Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION amending Decision 90/424/EEC on expenditure in the veterinary field

(presented by the Commission)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

Council Decision 90/424/EEC on expenditure in the veterinary field [1] lays down the procedure governing the Community's financial contribution towards specific veterinary measures and programmes for the eradication and monitoring of animal diseases. The specific veterinary measures include emergency measures for a number of animal diseases of importance for international trade such as African swine fever, classical swine fever, swine vesicular disease, bluetongue, African horse sickness, Avian influenza, Newcastle disease and others; the campaign against foot-and mouth disease; measures for the protection of animals, contribution to national schemes for the eradication of certain diseases and technical and scientific measures.

[1] OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 19.

Council Regulation (EC) No. 1258/1999 on the financing of the Common Agricultural Policy [2] stipulates that from 1 January 2000 the actions defined in Council Decision 90/424/EEC shall be financed by the Guarantee Section of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) in order to achieve the objectives set out in Article 33(1) of the Treaty.

[2] OJ L 160, 26.6.1999, p. 103.

However, the disparate nature of veterinary expenditures makes its management incompatible with the mechanisms relating to the paying agencies of the EAGGF Guarantee section, without prejudice to the EAGGF Guarantee section others rules.

The purpose of this Decision is to amend Decision 90/424/EEC and clearly indicate the arrangements to be applied as regards the management of expenditure in the veterinary field. This means using the Regulatory Committee Procedure as well as continuing to apply the system of direct management by the Commission of the Community's financial contribution to veterinary measures.

This proposal has no financial impact for the Community budget.

2000/0234 (CNS)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

amending Decision 90/424/EEC on expenditure in the veterinary field

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty instituting the European Community and in particular Article 37 thereof,

Having regard to the Commission proposal [3],

[3] OJ C

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament [4],

[4] OJ C

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee [5],

[5] OJ C

Whereas:

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 1258/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the financing of the common agricultural policy [6] provides that the specific veterinary actions defined in Council Decision 90/424/EEC [7] would be financed as from 1 January 2000 by the Guarantee Section of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) in order to achieve the objectives set out in Article 33(1) of the Treaty.

[6] OJ L 160, 26.6.1999, p. 103.

[7] OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 19; Decision as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1258/1999.

(2) It is appropriate to specify what arrangement is to be applied to the management by the Community on the expenditure in question.

(3) It is appropriate that the Commission should manage this expenditure directly, in view of its nature.

(4) Decision 90/424/EEC should therefore be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The following Article 40a is inserted in Decision 90/424/EEC:

"Article 40a

Expenditure subject to funding under the terms of this Decision is managed directly in accordance with the second paragraph of Article 98 of the Financial Regulation of 21 December 1977*.

______________

* OJ L 356, 31.12.1977, p. 1."

Article 2

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels,

For the Council

The President