ABSTRACT
European Union (EU) food aid policy has evolved from a narrowly conceived response to agricultural protection which had caused unwanted surplus agricultural products to be given as aid to developing countries. From 1968 until the world food crisis of 1974, Union policy was multilateral in its character although this policy had been constrained by concerns food aid disrupting national and international agricultural markets. The Union has explicitly adopted a positive trade emphasis to its food aid and food strategy policy towards developing countries by championing triangular transactions and providing financial support to developing countries for the purchase of food supplies from other developing countries. The EU has embraced the food aid policy of the multilateral institutions of the Rome agencies and particularly those of the World Food Programme and has supplied the United Nations relief agencies. Europe has also kept within international agreements with regard to the development of her own programmes and policies.
