COMMISSION DECISION
of 7 February 2006
on the Community’s financial contribution to a programme for the control of organisms harmful to plants and plant products in the French overseas departments for 2006
(notified under document number C(2006) 250)
(Only the French text is authentic)
(2006/102/EC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1452/2001 of 28 June 2001 introducing specific measures for certain agricultural products for the French overseas departments, amending Directive 72/462/EEC and repealing Regulations (EEC) No 525/77 and (EEC) No 3763/91 (Poseidom) (1), and in particular Article 20(3),
Having regard to the programme submitted by France for the control of organisms harmful to plants or plant products in the French overseas departments,
Whereas:
(1)
Commission Decision 93/522/EEC of 30 September 1993 on the definition of the measures eligible for Community financing in the programmes for the control of organisms harmful to plants or plant products in the French overseas departments, in the Azores and in Madeira (2).
(2)
Specific growing conditions in the French overseas departments call for particular attention and measures concerning crop production, in particular plant health measures, must be adopted or strengthened in those regions. The plant health measures to be adopted or strengthened are particularly costly.
(3)
A programme of measures has been presented to the Commission by the competent French authorities; this programme specifies the objectives to be achieved, the operations to be carried out, their duration and their cost with a view to a possible Community financial contribution.
(4)
According to Article 20(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1452/2001 the Community's financial contribution may cover up to 60 % of eligible expenditure, protective measures for bananas being excluded.
(5)
In accordance with Article 3(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1258/1999 (3), veterinary and plant health measures undertaken in accordance with Community rules shall be financed under the Guarantee section of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund. Financial control of these measures comes under Articles 8 and 9 of the above Regulation.
(6)
The technical information provided by France has enabled the Standing Committee on Plant Health to analyse the situation accurately and comprehensively.
(7)
The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plant Health,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
A Community financial contribution to the official programme for the control of organisms harmful to plants and plant products in the French overseas for 2006 is hereby approved.
Article 2
The Community’s financial contribution to the programme in 2006 shall be 60 % of expenditure related to eligible measures as defined by Decision 93/522/EEC, with a maximum of EUR 249 600 (VAT excluded).
The programme, the schedule of its costs and their financing is set out as Annex I to this Decision.
The breakdown of costs is set out as Annex II to this Decision.
Article 3
An advance of EUR 100 000 shall be paid within 60 days after reception of a request of payment by France.
Article 4
1. The eligibility period for the costs related to this project shall start on 1 January 2006 and end on 31 December 2006.
2. The period may exceptionally be extended only with the express written agreement of the Monitoring Committee as referred to in point I.I of Annex III before the tasks have been completed.
Article 5
The financial contribution by the Community shall be granted provided that the implementation of the programme shall be in conformity with the relevant provisions of Community law, including rules of competition and on the award of public contracts, and that no other Community contribution for these measures was or will be asked for.
Article 6
1. The actual expenditure incurred shall be notified to the Commission broken down by type of action or subprogramme in a way demonstrating the link between the indicative financial plan and expenditure actually incurred. Such notifications may be in electronic form.
2. The balance of the financial contribution referred to in Article 3 shall be paid provided that the document specified in the second paragraph of point I.II.4 of Annex III shall be submitted before 15 March 2007.
3. The Commission may, on duly justified request of the French Republic, adjust the financing plans within a limit of 15 % of the Community contribution to a subprogramme or measure for the entire period, provided that the total amount of eligible costs scheduled in the programme is not exceeded and that the main objectives of the programme are not thereby compromised.
4. All payments of aid granted by the Community under this Decision shall be made to the French Republic, which will also be responsible for repayment to the Community of any excess amount.
Article 7
The French Republic shall ensure compliance with the information to be supplied to the Commission set out in Annex III.
Article 8
This Decision is addressed to the French Republic.
Done at Brussels, 7 February 2006.