2001/300/EC: Commission Decision of 30 March 2001 on Community cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organisation with particular regard to activities carried out by the European Commission for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (notified under document number C(2001) 984)
Date: 2001-03-30
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Community body, FAO, co-financing, cooperation policy, financing plan, foot-and-mouth disease

12.4.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 102/71

COMMISSION DECISION

of 30 March 2001

on Community cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organisation with particular regard to
activities carried out by the European Commission for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease

(notified under document number C(2001) 984)

(2001/300/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

(4)

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), as last amended
by Regulation (EC) No 1258/1999 (2), and in particular Articles
12 and 13 thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

In the context of major epidemics of foot-and-mouth
disease (FMD)
in the late 1950s both within the
Community and in neighbouring countries, the Euro-
pean Commission for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth
Disease (EUFMD) was founded within the framework of
the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the
United Nations Organisation.

fund

In the 1960s, due to increased threats from introduction
of exotic strains of FMD into Europe, the member coun-
tries of the EUFMD were called ot establish a trust fund
aimed at emergency measures to be carried out in the
Balkans, the main entrance route of the disease. Later
that
Fund
divided
911100/MTF/INT/003/EEC supported by those member
countries that were at the same time Member States of
the Community and Trust Fund 90970/MTF/004/MUL
supported by member countries of EUFMD which at
that time were not or are not Member States of the
Community.

Trust

into

was

The last Community contribution to the Trust Fund
911100/MTF/INT/003/EEC was made on the occasion
of FMD outbreaks in the Balkans in 1996, in accordance
with Commission Decision 96/368/EC of 14 June 1996
on a Community financial contribution to measures to
control
and
Commission Decision 96/439/EC of 18 July 1996 on a
Community financial
to
control foot-and-mouth disease in the former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia (4).

contribution to measures

foot-and-mouth disease

in Albania (3)

(1) OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 19.
(2) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999, p. 103.
(3) OJ L 145, 19.6.1996, p. 19.
(4) OJ L 181, 20.7.1996, p. 37.

In accordance with Council Directive 85/511/EEC of 18
November 1985 on control measures for foot-and-
mouth diesease (5), as last amended by the Act of Acces-
sion of Austria, Finland and Sweden, vaccination against
FMD ceased throughout the Community in 1991. The
most recent outbreaks of FMD were reported in 2000 in
Greece due to introduction from a neighbouring country
and in 2001 in the United Kingdom.

However in countries adjacent to the Member States
outbreaks and in some cases severe epidemics have been
recorded during the last years which are liable to
threaten the health status of Community susceptible
livestock mainly due to movement of persons and
livestock and livestock
goods, excluding imports of
products which are prohibited, and means of transports
between Member States and neighbouring countries.

deterioration

In the light of the emergence of new virus topotypes and
regional
the
of
Community, in close cooperation with the EUFMD and
by using the Trust Fund 911100/MTF/INT/003/EEC,
supported emergency vaccination campaigns in Turkey
in 1998 and in Transcaucasia in 1999 and 2000.

control measures,

Since its establishment, Trust Fund 911100/MTF/INT/
003/EEC has been operated on a case-by-case basis in
agreement between the Commission and EUFMD by
Exchange of Letters of agreement to measures proposed
by the EUFMD.

On 25 February 2000 a meeting of a group of experts at
FAO headquarters reviewed the procedures for operating
Trust Fund 911100/MTF/INT/003/EEC with regard to
expenses incurred due to implementation of agreed FMD
control programmes in member countries of the EUFMD
or neighbouring countries.

Following evaluation, the group of experts from the
Commission and the FAO found the FAO rules and
procedures for the operation of such funds equivalent to
those applicable in Community institutions.

(5)

(6)

(7)

(8)

(9)

(5) OJ L 315, 26.11.1985, p. 11.

L 102/72

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

12.4.2001

(10)

(11)

The group of experts recommended revision of the rules
and procedures for the operation of the Trust Fund
911100/MTF/INT/003/EEC in order
to lay down a
formalised agreement on the operation of that Trust
Fund. The rules should follow the example of
the
cooperation programme on food security and its imple-
menting agreement concluded between the Community
and the FAO in 2000, which is considered a starting
point to a more programmatic approach and formalised
procedure in this traditional cooperation between the
Community and the FAO.

It appears appropriate to fix the Community contribu-
tion to the Trust Fund 911100/MTF/INT/003/EEC at a
maximum level of EUR 1,8 million for a period of four
years. The budget of the Trust Fund for 2001 should be
made up of the balance of its funds on 30 September
2000 and a Community contribution to bring the
amount to USD 1 million. Subsequently expenditure
should be replenished by annual transfers.

(12)

The measures provided for in this Decision are in
accordance with the opinion of the Standing Veterinary
Committee,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The balance of Trust Fund 911100/MTF/INT/003/EEC
1.
(TFEU 970089129) at 30 September 2000 shall be struck at
USD 226 404 as laid down in the final report of the 65th
session of the Executive Committee of the European Commis-
sion for the Control of Foot and Mouth Disease (EUFMD).

2.
As from 1 January 2001 the financial obligation of the
Community to the fund referred to in paragraph 1 shall be set
at a maximum of EUR 1 800 000 for a period of four years.

The first instalment of the amount referred to in para-

3.
graph 2 for the year 2001 shall be made up of:

(a) the balance referred to in paragraph 1, and

(b) a Community contribution of the amount necessary to

bring the total to USD 1 000 000.

Expenditure incurred by the Trust Fund during the years
4.
2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 shall be replenished by annual
Community contributions payable in 2002, 2003, 2004 and
2005 respectively. However, these transfers shall be subject to
the existence of available funds in the budget of the Commis-
sion.

5.
The annual Community contributions referred to in para-
graph 4 shall be based on the financial report produced by the
EUFMD to either
the Executive
Committee or the biannual general session of the EUFMD,
supported by detailed documentation in accordance with the
rules of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

the annual

session of

Article 2

1.
An implementing agreement on the use and operation of
the Trust Fund 911100/MTF/INT/003/EEC (TFEU 970089129)
shall be concluded between the European Commission and the
the United Nations
Food and Agriculture Organisation of
Organisation for the period of four years, starting on 1 January
2001.

2.
The Trust Fund referred to in Article 1 shall be operated
in agreement between the Commission and the EUFMD in
accordance with the implementing agreement referred to in
paragraph 1 of this Article.

3.
The Director-General for Health and Consumer Protec-
tion shall be authorised to sign the implementing agreement
referred to in paragraph 1 on behalf of the European Commis-
sion.

Article 3

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 30 March 2001.

For the Commission

David BYRNE

Member of the Commission