The sum was distributed as follows: Belgium (EUR12.02 million), Bulgaria (EUR19.09 million), the Czech Republic (EUR183,869), Estonia (EUR2.42 million), Ireland (EUR2.59 million), Greece (EUR22.01 million), Spain (EUR85.6 million), France (EUR71.36 million), Italy (EUR98.26 million), Latvia (EUR5.2 million), Lithuania (EUR7.86 million), Luxembourg (EUR171,704), Hungary (EUR13.9 million), Malta (EUR548,475), Poland (EUR76.9 million), Portugal (EUR19.5 million), Romania (EUR55.8 million), Slovenia (EUR2.58 million) and Finland (EUR3.75 million).
EU authorities estimate 18 million people will receive food aid next year.
Romania’s Government decided in September to increase the number of beneficiaries of food aid from the European Union as from October.
Government spokesman Andrei Zaharescu said at that time the aid scheme targets people on minimum guaranteed income, jobless people, pensioners whose monthly income does not exceed 400 lei (EUR87.5) and disabled people.
The Agriculture Ministry said in a press release in September the number of food aid beneficiaries would increase by about 800,000 to approximately 3.2 million. (EUR1=RON4.5698)