2008/739/EC: Commission Decision of 11 September 2008 concerning a financial contribution by the Community towards the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) for actions in the area of animal disease information
Date: 2008-09-11
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Caucasus countries, EU financing, Mediterranean third countries, Western Balkans, animal disease, animal health, information system, world organisation

18.9.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 249/19

COMMISSION DECISION

of 11 September 2008

concerning a financial contribution by the Community towards the World Organization for Animal
Health (OIE) for actions in the area of animal disease information

(2008/739/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

(4)

Having regard to the Treaty
Community,

establishing the European

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)

(2)

(3)

Pursuant to Decision 90/424/EEC, the Community may
undertake, or assist the Member States or international
organisations in undertaking, the technical and scientific
measures necessary for the development of Community
the development of
legislation and for
veterinary
veterinary education or training.

of

notification

Council Directive 82/894/EEC of 21 December 1982 on
the
the
animal
Community (2) lays down a system for the notification
of outbreaks of any of the diseases listed in Annex I
thereto (the Community system for the notification of
animal diseases).

diseases within

The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) is a
representative intergovernmental organisation responsible
for improving animal health worldwide. In the field of
disease information, OIE has the unique experience of
developing
the World Animal Health Information
Database (WAHID), an interface that provides for a
animal
comprehensive
diseases. WAHID is used by all OIE member countries,
including all Member States of the European Union.

information

range

on

of

(5)

(6)

(7)

the

Parliament,

the Council,

than cure’ (3)

The Communication from the Commission to the
European
European
Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of
the Regions on a new Animal Health Strategy for the
European Union (2007 to 2013) where ‘Prevention is
animal-related threat
identifies
better
prevention, surveillance and crisis preparedness as one
of
In
particular, that Communication underlines the fact that
the information generated by the veterinary monitoring,
and programmes
surveillance
provides crucial scientific evidence for the Community
institutions and governments to support decision on
disease prevention and control measures.

the new animal health strategy.

the pillars of

and control

activities

the adaptation of

the notification of

the
That Communication sets out
animal
Community system for
diseases as an expected outcome of
the new animal
health strategy. Another expected outcome set out in
that Communication is
existing
Community veterinary legislation, seeking convergence
to international standards, including OIE standards.

simplify

the

to

the notification of

For the development of Community veterinary legis­
lation, it is therefore appropriate to establish actions in
partnership with the OIE, with a view to aligning the
animal
Community system for
diseases with the WAHID, gathering epidemiological
information and in particular designing the data sets,
databases and protocols for exchange of data.
is
therefore appropriate to make a Community financial
contribution for the financing of the development of
the animal disease information system for the period
from 2008 to 2012 by the World Organisation for
Animal Health (OIE). The maximum amount of
that
contribution should be specified.

It

Gathering analysing and summarising information on
animal health in the Balkans, the Caucasus and the Medi­
terranean areas, especially as regards diseases which are
is of paramount importance for
spread across borders,
the Community,
in order to prevent threats to animal
health within its territory. That information is, however,
not readily available in all cases.

(1) OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 19.
(2) OJ L 378, 31.12.1982, p. 58.

(3) COM(2007) 539 final.

L 249/20

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

18.9.2008

(12)

The measures provided for
accordance with
Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,

in this Decision are in
Standing
the

opinion

the

of

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

in
A Community financial contribution, as provided for
Article 19 of Decision 90/424/EEC, is hereby awarded for the
financing of the development of the animal disease information
system for the period from 2008 to 2012 by the World Orga­
nisation for Animal Health (OIE), up to a maximum amount of
EUR 750 000.

Article 2

A Community financial contribution, as provided for
in
Article 19 of Decision 90/424/EEC, is hereby awarded for the
financing of the analysis of the animal health activities in the
Balkans, the Caucasus and the Mediterranean areas by OIE, for
the period from 2008 to 2012, up to a maximum amount of
EUR 250 000.

Article 3

The financial contributions provided for in Articles 1 and 2
shall be financed through the budget line 17 04 02 01 of
the budget of the European Communities for 2008.

Done at Brussels, 11 September 2008.

For the Commission

Androulla VASSILIOU
Member of the Commission

(8)

(9)

tool

for the Evaluation of
The OIE has developed a Tool
(OIE PVS Tool).
Performance of Veterinary Services
That
is designed to assist veterinary services of
countries which are members of OIE to establish their
current level of performance and to identify gaps and
weaknesses regarding their ability to comply with OIE
international
also
generates information on animal health in OIE member
countries. The Community should therefore analyse the
activities and information generated by that tool with
regard to the Balkans, the Caucasus and the Mediter­
ranean areas.

standards. The OIE

PVS Tool

is

the animal health activities

It
therefore appropriate to make a Community
financial contribution for the development and analysis
of
the
Caucasus and the Mediterranean areas by OIE. The
maximum amount of
contribution should be
that
specified.

in the Balkans,

(10) Article 168(1)(c)

of Commission Regulation (EC,
Euratom) No 2342/2002 of 23 December 2002 laying
down detailed rules for the implementation of Council
Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 on the financial
regulation applicable to the general budget of
the
European Communities (1) provides that grants may be
awarded without a call for proposals to bodies with a de
jure or de facto monopoly duly substantiated in the award
decision.

(11)

The OIE has a de facto monopoly in its sector, since its
creation through the international Agreement signed on
25 January 1924. The OIE is the intergovernmental
organisation responsible for improving animal health
worldwide and it is recognized as a reference organisa­
tion by the World Trade Organization (WTO). A call for
proposals is therefore not necessary for the financial
contributions awarded to that organisation, pursuant to
this Decision.

(1) OJ L 357, 31.12.2002, p. 1.