Food supply programme to the Russian Federation

OBJECTIVE: to establish a programme to supply agricultural products to the Russian Federation. COMMUNITY MEASURE: Council Regulation (EC) no. 2802/98 on a programme to supply agricultural projects to the Russian Federation. CONTENT: Following an urgent request for food from the Russian Federation, this Regulation seeks to supply Russia, free of charge, with quantities of cereals, rice, beef and skimmed milk powder from Community intervention stocks and with quantities of pigmeat bought on the open market, for a total amount of EUR 400 million under the 1998 budget (EAGGF-Guarantee Section). The food will be sent to the neediest regions of Russia. The quantities in question are as follows: 1 000 000 tonnes of common wheat of breadmaking quality, 500 000 tonnes of rye of breadmaking quality, 50 000 tonnes of milled rice, 150 000 tonnes of beef carcasses, 100 000 tonnes of pig carcasses, 50 000 tonnes of skimmed milk powder. The food supply (free of charge to the Russian authorities) will be staggered as determined in accordance with the Russian authorities. The terms and control of the execution of the programme will be the subject of a memorandum between the Community and Russia negotiated and concluded by the Commission. The terms include, in particular, sale of the products supplied on local markets and the allocation of the net proceeds of sales to social measures under the responsibility of the Russian authorities. Exceptionally, the products supplied may be distributed free to the neediest people. The memorandum also makes provision for assistance and cooperation by the Russian authorities in monitoring, auditing, control and evaluation activities to be carried out within Russian territory. The Commission will be responsible for the execution of the programme and may defer or suspend one or more instalments if it is not ensured that the operation is being carried out satisfactorily. In particular, it will take all necessary action to ensure that supply is effected at the stage planned and in accordance with the provisions of the memorandum between the Community and Russia. It may call on outside technical assistance, by means of open or restricted invitations to tender or private contracts, for monitoring, auditing, control and evaluation of the proper conduct of the operation, including on Russian territory. ENTRY INTO FORCE: 25 December 1998.�