COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION
of 27 June 2012
concerning a financial contribution by the Union to Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom for studies on Schmallenberg virus
(notified under document C(2012) 4203)
(Only the Dutch, English, French, German, Italian and Spanish texts are authentic)
(2012/349/EU)
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Council Decision 2009/470/EC of 25 May 2009 on expenditure in the veterinary field (1), and in particular Article 23 thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
In accordance with Article 75 of the Financial Regulation and Article 90(1) of the Implementing Rules, the commitment of expenditure from the budget of the European Union shall be preceded by a financing decision setting out the essential elements of the action involving expenditure and adopted by the institution or the authorities to which powers have been delegated by the institution.
(2)
Schmallenberg virus is an emerging contagious pathogen of ruminants putatively included in the Simbu serogroup of the Bunyaviridae family, genus Orthobunyavirus. Very little information is known on this emerging pathogen, most assumptions are extrapolated from scientific information available on other viruses of the Simbu serogroup.
(3)
Only some Orthobunyavirus had been isolated in the Union (Tahyna virus from the California serogroup) but never from the Simbu serogroup. Schmallenberg virus was first detected in November 2011 in Germany in samples collected in the summer and autumn 2011 from diseased animals. In December 2011, congenital malformations were reported in newborn lambs in the Netherlands, linked to the presence of the virus. Subsequently up to March 2012, Belgium, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Luxembourg, Italy and Spain have reported stillbirth and congenital malformations. Schmallenberg virus presence was confirmed through the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests.
(4)
As this is the first time that this virus is isolated in the Union, there are no harmonised rules as regards control or notification of Schmallenberg virus.
(5)
No efficient diagnostic tools are available to assess the actual spread of Schmallenberg virus and its impact on animal health.
(6)
Several trading partners have taken temporary protective measures including trade restrictions and requested for additional guarantees for certain commodities awaiting for further scientific knowledge before resuming trade.
(7)
On 23 January 2012, the Agriculture Council requested the Commission to take actions with respect to this emerging disease.
(8)
In a meeting organised on 14 February 2012, the Commission in close collaboration with the Member States identified the priorities and areas for which additional information should be gathered prior to considering the development of veterinary legislation addressing this new infection. These are in particular, the mechanism by which the disease is caused (pathogenesis), the epidemiology, notably focusing on transmission pathways, the host range, the role of vectors and reservoirs; and the confirmation of the non-zoonotic potential of this virus and the methods to diagnose the disease in animal samples and their validation.
(9)
Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom have drawn up scientific studies intended to gain knowledge on Schmallenberg virus in the areas identified above and submitted them to the Commission on 5 March 2012, requesting EU financial support.
(10)
Some of the scientific studies have been presented by several Member States in the form of a consortium, in these cases and for the purpose of clarity, one of the partners has been identified as coordinator of the consortium and responsible for communication with the Commission and transmission of technical reports.
(11)
Pursuant to Article 22 of Decision 2009/470/EC, the Union may undertake, or assist the Member States or international organisations in undertaking, the technical and scientific measures necessary for the development of EU veterinary legislation and for the development of veterinary education or training.
(12)
A financial contribution should be granted to the studies on Schmallenberg virus implemented by Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom as the outcomes may lead to new insights on the subject mentioned above.
(13)
The Commission has evaluated all the proposals and selected those that matched with the agreed priorities. Considering the resources needed to develop the studies and the need to start as soon as possible the activities in order to get the results, it is appropriate to start financing them as from 1 April 2012.
(14)
Under Council Regulation (EC) No 1290/2005 of 21 June 2005 on the financing of the common agricultural policy (2), veterinary measures are to be financed under the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund. For financial control purposes, Articles 9, 36 and 37 of that Regulation are to apply.
(15)
The payment of the financial contribution shall be subject to the condition that the studies planned have actually been carried out and that the authorities supply all the necessary information to the Commission.
(16)
The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
1. The Union shall grant Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom financial assistance for their scientific studies on Schmallenberg virus, as summarised in Annex I. The present decision constitutes a financing decision in the meaning of Article 75 of the Financial Regulation.
2. The financial contribution by the Union
(a)
shall be at the rate of 50 % of the eligible costs to be incurred by each Member State referred to in paragraph 1 for the studies listed in Annex I and in accordance with the budgets listed in Annex II, for the period 1 April 2012 to 31 December 2013;
(b)
shall not exceed the following:
(i)
EUR 438 615 for Belgium;
(ii)
EUR 595 883 for Germany;
(iii)
EUR 146 590 for Spain;
(iv)
EUR 589 380 for France;
(v)
EUR 124 120 for Italy;
(vi)
EUR 639 342 for the Netherlands;
(vii)
EUR 371 811 for the United Kingdom;
(c)
Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, or in cases when the scientific studies are carried out by more than one Member State in a consortium, the coordinator Member State as listed in Annex I, shall submit to the Commission:
-
no later than 31 March 2013 an intermediate technical report per project,
-
no later than 31 March 2014 a final technical report per project;
(d)
Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom shall submit to the Commission:
-
no later than 31 March 2014 a paper version and an electronic version of their financial report drawn up in accordance with Annex IV. The supporting documents, evidencing all the expenditure referred to in the application for reimbursement, shall be sent to the Commission on request;
(e)
the outcome of the studies must be made available to the Commission, all Member States and EFSA and presented at the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health.
Article 2
1. The maximum overall contribution authorised by this Decision for the costs incurred for the work referred to in Article 1(1) is set at EUR 2 905 741 to be financed from the following budgetary line of the general budget of the European Union for 2012:
-
budgetary line No 17 04 02 01.
2. Expenditure relating to staff dedicated to the projects, consumables, animal studies, travel costs linked to meetings and overheads shall be eligible within the limits set out in Article 1 and in accordance with the eligibility rules set out in Annex III.
3. The Union’s financial assistance shall be paid following presentation and approval of the reports and supporting documents referred to Article 1(2)(c) and (d).
Article 3
This Decision is addressed to the Kingdom of Belgium, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Kingdom of Spain, the French Republic, the Italian Republic, the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Done at Brussels, 27 June 2012.