2003/676/EC: Commission Decision of 24 September 2003 on an additional financial contribution from the Community towards the costs of the eradication of foot-and-mouth disease in the United Kingdom in 2001 (notified under document number C(2003) 3325)

Commission Decision
of 24 September 2003
on an additional financial contribution from the Community towards the costs of the eradication of foot-and-mouth disease in the United Kingdom in 2001
(notified under document number C(2003) 3325)
(Only the English text is authentic)
(2003/676/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 Regulation (EC) No 806/2003(2), and in particular Article 3(3) and Article 11 thereof,
Whereas:
(1) As soon as the presence of foot-and-mouth disease was officially confirmed in 2001, the United Kingdom reported that it had immediately implemented control measures to be applied in the event of an outbreak of that disease as provided for in Directive 85/511/EEC of 18 November 1985 introducing Community measures for the control of foot-and-month disease(3), as last amended by Commission Decision 2003/11/EC(4), as required in order to obtain a financial contribution from the Community for the eradication of the disease in accordance with Decision 90/424/EEC.
(2) Foot-and-month disease represents a serious danger to Community stocks. Accordingly, in order to prevent the spread of that disease and contribute to its eradication, the Community should contribute to eligible expenditures incurred by the United Kingdom. Accordingly, it is appropriate that a financial contribution from the Community should be granted to the United Kingdom under the provisions of Decision 90/424/EEC in order to cover the costs related to the outbreak of foot-and-month disease in 2001.
(3) Under Commission Decisions 2001/654/EC(5) and 2003/23/EC(6), a Community financial contribution was granted towards the compensation of owners for value of animals compulsorily slaughtered under eradication measures relating to outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in 2001. A financial contribution from the Community should also be granted towards the operational costs associated with the slaughter of those animals and toward other costs directly linked to other eradication measures.
(4) Pursuant to Article 3(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1258/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the financing of the common agriculture policy(7), veterinary and plant health measures undertaken in accordance with Community rules are to be financed under the Guarantee Section of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund; Articles 8 and 9 of that Regulation are to apply for financial control purposes.
(5) The United Kingdom introduced on 27 February 2003 a claim for the reimbursement of other costs related to the eradication of foot-and-mouth disease in 2001. It was provided in computerised form in line with the format already established by Decision 2003/182/EC of 14 March 2003, on a financial contribution from the Community towards the operational costs of the eradication of foot-and-mouth disease in the Netherlands in 2001(8), and the two other Decisions adopted simultaneously for France and Ireland. Therefore, it is not necessary to request that the United Kingdom submits a further claim according to a certain format. However, in order to secure the equal treatment of the Member States, an opportunity should be given to the United Kingdom authorities to complete the claim of 27 February 2003 within 30 calendar days of the date of notification of this Decision.
(6) Having regard to the budgetary appropriations available in 2003 and having regard to the ongoing verification of the eligible expenditures, the financial contribution towards these costs should, on condition that credits are made available, be limited at this stage to an advance payment of EUR 40 million.
(7) The financial contribution from the Community should be granted subject to the measures planned having been carried out efficiently and the competent authorities supplying all the necessary information.
(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,