjusting the flow of funds.

Commonwealth Banks
International importance of London as a financial center is determined, first of all, the position of the British banks abroad and the presence of foreign banks in the City. British foreign banks (Overseas banks) are institutions headquartered in London, with offices - mainly former British colonies. These banks are also referred to as the Commonwealth Banks. At the head is "Barclays Merchant Bank" from 1650 branches abroad. "Standard Charted" has more than 1,400 branches. In comparison, the U.S. Citibank has 300 overseas branches.
Foreign banks
Foreign Banks (Foreign Banks) in England at the carrying amount are major banking groups. Already in 1978 in London, there were 308 foreign affiliates in 63 countries. Among the banking institutions were 24 Japanese and 53 banks of the EU Member States. Now in the UK is dominated by U.S. and Japanese banks.
In London, concentrated in 2 times more foreign subsidiaries than in New York. For foreign banks in London is The People's Bank of Moscow (Moscow Narodny Bank).
Next banking group in England are consortium bank (Consortia Banks). Under the latest banking statistics understands institutions, where there are banks of at least two countries, neither of which has a controlling interest. these institutions have been particularly rapidly with increasing the EU market. Mostly, it's a special multinational banks borrowers, which include primarily transnational and multinational industrial concerns. Since they were established on the basis of equity banks leading capitalist countries, oriented in a position to mobilize huge resources in the Euromarket and the longest time, which is not available to any other type of banks in the capitalist world. The emergence of syndicated banks particularly well illustrated by the development of the process of internationalization of capital in contemporary capitalism. The largest consortium bank include "End Midland International Bank Ltd." with the British, Canadian and Australian partners, "Western American Bank Ltd. EuropeAid." with British, American and Japanese partners, "Indastriel kommershiel Burley" with partners from the U.S., Japan and the UK.

Russian Standard

2012-08-31T03:29:00.000-07:00

With the help of a student card you can at any time withdraw cash, make purchases with the card, to pay for services through the Internet. Currency in which the card is operating on the ruble. Card validity period of 5 years. The value of the credit limit is determined by the bank, but not more than 150 thousand. The card has a very convenient system of lending. Grace period is 55 days.
You can repay the loan as the minimum payments, and repay the loan at a time. Credit line from the card renewed after repayment of previous loans. Map of the entire maintenance cost 200 rubles. while you only pay for the first year of using the card. Card account, you can store and own funds. Filmed in Russian Standard Bank ATMs can be no commission. The owners of these cards become members of the "Club of discounts." That is, you will receive discounts on products and services in many shops of the country. The amount of the discount can be up to 30%. Student card acquiring Russian Standard Bank, you get it bundled with the service "Internet Banking" and "Mobile Banking". With the "Mobile bank" can always keep the situation under your account. The main thing that caught your mobile. And the "Internet Banking" will help you to make payments, obtain credit and deposit at any time. You need only go to the Internet and go to the official website of Russian Standard Bank.

Malina Gold

2012-08-31T03:26:00.000-07:00

With this set of cards your bonuses will accumulate to 2 times faster. Residents of Moscow and Moscow region, St. Petersburg and the region are able to collect bonuses on the map and to replace them with gifts from the catalog "Malina" Russian Standard Bank. In this program, participating restaurants, online stores, pharmacies, and a cellular network, fueling and many other trading firms. Currency in which the card is valid, Russian rubles. The card is valid for 5 years, and the credit limit on the card up to 750 thousand rubles. Included with the card in the contract you get an additional card as a gift.
In this case, one card payment system American Express, and the other MasterCard. With each purchase you get a bonus on the card, which can then be redeemed for gifts. In the implementation of the first purchase you get 8000 balls, if it was made with the main card set, or 4,000 bonus if extra card was used. In the future, when making purchases with the card Malina American Express you will receive 15 bonus for every $ 100 purchase. And using a plastic card payment system in this series MasterCard, you will be transferred to the account 10 bonus for every $ 100. If you are the owner of this card, thousands of shops, restaurants, clubs and hotels in the world give you a discount of up to 30% of the value of the goods and services. All of this is on the program of Russian Standart "Club discounts". With services GlobalShop you make a purchase with the receipt of bonuses in the online stores in the U.S..
Get a map can be achieved by filling the form on the official website of Russian Standard Bank. You can also visit one of the offices of the bank. This set of cards can make any Russian citizen between the ages of 23 to 65 years, living on the territory of Moscow and Leningrad region.

Savings bank

2012-08-31T03:19:00.000-07:00

Recently, the question becomes relevant lending clients Sberbank. So in one of the branches of the Savings Bank, located at the intersection of Prospect Mira and streets Korchagin, 59 year old pensioner refused a loan even without hearing it. Requested loan amount was only 30 thousand. crediting period and only 6 months. Pensioner gave the bank an income statement in the form NDFL2. But bank employees were required to provide this information on the company's certificate of Sberbank. Bank customer did, after which he demanded help from the pension fund, without warning in advance that it must provide on the letterhead of the Savings Bank. While the documents were altered pension fund income statement is not valid. They also had to be redone. As a result, mortgage process take months. In the end it turned out that the minimum size of a term loan in Moscow is not 30 and 45 thousand.

In another branch of the Savings Bank employees have decided not to comply with all instructions of the head office of the bank loan. One of the customers they are denied a loan in the amount of 40 thousand rubles without providing guarantors. Although the official website of the Savings Bank says that the loan of up to 45,000 rubles for customers of the bank without guarantors.

Formed the view that, in the branches of the Savings Bank employees are not interested in the issue of term loans in small size. There are many cases where students refused to provide educational loans, with a size of less than 50 thousand rubles. with bank employees strongly discouraged clients in obtaining the loan, explaining that for such a small loan to provide a large number of documents. Prospective customers, even given the option of obtaining credit from other banks. This marketing strategy Sberbank is very confusing. After all, any bank, its employees should be attentive to each client, finding for each of them individually.

RESULTS OF THE 2011 COLLECTION

2012-08-05T04:04:00.002-07:00

For many years, at the beginning of winter, Food Banks have been organizing food collections in many European countries. These collections would not be possible without the mobilization throughout Europe of volunteers who take turns at the entrance of the stores in a big show of solidarity. And once again, stores and supermarkets have cooperated by allowing volunteers to settle in the stores and to organize "special collection" operations for some of them.
All food products offered during these collections will be entirely distributed to those most in need through the Food Banks partner organizations. Thus these associations will benefit of an efficient help to assist the most vulnerable persons, food aid being the gateway to a total support leading to reintegration.

Belgium

The 21st collection organized by the Delhaize Belgium Group, from October 13th to 19th 2011, will allow to distribute about 695 tons of food (worth about 810,000 euros) to 117,000 poor people in Belgium helped by the Food Banks. A second collection could take place in early 2012.

In May 2011, the Food Bank of Belgium also organized a collection with the Colruyt retail chain. 202 tons were collected.

Croatia

With the help of 170 volunteers, on the occasion of World Food Day, 9.5 tons of food products were collected by the Food Bank of Croatia, in two important areas of the country. This Food Bank is in contact with the European Federation of Food Banks for a future agreement.

Spain

The Food Bank of Sevilla, who organized a collection for the first time this year, obtained very good results with 120 tons of food. At the same time, the Food Bank of Catalonia, which has renewed the national collection operation launched in 2010, doubled its result with 900 tons collected.

Estonia

The Food Bank of Estonia, which started its activity in Tallinn in March 2010, organized seven collections in 2011 in several supermarkets. 75 000 food products were donated.

France

The 12,500 tons of food collected on November 25th and 26th will be made available to the Food Banks partner organizations in France. These donations, in increase of 2% compared to 2010, will allow to distribute nearly 25 million meals in 2012. More than 100,000 volunteers participated in this chain of solidarity.

Hungary

On November 25th and 26th, the Food Bank of Hungary has collected 80 tons of food in 182 stores, with the help of 2,500 volunteers, 660 of them being staff members of the CIB Bank, representing a spectacular increase of 77% compared to 2010. The CIB Bank also cooperated financially to the organization of this operation.

Italy

The fifteenth edition of the national day of food collection, which took place on November 26th 2011 in Italy, has once again been a success. With the help of 130,000 volunteers, 9,600 tons of food products were collected in over 8,600 supermarkets, an increase of 2% from 2010. These products will be distributed in Italy to 8,000 Food Banks partner organizations that regularly help 1.4 million people allowing them to avoid exclusion.

Lithuania

The Food Bank of Lithuania has collected 176 tons of food during its annual collection of 2011, up 21% from 2010. For the first time this year, participation in this collection operation has also been possible through donations by telephone.

Montenegro

The Food Bank of Montenegro started its operations in the second half of 2010. 20 tons of food were collected during two collections organized in November and December 2011. These products will be distributed by the Food Banks partner associations to 750 families living in precarious conditions.

Poland

The collections organized for the Christmas campaign, on December 2nd, 3rd and 4th in 400 cities have raised 730 tons of food with the help of 42,000 volunteers. In parallel, the Internet application "click on the food," is maintained until December 31st 2011 to enable individuals to support food banks in Poland by donating products on the Internet.

Portugal

The second annual collection, held in Portugal on November 26th and 27th 2011, was again a success with 2,950 tons of products and the participation of 36,000 volunteers, a result equivalent to that of the collection held the last weekend of May

The public participation could also be done online and through "You Tube", from November 26th to December 4th, by "clicking" on 6 products offered, or on a basket of preselected products. Donations on the Internet accounted for 90 tons of food.

United Kingdom

A collection was held for the first time this year in the UK in 604 Sainsbury's stores. The campaign entitled "The Million Meal Appeal" brought together 1.2 million meals, or 224 tons of food. The store participating in the operation was matching in cash every individual food donation.

Serbia

6.5 tons of food were collected by the Food Bank of Serbia during the collections organized on the occasion of the World Food Day in 4 stores in Serbia.

Slovakia

25 volunteers participated in the collections organized in seven stores by the Food Bank of Slovakia. 5 tons of food products were collected.

In a time of economic uncertainty, the tremendous generosity of the public everywhere in Europe, proves once again that solidarity is a desire shared by everyone.

What do we do ?

2012-08-05T04:01:00.003-07:00

They make the link between the fight against food poverty and exclusion, the fight against waste and the call for solidarity.

The Food Banks recover food from the food industry and retail stores, European and National food aid programs or from individuals, and redistribute it to the charitable organisations and social services who support the most deprived.

They develop the value of consumable products.
They avoid disposal costs for companies.
They reduce the negative impact on the environment.
They convey the needs of charitable organisations to suppliers.
They look after supplies for charitable organisations which can then concentrate on helping people.
They conduct information campaigns on food waste and good nutrition.
They encourage citizenship and solidarity by calling for volunteering and donations.
The food banks of Europe are logistics specialists. They organise:

Transport of the food collected;
Sorting and storage;
Quality control;
Monitoring of the cold chain;
Inventory management.
The food banks sign agreements with local humanitarian or charity organisations and distribute the food collected to them.

This food aid is tailored at best to the needs of the recipients:

Food is made available on the premises of associations;
Meals are served in welcome centres or distributed on the street to the homeless;
"Open house meals", in which the recipients share meals with volunteer workers, are served in friendly, convivial surroundings where recipients also find warmth, comfort, support and assistance to help them overcome their ordeal;
Food stores are run and stress recipient autonomy and self-esteem, in a learning environment.
They also provide the charitable organisations and social services with various services (cooking workshops, recipes…) and training sessions (listening skills, nutrition, hygiene and food security…), to help them support the most deprived.

Charitable Organisations

2012-08-05T03:57:00.002-07:00

EAPN (EUROPEAN ANTI POVERTY NETWORK)
FEBA is part of EAPN Europe, European Anti Poverty Network, which is a European network of associations fighting against poverty and social exclusion.

EAPN Europe is based on 28 national networks and 23 European organizations.

The national networks are national charities that deal with different aspects of poverty in each country. Many charities receive food from the Food Banks.

The European organizations are fighting the specific problems of poverty at the European level: unemployment, child poverty, homeless, migrants, racism, mental health, food poverty in the case of FEBA, etc...

EAPN Europe intercedes at a political European level in the field of European employment, social inclusion and requests for European Structural Funds.

EAPN played a leading role in launching the 2010 European Year for combating poverty and social exclusion with a strong communication and meetings in each country.

Jean M. Delmelle, FEBA President, participated to the EAPN annual General Meeting celebrating its 20th anniversary on June 10th, 11th and 12th in Cyprus, and its theme was: the Migrants in Europe.

GFN (THE GLOBAL FOODBANKING NETWORK)
GFN, the Global Foodbanking Network, was founded in 2006 by the Food Banks organizations from 4 countries: Argentina, Canada, Mexico and the United States, with the goal to develop the Food Bank concept in other countries in the world and put together their resources to increase donations in terms of food and financial support.

GFN is a non-governmental organization, located in Chicago,USA , and is supported through private or enterprise grants and donations; some of these companies being part of the founding members. GFN presently regroups the food banks from 10 countries, while actively working at the development of food banks in additional countries.

FEBA and GFN have regular contacts for information exchanges, sharing of good practices; they work at coordinating their actions towards multinational companies, in the framework of the Corporate Social Responsibility programs of these companies to fight against food waste and against hunger.

Public Institutions

2012-08-05T03:56:00.000-07:00

EUROPEAN COMMISSION, AGRICULTURE DG
TIME TO SAVE THE E.U. FOOD AID PROGRAM (PEAD)

First introduced in 1987, the European Program of Food Aid for the most Deprived persons provides food coming from surplus stocks of farm produce, called "intervention stocks", to the needy people in Europe. But these stocks are at a very low level due to the market conditions and the high demand of food products in the world.

The Program has successfully contributed to combat poverty and promote social inclusion, and, in 2011, 18 million European citizens in 20 different Member States benefited from the program.

In September 2010, the European Commission made a proposal to allow the EUR. 500 million food aid program to continue at the same level in 2012 and 2013. In April 2011, the intervention stocks having declined, the European Court of Justice judged illegal the purchase of food products for the program in the open market. So the funding for this program was reduced to the limit of the available intervention stocks from 480 million Euros to 113.5 million Euros, a drastic cut of 76%, even though there is a budget of 500 million Euros foreseen.

Given the market situation, the fear is that there will be no budget available for the 2013 program as no intervention stocks are expected in 2012.

Support for the European Food Aid Program

There is much support for this vital program.

The Members of European Parliament voted on July 7th 2011 with a majority of 85% for a transitional solution for 2012 and 2013 and a new program beyond.

The President of the European Commission, Mr. Barroso has always supported the program of food aid.

However, at the Council of European Ministers of Agriculture of September 2011, 6 countries formed a blocking minority: Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden and United Kingdom. They persist in being against the principle of solidarity between Member States of the European Union and have prevented the adoption of a transitional solution. 2

The European governments, the national representatives in Europe, the journalists and the media are concerned and do not understand such a dramatic downtrend.

The Food Banks, the Red Cross, Caritas, Diakonie, the Salvation Army, the Social Action Centers, Saint Vincent de Paul charities, San’t Egidio in Italy, Restos du Coeur and Secours Populaire in France and over 30.000 charitable organizations receiving food aid for the most deprived persons are alarmed by a situation that compromises the future of food aid.

The European Commission proposes new amendments to change the situation.

On October 3rd 2011, the European Commission has put forward a new amended proposal to allow the food aid program to continue. The amendments introduce another legal basis: social cohesion reflecting the important social dimension of the program. Another amendment removes the proposed provision for co-financing from the Member States.

The European Commission also prepared a proposal to extend the program beyond 2013. The Commission will study the incorporation of the program among the EU social policy instruments in 2014.

Mr. Ciolos, EU Commissioner for Agriculture, said: "With the change of the legal basis, we address the problems seen by some Member States for the program in the short time. We now call on Member States to take their responsibility with regards to the millions of citizens who are waiting for the decision. The money is available and can be allocated if we can get a political agreement".

Mr. Andor, Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs, said: "Solidarity must remain a key element in Europe’s social engagement. Hunger in the EU is simply not acceptable. I am confident that today’s proposal will help avoid dramatic cuts in resources for organizations providing food to deprived persons"

The European Program of food aid has the support of the European Parliament and the European Commission. We only need a political agreement at the Council of European Ministers of Agriculture.

Some figures

In Europe, 79 million people live below the poverty line and among them, 30 million suffer from malnutrition

(Source Eurostat and European Congress of Experts on Nutrition, 2009).
Increasing number of EU food aid recipients

Companies

2012-08-05T03:51:00.003-07:00

We work in close cooperation with food industries at European level, either upstream or as a complement of the local contacts.

KRAFT FOODS
Beyond the established relationships with local representatives of Kraft Foods, the Group has built a real partnership with five European countries through the assistance of FEBA: Poland, Hungary, Lithuania, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. After a first financial donation for the purchase of vans in 2008, Kraft Foods and Kraft Foundation, as part of their program to support local communities, have supported two consecutive programs in 2009 and 2010.

The 2009 program was to increase the visibility of Food Banks in those countries and thus obtain more support. It took the form of studies on food waste in industry, through communication actions, advertising campaigns, websites creations, conferences, contests and concerts, to encourage the businesses, the distribution networks and the general public in the fight against hunger and waste. This program brought many benefits to the countries, particularly in terms of donations of products.

The 2010 program aimed to support the growth of the food banks by recruitment of volunteers. The donation was used to fund the call of consultants or agencies to identify organizational models, job vacancies, processes and communication tools for recruiting and training volunteers. Particular attention was given to the positions of coordinator of volunteers, the collaboration between employees and volunteers and the increase of persons volunteering their skills. The countries also want to take advantage of the 2011 European Year of Volunteering to mobilize young people especially through partnerships with schools and universities.

CARGILL
Cargill is an international producer and marketer of food, agricultural, financial and industrial products and services. Founded in 1865, the privately held company employs 131,000 people in 66 countries.

Each year, Cargill focuses its efforts to support long‐term solutions to hunger, and improve youth nutrition and wellness. Cargill also looks for ways to leverage the company’s expertise in food, agriculture and risk management to address the complex challenges of ensuring a safe, accessible food supply, particularly for vulnerable populations, living in communities where it has a business presence.

Cargill has been working closely with FEBA, in order to support the growing number of Food Banks across Europe.

In 2009 & 2010, Cargill provided funding which enabled further development of existing food banks in Poland, Hungary and Lithuania. Projects are in discussions regarding Romania.

Cargill has also helped establish a new food depot in the UK, helped a local Belgian food bank to significantly expand, donated 22,000 litres of sunflower oil for delivery to local communities in Barcelona and provided employee volunteering support to local foodbanks in the UK, Poland, Belgium, and France.

In October 2010, Cargill announced its partnership with La Federation Francais des Banques Alimentaires, which will provide up to €120,000 in funding, product donations and services to the national network of food banks in France.

The cooperation between the company and FEBA’s Network will be pursued and strengthened in 2011.

EUROPEAN FEDERATION

2012-08-05T03:49:00.001-07:00

MAY 10TH-12TH 2012: THE EUROPEAN FEDERATION OF FOOD BANKS INVITED THE FOOD BANKS OF 25 EUROPEAN COUNTRIES IN VILNIUS TO WORK ON FOOD SUPPLIES.

80 representatives of the Food Banks, current or potential members of the European Federation of Food Banks (FEBA), met around the theme of partnerships with stakeholders in the food chain (producers, food industry, supermarkets). The challenge is to increase, in a sustainable way, donations of food products about to be discarded, in an effort to reduce food waste and to promote solidarity.

Representatives of the European Commission and Parliament, of multinational companies of the food chain (Carrefour Foundation, Kraft Foods Lithuania and Nestle Baltics) also participated in these discussions. These companies provide food products to the Food Banks and support their actions by financial donations or services.

The participants emphasized the need to urgently address the problem of food waste in particular because of ethical issues, related to the increasing number of deprived persons within the European Union, where 80 million people live below the poverty line (Source: Eurostat), and also in order to develop the concept of "sustainable food". "To feed the increasing world population, we will need the equivalent of three planets," said a Commission representative.

Food Banks are an integral part of the food chain, and as such will be involved in the working group of the European Commission on food waste that will define actions to be implemented.

Among the actions that have to be to carried out in the shortest possible time frame: the need to inform the public about the "expiry date" of foodstuffs so as to clarify the terms used and what they cover (particularly the "use-by date" which has to be respected for safety issues, as opposed to the "best-before date" which guarantees optimum qualities of taste, appearance and nutrition of products but is not linked to any risk for the health). In this respect, European laws do not prohibit the sale or the donation of products after the "best-before date". A proposal is under consideration to lengthen the number of products that are exempt of a "best-before date".
It also appears necessary to clarify the figures published on food waste, making a distinction between surpluses and losses, between products that are discarded and those used for other purposes (biofuels, animals, crops left for soil regeneration, etc....), and furthermore to be able to locate geographically, and by food sectors, the recoverable sources.

The Food Banks network could also use significantly more surplus food (fresh products) if financial aids were granted for transport and/or processing of products. To date, these logistic costs are indeed too important for the Food Bank budgets.

A website database with best practices to fight against food waste, available to the European Union countries and translated into six languages, will also be created. This database will include information allowing the food chain actors to communicate with the Food Banks located in the European Union.

During the meeting, workshops of exchange of good practices were also held, in particular on the fruit and vegetable recovery program, as part of the European Union legislation and from local producers, as well as donation of food on the internet, established by Food Banks, in addition to the major national collections held in stores.

Finally, the participants also discussed on the future of the European Programme of Food Aid to the most Deprived (PEAD). FEBA advocates the creation of a new European Union food aid to replace the current program ending in 2013. Following the letter, jointly signed by the FEBA and seven other European associations on the future of the PEAD, and addressed to the "Employment and Social Affairs" Directorate General of the European Commission on March 27th, FEBA and other associations will be involved, starting in late May, in the work of the Directorate General for the definition of the future program.

FEBA: created in 1986 at the initiative of the French and Belgian federations, the European Federation of Food Banks gathers 247 Food Banks, who are struggling daily against hunger and food waste, in 21 European countries. In 2011, throughout Europe, 401,000 tons of food products equivalent to 800 million meals were distributed to 5.2 million people in partnership with 31,000 associations and social centers. During the Board of Directors of May 12, 2012, Isabel Jonet, President of the Portuguese Federation of Food Banks, was elected President of FEBA.

News

2012-08-05T03:46:00.001-07:00

IN WEALTHY EUROPE, SOME STILL GO HUNGRY

Europe is facing challenges we thought we had already beaten - poverty, high unemployment and food shortages. The European Federation of Food Banks, which coordinates 245 food collection and distribution centers in 19 countries, helps feed 5 million needy Europeans - a number that has grown considerably with the current financial crisis. However, the continental food aid programme is now in danger of being curtailed, or even closed down, by EU leaders just when it is needed most. Coinciding with the European summit on June 26 , the EFFB calls on EU leaders to keep this valuable programme going.

The European winter of 1947 was one of the hardest of the 20th century. And the summer of that year was one of the driest. Across the post-war continent, crops failed and food shortages became acute. In regions where, even during the war, the daily supply of calories to adults was above 2,000, that number dropped by half. In some countries, it fell to a third of that amount.

It’s hard to imagine such hardship nowadays. The European Union appears to have resolved the continent’s food problems. In most EU countries, each person’s average consumption is above 3,500 calories a day - almost double what the FAO considers to be the daily minimum (1,900 calories).

And yet, we should not allow these apparently comfortable circumstances to draw our attention away from important imbalances, especially during the economic crisis currently affecting many EU countries.

The apparent abundance in this part of the world, as in the United States and Canada, conceals serious food needs among the less well-off. The recent increase in the requests for help from food banks and similar charitable institutions shows that the problem exists and cannot be ignored.

Up to last year, the EU ran a food aid programme that was linked to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The programme took some of the excess production generated by the CAP and gave it to the needy.

But the fall in stockpiles, as well as the unwillingness of some EU member states to purchase food for the needy on the open market, has brought the food aid programme to breaking point. As things stand, it appears doomed.

In response, the European Commission has tabled a proposal - to be discussed at next week’s European summit - to set up, as part of the 2014-2020 budget framework, “a new food aid mechanism for the needy.”

In an effort to overcome the opposition of some member states, this fund would not be part of the CAP, nor of the European Social Fund, but would be a sui generis programme devised to back up the EU2020 social cohesion and territorial strategy policies.

The proposed financing for this programme amounts to just 335 million euros a year, compared with 500 million euros a year for the programme that is about to end.

This sum is a drop in the ocean when considering the scale of European funds, and paltry when compared to financial aid for banks.

Even so, it should not be dismissed, especially when food aid is a much-needed additional response to situations which most national welfare systems have trouble coping with.

The work carried out by organizations such as the Food Banks does not have to do simply with the distribution of aid.

It is also a way of reaching out to those on the fringes of society and drawing them back in. We don’t just give people something to eat. We also offer hope to those who, in many cases, have lost everything. And in conjunction with other charity groups we help pull society closer together in times of need, such as the period we are currently going through.

The EU faces huge challenges that will test its sense of unity and demonstrate whether our society is still an international benchmark for social integration and citizenship.

The EU cannot scrap a programme like food aid, which is the only one that provides close contact with people living in poverty and outside the mainstream of society.

The consequences of discontinuing the programme would be devastating.

In some cases, all food aid would stop. In others, it would be cut in half. Many of the associations we work with could be forced to shut down, undoing the bonds of social networks they help to create.

It would also deepen the sentiment that European institutions are distant and blind to the concrete needs of real people.

One of the motives of the creation of the European Union and the CAP was to avoid a repeat of what occurred in 1947. It wasn’t that long ago and we shouldn’t forget it. We are confident that European leaders won’t forget it when they meet in Brussels next week.

By Isabel Jonet

President of the European Federation of Food Banks

Photo: Human Ring against poverty, European Parliament © Alejandra Laiton.</div>