Milk and milk products: distribution of milk in schools

In adopting the report, under consultation procedure, drafted by Mr. Albert Jan MAAT (EPP/ED, Neth), the European Parliament approves the proposal for a Council regulation amending Regulation 1255/1999/EC on the common organisation of the market in milk and milk products. However, this report was subject to amendments which relate to: - the growing financial responsibility of Member States, differing eating habits in the various regions of the EU, and observance of the subsidiarity principle demand greater flexibility in relation to the milk products covered by the scheme; - consideration which should be given to the possibility of devising a method of linking aid to the wholesale price of the milk product concerned; - the possibility of linking the Community's contribution to milk products to other components than fat should be utilised; - the Community's contribution which should be based on the consumption per pupil which would provide the desirable simplification of the programme. Furthermore, aid shall also be granted for supplying to pupils in educational establishments certain processed milk including drinking yoghurt (0403 90 91) and (2202 90 95) milk based beverage. The Commission shall ensure that the products eligible within the scheme are made available to schoolchildren in the Member States. In addition, in the case of wholemilk, the Community's contribution to financing the aid has been amended, therefore this shall now be equal to 75% of the target price. In conclusion, in addition to Community aid, Member States may grant national aid for supplying the products specified in paragraph 1 to pupils in educational establishments.�