Italy, Spain, biggest recipients of EU food program

Spain and Italy are the biggest beneficiaries of a 500-million-euro 2013 EU food program for the poor. Financed under the EU farm policy - known as the common agricultural policy - the program is designed to reach more than 18 million people in 19 member states. Italy is slated to receive 98 million euros, and Spain will get 85.6 million. They are followed by Poland (77 million euros), France (71 million) and Romania (56 million). In the Mediterranean, Greece's poorest will receive 22 million euros and Portugal will get 19.5 million euros, followed by Slovenia (2.5 million) and Malta (548,000 euros). The European Commission recommended a 2.5-billion-euro free food program for 2014-2020, which will no longer be financed under the EU farm policy. Proposals on how to finance it are forthcoming from the commissioner responsible for employment, social affairs and inclusion, Laszlo Andor.