WRITTEN QUESTION E-1319/00 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Council. European school milk scheme.
Date: 2000-05-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, advertising, educational institution, milk

6.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 72 E/43

One of the main elements of this directive is the obligation for Member States to maintain or achieve good
quality of groundwater. Such good quality will be defined as good chemical status and good quantitative
status, good quantitative status being defined as a balance between available groundwater resources and the
long-term annual average rate of abstraction. To ensure achieving this objective every abstraction of
groundwater (and surface water) will as a rule be subject to a permit. Failure to achieve or maintain such
balance between natural recharge and abstraction will, after adoption of this proposal, be an infringement
of Community legislation.

(1) Commission Proposals for a Parliament and Council Directive establishing a framework for Community action in
the field of water policy Framework Directive (OJ C 184, 17.6.1997, OJ C 16, 20.1.1998 and OJ C 108, 7.4.1998)
(cid:129) Council Common Position of 22.10.1999 (OJ C 343, 30.11.1999).

(2) Opinion of Parliament of 16.2.2000, not yet published in the Official Journal.

(2001/C 72 E/047)

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.

Does the Council endorse the Commission(cid:146)s arguments for halving aid for the school milk scheme?
1.
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?

Has the Council carried out a detailed study of the impact of the Commission(cid:146)s proposal on milk
2.
consumption in schools? If not, why is that the case, and does the Council intend to carry out a study in
view of the (cid:129) probable (cid:129) 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(cid:146)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)

In February 1999 the Commission submitted a detailed evaluation report on the impact and
(subsidised at 95 % by the European

1.
operation of the school milk measure at European Union level
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.

C 72 E/44

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.3.2001

In December 1999 the Commission decided, in light of the above, to revise its original approach,
2.
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.

At its meeting on 20 and 21 March 2000 the Council held a wide-ranging policy debate on the
3.
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.

is aware of the political and social

The Council
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.

(2001/C 72 E/048)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1321/00

by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Council

Subject: Hunger relief in Ethiopia and other African countries

(3 May 2000)

The Cairo summit bringing together the EU and the countries of Africa coincided with an outbreak of
hunger that is currently affecting millions of people in the neighbouring continent, especially in Ethiopia.
This dramatic state of affairs has already been denounced by the UN and by NGOs and the media.

In Ethiopia, the lives of 2 m people are in jeopardy thanks to the drought and the war with Eritrea. What
action is the EU taking to relieve this tragic situation, as a matter of urgency? Will the EU in fact be willing
to agree on a humanitarian action, without flinching from the necessary intervention, and pressing
Ethiopia and Eritrea to accept means of
food distribution that use the most effective channels of
communication available?

Reply

(26 September 2000)

The Council has repeatedly condemned the senseless outbreak of renewed fighting between Ethiopia and
Eritrea. Recalling the responsibility of any government for the welfare of its people, it deplores the fact that
against a background of severe food crisis in the region precious resources are being diverted for the
conflict. The Council accordingly welcomes the arms embargo on the two countries which was adopted
unanimously by the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1298 and would recall its own decision
on an arms embargo which has been in force since 15 March 1999.

The Council hopes that the contacts with Ethiopia and Eritrea under OAU auspices which are presently
being conducted will bear substantive results and declares the EU(cid:146)s readiness to support the peace efforts
under OAU chairmanship, including through the mission of the EU special representative, Senator SERRI.

The Council confirms EU willingness to continue to provide emergency humanitarian aid carefully targeted
to the people most seriously in need in order to avoid any possible diversion of the aid. Such aid is
decided following the regulatory procedures in force by the Commission who could provide more detailed
information on specific actions undertaken.