WRITTEN QUESTION E-1319/00

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(3 May 2000)

Subject: European school milk scheme

The Commission is proposing to radically change the school milk scheme. At the moment, the disposal of milk in schools is fully subsidised by the European Union. In future this financing would be halved. The other half of the financing would then have to come from the Member States, but they would be allowed to pass on the costs to milk producers and/or the dairy industry. These sweeping proposals are encountering a great deal of opposition, due in part to the negative consequences for milk consumption.

1. Does the Council endorse the Commission's arguments for halving aid for the school milk scheme? If not, what is the position of the Council with regard to the financing of the European school milk scheme, and what alternative proposal for financing is being put forward by the Council?

2. Has the Council carried out a detailed study of the impact of the Commission's proposal on milk consumption in schools? If not, why is that the case, and does the Council intend to carry out a study in view of the probable negative impact on milk consumption? Or if so, what are the anticipated effects, and what conclusions does the Council draw from the results of this research?

3. Does the Council not consider it more advisable to continue to fully subsidise the school milk scheme in view of the health benefits of milk? If not, why does the Council support the Commission's proposal to halve aid in spite of the health benefits of milk? Or if so, will the Council be proposing that the school milk scheme should be financed on a long-term basis by the European Union?

Reply

(18/19 September 2000)

1. In February 1999 the Commission submitted a detailed evaluation report on the impact and operation of the school milk measure at European Union level (subsidised at 95 % by the European Union). On the basis of that report, the Commission initially envisaged discontinuing the measure.

In the context of the price package in June 1999, the Council discussed the report submitted by the Commission in detail, after which it adopted the following statement:

The Ministers for Agriculture take the view that the consumption of milk is of great importance in view of its high nutrition value, particularly for children and young people. They therefore consider appropriate to reflect further on how such consumption can be encouraged in a cost-efficient way taking account of the overall availability of budgetary resources.

2. In December 1999 the Commission decided, in light of the above, to revise its original approach, and submitted a proposal for a Regulation aimed at continuing the system on the basis of 50-50 funding by the Community and the Member States.

3. At its meeting on 20 and 21 March 2000 the Council held a wide-ranging policy debate on the Commission proposal, pending the Opinion of the European Parliament; among other things, it emerged from that debate that there are still some very major objections to the funding system proposed by the Commission; in addition, some comments were made on technical questions.

The Council is aware of the political and social importance of the dossier raised by the Honourable Member, and will shortly be resuming its examination of the matter in the light of the Opinion delivered by the European Parliament on 3 May 2000, in which the Parliament declared itself in favour of the Commission proposal, as amended in particular on the point relating to the funding mechanism.