COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION

of 15 February 2019

on the financing and the adoption of the work programme for 2019 and 2020 for the implementation of emergency measures to combat certain animal diseases and plant pests

(2019/C 66/10)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 July 2018 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union (‘the Financial Regulation’ or ‘FR’), amending Regulations (EU) No 1296/2013, (EU) No 1301/2013, (EU) No 1303/2013, (EU) No 1304/2013, (EU) No 1309/2013, (EU) No 1316/2013, (EU) No 223/2014, (EU) No 283/2014, and Decision No 541/2014/EU and repealing Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 (1), and in particular Article 110 thereof,

Having regard to Regulation (EU) No 652/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 laying down provisions for the management of expenditure relating to the food chain, animal health and animal welfare, and relating to plant health and plant reproductive material, amending Council Directives 98/56/EC, 2000/29/EC and 2008/90/EC, Regulations (EC) No 178/2002, (EC) No 882/2004 and (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Directive 2009/128/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Council Decisions 66/399/EEC, 76/894/EEC and 2009/470/EC (2), and in particular Article 36(4) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) In order to ensure the implementation of emergency measures to combat certain animal diseases and plant pests, it is necessary to adopt a multiannual financing decision, which constitutes the multiannual work programme, for years 2019 and 2020. Article 110 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046 (‘the Financial Regulation’) establishes detailed rules on financing decisions.

(2) It is appropriate to authorise the award of grants without a call for proposals and to provide for the conditions for awarding those grants.

(3) It is necessary to allow for the payment of interest due for late payment on the basis of Article 116(5) of the Financial Regulation.

(4) In order to allow for flexibility in the implementation of the work programme, it is appropriate to allow changes which should not be considered substantial fur the purposes of Article 110(5) of the Financial Regulation.

(5) Article 6 of Regulation (EU) No 652/2014 provides that grants may be awarded to Member States up to the maximum rates set in Article 5(1) to (3) of that Regulation in respect of the measures taken as a result of the confirmation that one of the animal diseases listed pursuant to Article 7 of that Regulation has occurred, provided that the measures have been applied immediately and the applicable provisions laid down in the relevant Union law have been complied with. Grants may also be awarded to Member States, third countries or international organisations in respect of protection measures taken in the case of a direct threat to the health status of the Union as a result of the occurrence or development, in the territory of a third country or a Member State, of one of the animal diseases and zoonoses listed pursuant to Articles 7 or 10 of that Regulation.

(6) Article 16 of Regulation (EU) No 652/2014 provides that grants may be awarded to Member States or international organisations up to the maximum rates set in Article 5(1) to (3) of that Regulation for measures to eradicate, contain and protect against the spread of a plant pest, subject to the conditions laid down in Article 17 of that Regulation.

(7) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1 The work programme The multiannual financing decision, constituting the multiannual work programme for the implementation of the emergency measures to combat certain animal diseases and plant pests for years 2019 and 2020, as set out in the Annex, is adopted.

Article 2 Union contribution The maximum Union contribution for the implementation of the programme for the year 2019 of budget implementation is set at EUR 50 000 000 and for the year 2020 of budget implementation at EUR 20 000 000 and shall be financed from the appropriations entered in the following lines of the general budget of the Union: (a) for 2019; budget line 17 04 04: EUR 50 000 000; (b) for 2020, budget line 17 04 04; EUR 20 000 000. The appropriations provided for in the first paragraph may also cover interest due for late payment. The implementation of this Decision is subject to the availability of the appropriations provided for in the general budget of the Union for year 2020 following the adoption of that budget by the budget authority. The financial contribution by the Union shall be at a rate of 50 %, 75 %, or 100 %, individually set for each beneficiary, in accordance with Article 5 of Regulation (EU) No 652/2014.

Article 3 Flexibility clause Cumulated changes to the allocations to specific actions not exceeding 20 % of the yearly maximum Union contribution set in the first paragrpah of Article 2 of this Decision shall not be considered to be substantial for the purposes of Article 110(5) of the Financial Regulation, where those changes do not significantly affect the nature of the actions and the objective of the work programme. The authorising officer responsible may apply the changes referred to in the first paragraph. Those changes shall be applied in accordance with the principles of sound financial management and proportionality.

Article 4 Grants Grants may be awarded without a call for proposals in accordance with the conditions set out in the Annex. Grants may be awarded to the bodies referred to in the Annex selected in accordance with point 2.1 of the Annex.

Done at Brussels, 15 February 2019. For the Commission Vytenis ANDRIUKAITIS Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 193, 30.7.2018, p. 1.

(2) OJ L 189, 27.6.2014, p. 1.