COMMISSION DECISION of 8  September 1995 on the Community's financial contribution to a programme for the control of  organisms harmful to plants and plant products in the Azores for 1995 (Only the Portuguese text is  authentic) (95/384/EC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1600/92 of 15 June 1992 introducing specific measures  in respect of certain agricultural products for the benefit of the Azores and Madeira  (1), as last  amended by the Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1974/93  (2), and in particular Article 33 (3)  thereof,
Whereas Commission Decision 93/522/EEC  (3) defines what measures are eligible for Community  financing as regards programmes for the control of organisms harmful to plants and plant products  in the French overseas departments, the Azores and Madeira;
Whereas agricultural production conditions in the Azores call for particular attention, and action  must be taken or reinforced as regards crop production, in particular the phytosanitary aspects for  this region;
Whereas action to be taken or reinforced on the phytosanitary side is particularly costly;
Whereas the programme of action has been presented to the Commission by the relevant Portuguese  authorities; whereas this programme specifies the objectives to be achieved, the measures to be  carried out, their duration and their cost so that the Community may contribute to financing them;
Whereas the Community's financial contribution may cover up to 75  % of eligible expenditure,  protective measures for bananas excluded;
Whereas the technical information provided by Portugal has enabled the Standing Committee on Plant  Health to analyse the situation accurately and comprehensively;
Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the  Standing Committee on Plant Health,
The Community's financial contribution to the official programme for  the control of organisms harmful to plants and plant products on the Azores presented for 1995 by  the relevant Portuguese authorities is hereby approved.
The official programme shall relate to the control of Popillia Japonica New on the  island of Terceira in order to avoid its spread to other parts of the Community and to  progressively tend to its total eradication on this island.
The Community contribution to financing the programme is limited to 75  % maximum  expenditure on eligible measures as defined by Decision 93/522/EEC, and is set for 1995 at ECU 650   000 out of total expenditure of ECU 866  667 (VAT excluded).
The schedule of programme costs and their financing is set out as Annex I to this Decision. If the  total eligible expenditure for 1995 presented by Portugal was less than the forecast amount of ECU  866  667, the Community's contribution would be reduced in proportion.
The Community will reimburse up to the amount specified in the first paragraph, at the financial  rate of the ecu on 1 June 1995, i.e. ECU 1 = Esc 196,159.
An advance of ECU 120  000 shall be paid to Portugal.
The Community assistance shall relate to the eligible measures associated with the  operations covered by the programme set up in Portugal by provisions for which the necessary  financial resources have been committed between 1 August and 31 December 1995. The final date for  payments in connection with the operations shall be 31 July 1996, and non-compliance without  justification of delay shall entail loss of entitlement to Community financing.
Specific provisions relating to the financing of the programme, provisions on  compliance with Community policies and the information to be provided by Portugal shall be set out  in Annex II.
Public contracts in connection with investments covered by this Decision must be  awarded in compliance with Community law, in particular the Directives coordinating procedures for  awarding public works and supply contracts, and Articles 30, 52 and 59 of the EC Treaty.
This Decision is addressed to the Portuguese Republic.