WRITTEN QUESTION P-0118/00 by John Cushnahan (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Cost of processing a litre of milk.
Date: 2000-01-18
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Denmark, Netherlands, cost price, food processing, milk

24.10.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 303 E/143

worst affected. There is general agreement that the spectre of world recession following the crisis and its
repercussions on the rest of the world has faded. The Community(cid:146)s position has been expressed on
numerous occasions:
the temptation of
it stresses the need to keep the markets open and fight
protectionism (the EU-Asia (ASEM) (1) trade deficit was EUR 87 000 million in 1998, double that of
1997), the importance of international aid and of bilateral as well as multilateral Community aid (including
via the ASEM trust fund), and the need to continue with reform of the financial system in countries
affected by the crisis and measures to deal with its social consequences.

The Commission has had the opportunity to assess specific proposals relating to the major Eurasian
landbridge project, notably in regard to transport. The Commission carried out an in-depth study which
concluded that given the very long distances involved, for the foreseeable future maritime transport was
more economical in linking Europe and the Far East than road, rail or canal transport, even if the Trans-
Siberian remains the only real alternative (less attractive in current conditions than maritime transport).
Under no circumstances should the Community participate financially in any transport objective relating to
trade between Europe and the Far East. In regard to the building or rebuilding of infrastructures, it has
been recommended that no Community financial commitment be undertaken to achieve transport
objectives relating to Europe-Caucasus-Central Asia trade before a full financial and market study on the
potential viability of the project is made. Any Community-financed measures to improve transit reliability,
security and time-scales, on the other hand, must aim at bringing recipient countries into line with the
acquis communautaire.

In line with the general recommendations approved by the Commission, a project entitled Traceca has
been launched. It concerns technical assistance for the creation of a west-east transport corridor, going
from Europe, through the Black Sea, Caucasus and the Caspian Sea to Central Asia (22 projects for a total
of EUR 30 million and 7 investment projects for infrastructure rehabilitation for a total of EUR 25 million
have already been launched). Traceca supports the development of regional cooperation between the
recipient countries and facilitates their integration into international economic trade. Synergy between it
and the Trans European Network projects will be ensured. Traceca has also been a catalyst in leading such
international financial institutions as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and
the World Bank to finance ports, roads and rail infrastructure on the Traceca route.

(1) ASEM: Asia Europe Meeting. Asian partners: China, Japan, Korea, Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand,

Philippines, Vietnam.

(2000/C 303 E/155)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0118/00

by John Cushnahan (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(18 January 2000)

Subject: Cost of processing a litre of milk

Does the Commission know how much it would cost to process a litre of milk in Denmark and Holland?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(7 February 2000)

The Commission does not have at its disposal data on the cost of processing a litre of milk in Denmark,
the Netherlands or in any other Member State. It should be underlined that these processing costs may
vary considerably depending on the type of product manufactured or on the size and structure of the
processing plant.