2003/745/EC: Commission Decision of 13 October 2003 concerning a Community financial contribution for the eradication of classical swine fever in Germany in 2002 (notified under document number C(2003) 3584)

Commission Decision
of 13 October 2003
concerning a Community financial contribution for the eradication of classical swine fever in Germany in 2002
(notified under document number C(2003) 3584)
(Only the German text is authentic)
(2003/745/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 5(3) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Outbreaks of classical swine fever occurred in Germany in 2002, representing a serious danger to the Community livestock population.
(2) With a view to helping to eradicate the disease as rapidly as possible, the Community may contribute financially to eligible expenditure borne 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 of 17 May 1999 on the financing of the common agricultural policy(3), veterinary and plant health measures undertaken 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 actually been carried out and that the authorities supply all the necessary information within the time limits laid down.
(5) On 19 June 2003, Germany submitted an official application for the reimbursement of all the expenditure incurred on its territory.
(6) Pending checks by the Commission, it is now necessary to set the amount of an advance on the Community financial assistance. This advance must be equal to 50 % of the Community contribution established on the basis of the costs presented (EUR 1675000) for compensation for the slaughter of pigs, limiting the amount of "other costs" to 10 % of the amount of this compensation for the time being.
(7) The terms "swift and adequate compensation of the livestock farmers" used in Article 3 of Decision 90/424/EEC, "reasonable payments" and "justified payments" and the categories of eligible expenditure under "other costs" associated with the compulsory slaughter must all be defined.
(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,