Commission Decision
of 26 November 2002
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 2002
(notified under document number C(2002) 4541)
(Only the French text is authentic)
(2002/932/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(1), amending Directive 72/462/EEC and repealing Regulations (EEC) No 525/77 and (EEC) No 3763/91 (Poseidom), and in particular Article 20(3),
Having regard to the programmes 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), as last amended by the Commission Decision 96/633/EC(3) 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) 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.
(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(4) 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) In accordance with Article 3(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1258/1999(6), 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.
(9) The technical information provided by France has enabled the Standing Committee on Plant Health to analyse the situation accurately and comprehensively.
(10) 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 2002 is hereby approved.
Article 2
The official programme shall consist of four subprogrammes:
1. a subprogramme of pest risk analysis for harmful organisms relevant to the French overseas departments (Martinique, Guadeloupe, Guyana, La Réunion);
2. a subprogramme drawn up for the department of Martinique in two parts:
- plant health evaluation and diagnostics,
- information and discussion with interested parties to prevent the occurrence, introduction and spread of harmful organisms;
3. a subprogramme drawn up for the department of Guadeloupe in two parts:
- plant health evaluation and diagnostics,
- assistance to the control of harmful organisms;
4. a subprogramme drawn up for the department of Guyana in one part:
- plant health evaluation and diagnostics, good agricultural practices.
Article 3
The Community's financial contribution to the programme in 2002 presented by France shall be 60 % of expenditure related to eligible measures as defined by Decision 93/522/EEC, with a maximum of EUR 200000 (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 100000 shall be paid to France.
Article 5
1. 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 2002.
2. No payment in connection with the operations shall be entitled to Community financing if they are made by the French authorities after 30 September 2003.
3. By derogation from paragraph 2, Community financing shall be provided in respect of payments for which a duly justified request for an extension of the deadline for payment is submitted by the competent official authorities to the Commission before 30 September 2003.
Article 6
France shall ensure compliance with the provisions on the financing of the programme, with Community policies and the information to be supplied to the Commission 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, 26 November 2002.