COMMISSION DECISION of 3 December 1998 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 1998 (notified under document number C(1998) 3788) (Only the French text is authentic) (98/717/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 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;
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 programme documents for the period 1994/99 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 1998 is hereby approved.
Article 2
The official programme shall consist of four sub-programmes:
1. a sub-programme drawn up for the department of Guadeloupe in three parts:
- evaluation structures, analysis and diagnostics of phytosanitary risks,
- control of main harmful organisms,
- control of scales;
2. a sub-programme drawn up for the department of Guyana in three parts:
- evaluation structures, analysis and diagnostics of phytosanitary risks,
- development of control methods for main harmful organisms,
- agricultural pest warning system for rice producers;
3. a sub-programme drawn up for the department of Réunion in three parts:
- evaluation structures, analysis and diagnostics of phytosanitary risks,
- development of control methods for main harmful organisms,
- applied research on harmful organisms;
4. a sub-programme drawn up for the department of Martinique in three parts:
- evaluation structures, analysis and diagnostics of phytosanitary risks,
- control of main harmful organisms,
- biological and integrated crop control.
Article 3
The Community's financial contribution to the programme in 1998 presented by France shall be 60 % of expenditure related to eligible measures as defined by Decision 93/522/EEC, with a maximum of ECU 750 000 (VAT excluded).
The Community shall reimburse expenditure up to the amount given in the first paragraph, at the accounting rate for the ecu on l September 1998, namely ECU 1 = FRF 6,611350.
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 l October and 31 December 1998. The final date for payments in connection with the operations shall be 30 September 1999; 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, 3 December 1998.