WRITTEN QUESTION E-2629/01 by Concepció Ferrer (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Distribution of Spanish milk in France.
Date: 2001-09-27
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: France, Spain, marketing, milk, originating product, restriction on competition

C 115 E/136

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

16.5.2002

(2002/C 115 E/139)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2629/01

by Concepció Ferrer (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(27 September 2001)

Subject: Distribution of Spanish milk in France

Recent reports suggest that an agreement has been reached in France between industrial producers,
stockbreeders and the distribution sector to deny Spanish milk access to the national market.

This agreement appears to have been tacitly endorsed by the French government. Similar measures have
been taken in France in the past against other Spanish products, such as fruit and vegetables.

Should this information prove correct, what action will the Commission take?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(13 November 2001)

The Commission does not currently have at any concrete information to suggest that an agreement exists
between French milk producers and distributors to restrict the marketing of Spanish milk in France or to
give priority to sales of French milk.

Rather, the available statistics show that French imports of milk from Spain have increased very markedly
since 1998.

Imports into France of Spanish liquid milk in containers of more than two litres increased from 25 132
tonnes in 1998 to 94 589 tonnes in 2000. The quantity for the period from January to June 2000 was
23 087 tonnes and rose to 39 875 tonnes in the period from January to June 2001.

(2002/C 115 E/140)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2639/01

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(28 September 2001)

Subject: Information on the euro

The latest Eurobarometer survey on the euro reveals that 73 % of respondents are worried about the
introduction of the euro on 1 January 2002. The Commissioner responsible, Pedro Solbes also stressed
that a growing number of people are worried about the risk of price increases. In Greece, 84 % of
respondents believe that the use of the euro will make their lives more difficult and 75 % that it will lead to
their being exploited and cheated. Apart from providing information for the public, what measures has the
Commission taken to prevent profiteering? What mechanisms can the Member States use to monitor the
situation?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(3 December 2001)

In order to limit the risk of price increases on the occasion of the changeover to the euro, the Commission
has received the endorsement of the participating Member States for a four-pronged strategy it had
proposed to them:

9 promotion of dual display of prices: This is the simplest way for consumers to verify prices in a
monetary language they understand. Any discrepancies will thus be transparent and, as a result, the
market will be easily able to take appropriate action. Dual pricing is compulsory in Greece, Austria
and Portugal and will become compulsory in Belgium in December 2001. In the other Member States
it is becoming more widespread;