ECTF food distribution for the CIS: the Dutch contribution
From its agricultural stocks, the EC supplied meat and butter worth 100 million ecu (the precursor to the euro) for Russian distribution centres and shops, free of charge. The food was sold at market price and the proceeds were put into a social fund for the less fortunate.
Supplies
It was up to European relief workers to distribute the supplies and to monitor observance of the EC regulations to ensure that the food did not find its way onto the black market. The relief workers performed their work as the European Community Task Force (ECTF), which was led by a Head of Delegation of the Commission in Moscow. This was a German major general, with a British colonel as his deputy, based in St Petersburg.
Dutch contribution
For the mission, the Netherlands supplied 5 civil servants and 4 military personnel from the Royal Netherlands Army, led by Lieutenant Colonel W. Voorhuijzen. The Dutch relief effort was headed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was directed from the embassy in Moscow.
Military personnel in shops
The Dutch military personnel did not do their work in uniform, but in civilian clothes. 2 were stationed in Moscow and the other 2 in St Petersburg. In cold storage and distribution centres, they checked whether the supply and distribution of the meat and the butter was proceeding correctly. In the shops, they looked to see whether the food products supplied by the EC were actually on the shelves and whether they were being sold for the correct price.