(STRASBOURG) - European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso urged EU nations Thursday to support his plans to use left over farm subsidy money as aid for poor nations, in the face of German opposition.

Barroso told members of the European Parliament that the bloc's 27 member states had themselves encouraged him to come up with the proposal, which would see up to one billion euros (1.6 billion dollars) used to help farmers in poor countries.

"The European Commission will adopt this proposal next week. I am counting on full support from both branches of the budget authority (at the European Parliament and European Council) so that Europe can quickly supply the aid," he said.

"This support is essential for ensuring a green revolution that Africa needs for its stability and its prosperity, which as we all know, is in the direct interests of Europe," he said.

He said that Africa was living a "drama" caused by high food prices.

The EU's Common Agriculture Policy's finances are currently brimming with surpluses because high prices for food products has made it unnecessary for the EU to ensure minimum prices through buying up excess supplies.

EU farm commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel said the funds from expected CAP surpluses in 2008 and 2009 could be put to better use.

However, the proposal faces resistance from member states that would normally get such a surplus. The idea met with little enthusiasm from EU nations when Fischer Boel first floated it in May.

At a G8 meeting in Japan this week, German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed reservations about the plan because the surplus funds are usually used to reimburse governments paying most into the EU's coffers.

"We haven't had our last word on this," she said.

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