2002/953/EC: Commission Decision of 5 December 2002 on a Community financial contribution to emergency measures to control foot-and-mouth disease in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia and amending Decision 2001/300/EC (notified under document number C(2002) 4806)

Commission Decision
of 5 December 2002
on a Community financial contribution to emergency measures to control foot-and-mouth disease in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia and amending Decision 2001/300/EC
(notified under document number C(2002) 4806)
(2002/953/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 Articles 12 and 13 thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Foot-and-mouth disease, due to types A, O and ASIA 1, is endemic in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia and bordering countries. The presence of different types and subtypes of the foot-and-mouth disease virus and the emergence of new antigenically distinct viruses in that area constitute a threat to the Community and jeopardise the Community-supported efforts of Turkey to control the disease.
(2) The Community, in close cooperation with the European Commission for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (EUFMD) and the Office international des ĂŠpizooties (OIE), supported campaigns of emergency vaccination against foot-and-mouth disease in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia in 1999 and 2000 by the use of Trust Fund 911100/MTF/INT/003/EEC. This support was discontinued due to shortcomings identified during a joint mission in these countries by experts from the Commission and the EUFMD in 2000.
(3) In early 2002 representatives of the Commission, the EUFMD, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the OIE, together with the chief veterinary officers of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia elaborated a programme for the establishment of a vaccination belt along the southern borders of those countries in order to enhance the protection of Turkey from the incursion of the foot-and-mouth disease.
(4) With a view to preventing the spread of foot-and-mouth disease, the Community should contribute to emergency measures to control that disease in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.
(5) The amount provided for in Commission Decision 2001/300/EC 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(3), and the Implementing Agreement concluded in accordance with that Decision, is insufficient to cover the expenses provided for by this Decision. The total Community contribution to Trust Fund 911100/MTF/INT/003/EEC should therefore be increased by the amount necessary to carry out the joint EC/EUFMD/OIE programme for the control of foot-and-mouth disease in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.
(6) The Implementing Agreement concluded between the European Commission and the FAO should be amended to take into account the amendments made to Decision 2001/300/EC.
(7) Decision 2001/300/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.
(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,