COMMISSION DECISION of 3 September 1993 fixing the Community financial contribution to the implementation of a third programme for the exchange of officials competent for veterinary matters
(93/511/EEC)THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,
Having regard to Council Decision 90/424/EEC of 26 June 1990 on expenditure in the veterinary field (1), as last amended by Commission Decision 93/439/EEC (2), and in particular Article 34 thereof,
Whereas, as part of the new strategy on veterinary checks, it is important to set up programmes for the exchange of officials competent for veterinary matters in order to ensure growing confidence between veterinary services;
Whereas Article 22 of Council Directive 90/675/EEC of 10 December 1990 laying down the principles governing the organization of veterinary checks on products entering the Community from third countries (3), as last amended by Directive 92/118/EEC (4),  and Article 21 of Council Directive 91/496/EEC of 15 July 1991 laying down the principles governing the organization of veterinary checks on animals entering the Community from third countries and amending Directives 89/662/EEC, 90/425/EEC and  90/675/EEC (5), as last amended by Decision 92/438/EEC (6), provide, in particular, for the organization of programmes for the exchange of officials empowered to carry out checks on products and live animals coming from third countries;
Whereas the results and the experience gained from the implementation of the first exchange programme under Commission Decision 91/280/EEC (7) and of a second exchange programme under Commission Decision 93/88/EEC (8) should be taken into account;
Whereas the Community financial contribution should be laid down so as to facilitate the implementation of this third programme;
Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Veterinary Committee,
The programme for the exchange of officials competent for veterinary matters set out in the Annex shall receive a financial contribution from the Community.
1. Member States shall designate the authorities responsible for the exchange programme.
2. The Member States of origin shall:
- continue to pay their officials during the exchange programme,
- cover the subsistence expenses of their officials according to their national rules; the Member States shall ensure that the subsistence expenses of their officials take account of the situation in the host Member State,
- in accordance with their national rules, cover the travel expenses of their officials, equal to one return trip from place of origin to destination, as well as the travel expenses in the host Member State between the place where the provision of the  information referred to in the second indent of paragraph 3 takes place and the first inspection post to which they are assigned and between the latter and the second inspection post to which they are assigned,
- provide, where appropriate, suitable language training for their officials,
- inform their officials, prior to departure, of the financial conditions as well as the nature and organization of their exchange programme.
3. The host Member States shall:
- adopt the necessary measures to ensure the integration of the guest officials,
- provide information on general organization and inspection procedures for the guest officials, taking account of both national and Community rules.
1. The Community contribution shall cover the expenditure of the Member States of origin referred to in the second and third indents of Article 2 (2). It shall also cover the expenditure of the Member States of origin under the fourth indent  of Article 2 (2), up to a maximum of ECU 1 000 per official receiving language training.
2. Member States may receive an advance payment equal to 50 % of the Community's financial contribution, provided that they present to the Commission, before 1 October 1993, a written confirmation issued by the competent authority referred to in Article  2 (1) showing that the expenditure provided for in Article 2 has been committed in accordance with national regulations.
1. The expenditure referred to in Article 3 (1) shall be reimbursed to the Member States by the Commission on presentation of supporting documents before 15 February 1994.
2. The supporting documents referred to in paragraph 1 shall include, in particular:
- the particulars of the exchange official,
- a written confirmation issued by the host Member State,
- a statement of the invoices relating to expenses incurred by the Member State of origin,
- a copy of the national rules in the Member State of origin with regard to the expenditure provided for in respect of the exchange programme,
- for the costs of language training, a statement of the invoices relating to expenses incurred by the Member State of origin.
These expense invoices may be required by the Commission at any future audit.
1. The Commission shall draw up a technical and financial report before 31 March 1994 based on the reports submitted before 15 February 1994 by the authorities responsible for coordination in the Member States. Those reports shall include a  section devoted to the comments of the officials who have participated in the exchange programme.
2. The experience gained shall be used to improve and develop future programmes.
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.