WRITTEN QUESTION E-2054/99 by Gérard Caudron (PSE) to the Commission. Abolition of European aid payments for the distribution of milk in schools.
C 170 E/140 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 20. 6. 2000 Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission (20 December 1999) The Commission can confirm that the Community is not directly funding any research projects into the In addition, there are no effects on human health of the handling of organophosphate sheep dips. Community plans to ban such dips or to lay down safety measures that must be employed in addition to those already provided by the manufacturers and by individual Member State national legislation. There is no current project in agriculture research within the agro-industrial research (AIR) and fisheries, agriculture and agro-industrial research (FAIR) programmes on this matter. However, a research proposal on this theme could be submitted to key action 5 of the specific programme Quality of life and management of living resourcesí of the 5th framework programme for research and technological development (RTD). One of the priorities of the above key action is Health and welfare of animals used in farm livestock productioní. Research activities on improved methods for evaluating the impact of veterinary products on public and animal health could be addressed to this key action. (2000/C 170 E/169) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2029/99 by BØatrice Patrie (PSE) to the Commission (3 November 1999) Subject: Community subsidies for school milk The press and various associations are currently drawing attention to the present and planned further reductions in Community subsidies for school milk following a decision by the Commission. Child nutrition experts and specialists argue that milk is essential for childrenís growth and that school milk schemes make it possible to reach sections of the population which, even today, do not have a sufficiently rich or balanced diet. The Commissionís plans, which are worrying both from a farming point of view and with regard to public health, raise a number of questions: 1. The Agriculture Council of 14 and 15 June 1999 took the view that the consumption of milk should be encouraged because of its high nutritional value, particularly for children and young people. Why, then, has the Commission gone against the general opinion of the Member States and taken a decision that could jeopardise school milk schemes? 2. 3. Just as the Treaty of Amsterdam has elevated public health policy to the rank of a horizontal Community policy, how can the Commission, in the name of narrow budgetary considerations, risk endangering the health of European children who benefit from the nourishment that school milk provides? From a financial perspective, how can the consumption of milk be encouraged in a cost-effective way, taking account of the overall availability of budgetary resources? Could the subsidies concerned conceivably be transferred from the CAP budget to the health budget so that school milk schemes may continue with due regard for the budgetary constraints? (2000/C 170 E/170) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2054/99 by GØrard Caudron (PSE) to the Commission (3 November 1999) Subject: Abolition of European aid payments for the distribution of milk in schools Reports are widespread of the Commission decision reducing, then abolishing, Community subsidies for the distribution of milk in schools. 20. 6. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 170 E/141 According to child nutrition specialists milk is an essential food for child development. The distribution of milk in schools is, moreover, still useful today in reaching certain sectors of the population who do not enjoy a balanced diet. This plan is disturbing in terms of both agriculture and public health. As the Agriculture Council on 14 and 15 June 1999 took the view that milk consumption should be encouraged because of its nutritional value, in particular for children and young people, why is the Commission taking a decision that runs counter to the Councilís opinion? At a time when public health has just been given the status of a horizontal Community policy under the Treaty of Amsterdam, how can the Commission risk endangering the health of European children who benefit from this nutritional supplement in schools? Can the Commission therefore deny the information that has been published and reassure the citizens of Europe? Joint answer to Written Questions E-2029/99 and E-2054/99 given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (9 December 1999) The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its findings as soon as possible. (2000/C 170 E/171) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2036/99 by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission (3 November 1999) Subject: Knorr Bremse and European funding Knorr Bremse has announced several hundred redundancies in Kingswood, Bristol (UK), in order to transfer work to its factories in France, Italy or Germany and Hungary. Can the Commission say whether any financial assistance of any kind has been asked for by this company or given to this company for job creation in France, Italy or Germany or through TACIS and PHARE programmes in Hungary? Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission (26 November 1999) The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its findings as soon as possible. (2000/C 170 E/172) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2051/99 by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission Subject: Activities of the Astano shipyards, in Galicia (3 November 1999) the Spanish In its reply to a question which I Governmentís privatisation plans on the prohibition on shipbuilding activities applying to the Astano shipyards, the Commission stated that áany change of ownership of Astano would have no effect on the limitations placed on its activitiesí. tabled (E-1432/99 (1)) about the repercussions of