Food supply programme to the Russian Federation

In adopting the report of Mr. Juan COLINO SALAMANCA (PES, E), the European Parliament approved the proposed Regulation for a programme to supply agricultural products to the Russian Federation for a total amount of 400 million Euros. It would be essential that the programme, based on the Community's existing intervention stocks of wheat, rye, rice, pork, beef and powdered milk, should include an exhaustive list of all implementing conditions. The Parliament demanded that 50,000 tonnes of mackerel fillets should also be made available for free supply. The transparency of the programme's administration by the Russian authorities was also crucial. The Parliament welcomed the facility given to the Court of Auditors to intervene at any stage of the process to prevent fraud and felt that another key aspect was that Russia must not export produce of the same type or re-export the produce received. It was also stressed by the Rapporteur that the programme's execution is conditional upon compliance with the agreed criteria. Failure to respect these could lead to the programme's suspension. Implementing rules are still needed to define how and under what conditions some of the aid would be distributed freely and some of it sold on the market. He called for the Russian authorities to provide regular reports to the Commission and the Parliament on the programme's implementation.�