WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2919/98 by Antonio TAJANI Privatisation of the Rome milk marketing board
Date: 1998-09-18
Institutions: European Parliament, TAJANI
Subjects: Italy, Latium, State aid, consumer price, dairy industry, infringement procedure (EU), milk, privatisation, producer price, restriction on competition

11.10.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 289/13

Murmansk. What measures has the Commission taken as a result of this resolution, and what does it intend to
do to relieve the situation in the areas of Russia suffering from food and medicine shortages?

Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission

(10 December 1998)

The Commission shares the concern of the Honourable Member about the problems faced by the Russian
population in the context of the current political and economic crisis.

Taking into account the dialogue between the Commission and the Parliament and, in particular, Parliament’s
Resolution B4-0299/97, the Commission carried out an evaluation mission to Karelia in July 1997. This
confirmed that . as in the whole Russian Federation . poverty has become a serious issue. However, available
data (the reliability of which is not always in line with Western standards) indicate that the population of
Karelia is still better off than the average Russian population.

The Commission is currently funding two operations in the region (humanitarian assistance and capacity
building for local disaster preparedness structures) with the Finnish Red Cross and Finn Church Aid as
implementing partners. Further developments in the region are followed with close attention.

On the issue of food aid to Russia, the Honourable Member’s attention is drawn to the Commission’s working
document of 20 November 1998 (1) transmitted to the Parliament and the Council which lays out details and
conditions for such aid.

(1)

SEC(98) 1990.

(1999/C 289/017)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2919/98

by Antonio Tajani (PPE) to the Commission

(18 September 1998)

Subject: Privatisation of the Rome milk marketing board

Is the Commission, which has initiated infringement proceedings against the Italian State and Rome
municipality over the sale of the Rome milk marketing board, aware of the damage caused to consumers
and farmers?

Is the Commission aware of the decision to reduce the producer price of milk by Lit 40 a litre and at the same
time increase the consumer price by Lit 100 a litre?

Does the Commission not think that these initiatives violate European competition rules?

What information has Rome municipality given the Commission about the privatisation of the milk marketing
board?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(13 October 1998)

The Commission was unaware of the reduction in the producer price for milk and the increase in the
consumer price mentioned by the Honourable Member.

The Commission is currently analysing the comments made by the municipality of Rome. When this analysis
is completed, as well as the analysis of any other comments sent by interested third parties and other Member
States, the Commission will take a final decision on the aids in question in accordance with the procedure laid
down in Article 93(2) of the EC Treaty.