Commission Decision
of 20 December 2000
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 2000
(notified under document number C(2000) 3993)
(Only the French text is authentic)
(2001/32/EC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 3763/91 of 16 December 1991 introducing specific measures in respect of certain agricultural products for the benefit of the French overseas departments(1), as amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999(2), and in particular the first subparagraph of Article 11(3) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Commission Decision 93/522/EEC(3), as last amended by Decision 96/633/EC(4), defines the measures eligible for Community financing under programmes for the control of organisms harmful to plants and plant products in the French overseas departments, the Azores and Madeira.
(2) Specific growing conditions in the French overseas departments call for particular attention. Measures concerning crop production, in particular plant health measures, must be adopted or strengthened in those regions.
(3) The plant health measures to be adopted or strengthened are particularly costly.
(4) 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.
(5) The Community's financial contribution may cover up to 60 % of eligible expenditure, protective measures for bananas being excluded.
(6) The plant protection operations in the French overseas departments provided for in the single programme documents for the period 2000 to 2006 in application of Council Regulations (EC) No 1257/1999 and (EC) No 1260/1999(5) cannot be the same as those contained in this programme.
(7) The operations provided for in the European Community framework programme for research and technological development cannot be the same as those contained in this programme.
(8) The technical information provided by France has enabled the Standing Committee on Plant Health to analyse the situation accurately and comprehensively.
(9) 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 departments presented by France for 2000 is hereby approved.
Article 2
The official programme shall consist of three subprogrammes:
1. a subprogramme drawn up for the department of Guadeloupe in five parts:
- experimental station,
- mobile phytosanitary advice service (labo vert),
- control of organisms harmful to plants, in particular Acromyrmex octospinosus,
- control of soil pathogens with biofertilisers on melons,
- residues of pesticides in fruits and vegetables;
2. a subprogramme drawn up for the department of French Guiana in three parts:
- diagnostics and good agriculture methods,
- waste collection and pesticide storage,
- development of biological control methods;
3. a subprogramme drawn up for the department of Martinique in two parts:
- plant health evaluation and diagnostics,
- development of integrated pest control.
Article 3
The Community's financial contribution to the programme in 2000 presented by France shall be 60 % of expenditure related to eligible measures as defined by Commission Decision 93/522/EEC, with a maximum of EUR 437772 (VAT excluded).
The schedule of programme costs and their financing is set out as Annex I to this Decision.
Article 4
An advance of EUR 200000 shall be paid to France.
Article 5
The Community assistance shall relate to expenditure on eligible measures associated with the operations covered by the programme for which provisions are adopted by France and for which the necessary financial resources are committed between 1 October and 31 December 2000. The final date for payments in connection with the operations shall be 30 September 2001; unjustified delay shall entail loss of entitlement to Community financing.
Should any extension of the deadline for payment become necessary, the competent official authorities shall submit a request along with the necessary justification, before the final date laid down.
Article 6
Provisions on the financing of the programme, compliance with Community policies and the information to be supplied to the Commission by France shall be as set out in Annex II.
Article 7
Any public contracts connected with investments covered by this Decision shall be subject to Community law.
Article 8
This Decision is addressed to the French Republic.
Done at Brussels, 20 December 2000.