This chapter deals with the long-term evolution of European food aid policy (EFAP), focusing on key phases of institutional continuity and transformation. It examines the program’s resilience through the lens offered by historical institutionalism (HI), emphasizing path dependency, policy feedback mechanisms, and the relevance of critical junctures. More in depth, the analysis investigates two pivotal moments: EFAP’s initial institutionalization under the Common Agricultural Policy and its survival during the 2008–2014 crisis, culminating in the establishment of FEAD. Integrating distinct but possibly complementary theoretical perspectives—including neo-functionalism and post-functionalism—the chapter argues that EFAP’s persistence was shaped by a distinct configuration of factors, from supranational entrepreneurship, to civil society mobilization, and strategic adaptations to political and economic pressures. It concludes by situating EFAP within broader debates on the governance of Social Europe, illustrating how food aid policy has evolved despite EU-level constraints and shifting national preferences.