2002/764/EC: Commission Decision of 25 September 2002 on financial aid from the Community towards the eradication of bluetongue in France in 2000 (notified under document number C(2002) 3536)

Commission Decision
of 25 September 2002
on financial aid from the Community towards the eradication of bluetongue in France in 2000
(notified under document number C(2002) 3536)
(Only the French text is authentic)
(2002/764/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), as last amended by Decision 2001/572/EC(2), and in particular Article 3(3) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) On 27 October 2000, France confirmed to the Commission that there had been outbreaks of bluetongue on sheep holdings in Corsica. The emergence of this disease poses a serious threat to Community livestock.
(2) In order to help eradicate the disease as rapidly as possible, the Community may contribute to the eligible expenditure incurred by the Member State, as provided for in Decision 90/424/EEC.
(3) Pursuant to Article 3(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1258/1999(3), veterinary and plant health measures taken in accordance with Community rules shall be financed under the "Guarantee" Section of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund. The auditing of these measures comes under Articles 8 and 9 of the said Regulation.
(4) The payment of the financial contribution from the Community must be subject to the condition that the actions planned have been efficiently carried out and that the authorities supply all the necessary information within the time limits laid down.
(5) On 13 June 2001, France submitted an official application for reimbursement of all expenditure incurred within the country up to the end of 2000.
(6) Pending checks by the Commission, it is necessary to arrange an advance on the Community financial aid. This advance has been calculated at 50 % of the Community contribution based on the costs submitted for compensation for animal prices and temporarily limiting the "other costs" to 10 % of the amount of this compensation.
(7) It is necessary to clarify the concepts of "swift and adequate compensation of the livestock farmers" and "destruction, cleaning, disinfection and disinsectisation costs" used in Article 3 of Decision 90/424/EEC.
(8) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,