WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2919/98 by Antonio TAJANI Privatisation of the Rome milk marketing board
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