16.2.2012 Official Journal of the European Union L 44/1 | (Legislative acts) REGULATIONS REGULATION (EU) No 121/2012 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 15 February 2012 amending Council Regulations (EC) No 1290/2005 and (EC) No 1234/2007 as regards distribution of food products to the most deprived persons in the Union THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular the first paragraph of Article 42 and Article 43(2) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission, After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national parliaments, Having regard to the opinions of the European Economic and Social Committee (1), Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions (3), Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure (%), Whereas: (1) Council Regulation (EEC) No 3730/87 of 10 December 1987 laying down the general rules for the supply of food from intervention stocks to designated organi- sations for distribution to the most deprived persons in the Community (%), which was subsequently repealed and integrated into Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 of 22 October 2007 establishing a common organisation of agricultural markets and on specific provisions for certain agricultural products (Single CMO Regulation) (%), has provided a reliable scheme for the distribution of () Opinion of 20 January 2011 (O] C 84, 17.3.2011, p. 49) and opinion of 8 December 2011 (not yet published in the Official Journal). () OJ C 104, 2.4.2011, p. 44. (’) Position of the European Parliament of 26 March 2009 (O] C 117 E, 6.5.2010, p. 258) and position of the Council at first reading of 23 January 2012 (O] C 38 E, 11.2.2012, p. 1). Position of the European Parliament of 15 February 2012 (not yet published in the Official Journal). % OJ L 352, 15.12.1987, p. 1. () OJ L 299, 16.11.2007, p. 1. food products to the most deprived persons of the Union (food distribution scheme) for more than two decades and has positively contributed to the social cohesion of the Union by reducing economic and social disparities. (2)  The objectives of the common agricultural policy (CAP) as defined in Article 39(1) of the Treaty include stabi- lising markets and ensuring that supplies reach consumers at reasonable prices. Over the years, the food distribution scheme has underpinned the fulfilment of both objectives and, by reducing the food insecurity of the most deprived persons in the Union, has proved to be an essential tool contributing to guaranteeing the broad availability of food within the Union while reducing intervention stocks. (3)  The European Parliament, in its resolution of 7 July 2011, called on the Commission and the Council to develop a transitional solution for the remaining years of the current multiannual financial framework, so as to avoid a sharp cutback in food aid as a result of the reduction in funding from EUR 500 million to EUR 113 million and so as to ensure that people who are dependent on food aid do not suffer from food poverty. (4 The current food distribution scheme relies on the distribution of products from Union intervention stocks, supplemented, on a temporary basis, by purchases on the market. However, successive reforms of the CAP and favourable developments in producer prices have resulted in a progressive reduction in inter- vention stocks and in the range of products available. The current version of Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 only allows market purchases in the case of temporary unavailability of products. In the light of the judgment of the General Court in Case T-576/08 (%), purchases of food on the Union market cannot replace the reduced intervention stocks on a regular basis. In these circum- stances, it appears appropriate to end the food distribution scheme. In order to give charity organi- sations in Member States that are using the current (°) Case T-576/08 Germany v Commission, judgment of 13 April 2011 (not yet published).