MEPs to vote on revision of the School Fruit, Vegetables and Milk Scheme

Strasbourg, May 9, 2023 - The European Parliament voted today on the revision of the “School Fruit, Vegetables and Milk Scheme”. 

The aim of this scheme is to supplement schools in the European Union - from nurseries to secondary schools - with these products through the support of European funds, with the aim of helping children develop healthy habits.

In line with the Greens/EFA political group, Francisco Guerreiro argues that this scheme should be inclusive and give schools the option of using European funds to finance alternatives to animal milk. That's why he supported the amendment proposed by his group to include the possibility of funding plant-based alternatives in the schemes - the proposal was not accepted by the other political groups.

Francisco Guerreiro's unfavorable vote is thus justified by the discrimination promoted by this scheme, which excludes children and adolescents who do not consume cow's milk, either for ethical or sustainability reasons, or because they are allergic or simply don't like the product.

For the 2022/2023 school year, Portugal received €3,283,397 from the EU to divide between fruit and vegetables (i.e. €1,641,689 for each segment), and €2,220,981 for cow's milk. In addition to the need to rethink the schemes because of their discriminatory component, there also needs to be a reflection on the ecological footprint of the products whose consumption is promoted - the livestock industry is responsible for 70% of the food sector's GHG emissions.
The vote culminated in 534 votes in favor and 57 against, thus approving the revision.

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