30.4.2004 EN Official Journal of the European Union 
 
 L 151/81
COMMISSION DECISION 
of 29 April 2004 
concerning the financial contribution by th e Community towards the OIE Conference on 
rabies in Europe and Central Asia in 2004 
(notified under document number C(2004) 1619) 
 
(2004/417/EC) 
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Decision 90/424/EEC of 26 June 1990 on expenditure in the veterinary 
field
1, and in particular Article 20 thereof, 
Whereas: (1) Under Decision 90/424/EEC the Community is to undertake or assist the Member States 
in undertaking the technical and scientific measures necessary for the development of 
Community veterinary legislation and for th e development of veterinary education or 
training. 
(2) The Office International des Epizooties (OIE) with the two Eu ropean OIE reference 
laboratories FCRV-Wusterhausen and AFSSA -Nancy have taken the initiative of 
organising a large scale Conferen ce on rabies in Europe and Central Asia. This Conference 
is to focus on new scientific developments in the field of rabies diagnostic, epidemiology 
and vaccine and practical aspects of the control of the disease. 
(3) The Community has for almost ten years made financial contributions towards 
programmes for the eradication of rabies in  infected Member States under Decision 
90/424/EEC. As a result of that measure the disease has been almost eradicated 
throughout the territory of the Community. Nevertheless programmes are still maintained 
in regions bordering certain Accedi ng States and third countries. 
(4) It was decided in 2003 to co-finance, wi thin the PHARE programme, rabies control 
programmes in Estonia, Hungary, Latvia , Lithuania, Poland and Slovenia. Those 
campaigns are to start in 2004 and will continue until 2006. 
                                                
 
1  OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 19. Decision as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 806/2003 (OJ L 122, 
16.5.2003, p. 1). 
 EN Official Journal of the European Union 30.4.2004 
 L 151/82 
 
(5) Programmes for the eradication of rabies in  the Czech Republic and in Slovakia for the 
year 2004 have been approved and granted fi nancial contributions from the Community 
under Commission Decision 2003/849/EC2. 
(6) Any action which could facilitate policy de cisions in favour of a promotion of rabies 
control in countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia should be encouraged. 
(7) A Conference on rabies control which coul d result in improvements in the strategies in 
force and in better informatio n for competent authorities in  Eastern Europe and Central 
Asia should make a useful contribution an d the Community should consequently support 
the organisation of that conference. 
(8) The publication and dissemination by the Co mmunity of technical and scientific materials 
related to the OIE conference on rabies in  Europe and Central Asia in December 2004 will 
contribute to the further development of Commu nity veterinary legislation and veterinary 
education or training. 
(9) The financial resources necessary for the Co mmunity contribution to the OIE Conference 
on rabies in December 2004 sh ould therefore be engaged. 
(10) This financial contribution from the Community should be granted subject to the 
conference actually being carried out as planned. 
(11) The measures provided for in this Decisi on are in accordance with the opinion of the 
Standing Committee on the Food  Chain and Animal Health. 
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: 
  Sole Article 
The action to publish and disseminate the techni cal and scientific materials related to the OIE 
conference on rabies in Europe and Central Asia  in December 2004, to be financed from budget 
line 17.04.02 of the budget of the European Union for 2004 to a maximum amount of EUR 50 
000 is hereby approved. 
Done at Brussels, 29 April 2004 
 For the Commission 
 David BYRNE 
 Member of the Commission 
  
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2 OJ L 322, 9.12.2003, 16.