COMMISSION DECISION of 5 December 1997 on the Community financial contribution to a programme for the control of organisms harmful to plants and plant products in the French overseas departments for 1997 (Only the French text is authentic) (97/867/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 last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2598/95 (2), and in particular the first subparagraph of Article 11 (3) thereof,
Whereas 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;
Whereas specific growing conditions in the French overseas departments call for particular attention; whereas measures concerning crop production, in particular plant health measures, must be adopted or strengthened in those regions;
Whereas the plant health measures to be adopted or strengthened are particularly costly;
Whereas a programme of measures has been presented to the Commission by the competent French authorities; whereas the 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;
Whereas the Community's financial contribution may cover up to 60 % of eligible expenditure, protective measures for bananas being excluded;
Whereas the plant protection operations in the French overseas departments provided for in the single programming documents for the period 1994 to 1999 and financed from the Structural Funds cannot be the same as those contained in this programme;
Whereas 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;
Whereas the technical information provided by France has enabled the Standing Committee on Plant Health to analyse the situation accurately and comprehensively;
Whereas 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 1997 is hereby approved.
Article 2
The official programme shall consist of four subprogrammes:
1. a subprogramme drawn up for the department of Guadeloupe in two parts:
- structures for the evaluation, analysis and diagnosis of plant health risks,
- control of the principal harmful organisms;
2. a subprogramme drawn up for the department of French Guiana in three parts:
- structures for the evaluation, analysis and diagnosis of plant health risks,
- development of control methods for the principal harmful organisms,
- study and control of rice pests and diseases;
3. a subprogramme drawn up for the department of Réunion in three parts:
- structures for the evaluation, analysis and diagnosis of plant health risks,
- development of control methods for the principal harmful organisms,
- study of fruit and market garden crop pests and their auxiliaries (predators and parasitoids);
4. a subprogramme drawn up for the department of Martinique in three parts:
- structures for the evaluation, analysis and diagnosis of plant health risks,
- control of the principal harmful organisms,
- development of integrated pest control for market garden crops.
Article 3
The maximum Community financial contribution to the programme in 1997 shall be ECU 750 000 for expenditure related to eligible measures as defined by Commission Decision 93/522/EEC out of a total expenditure of ECU 1 326 374 (excluding VAT).
The financing plan for the programme, showing the costs and their financing, is set out in Annex I hereto. If the total eligible expenditure for 1997, as presented by France, is less than ECU 576 374, the Community contribution shall be reduced in proportion.
The Community shall reimburse expenditure up to the amount given in the first paragraph at the accounting rate for the ecu on 1 September 1997, namely ECU 1 = FF 6,634630.
Article 4
An advance of ECU 300 000 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 1997. The final date for payments in connection with the operations shall be 30 September 1998; unjustified delay shall entail loss of entitlement to Community financing.
Should an 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 are 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, 5 December 1997.