Commission Decision
of 13 December 2001
on the Community's financial contribution to a programme for the control of organisms harmful to plants and plant products in Madeira for 2001
(notified under document number C(2001) 4268)
(Only the Portuguese text is authentic)
(2001/895/EC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1453/2001 of 28 June 2001 introducing specific measures for certain agricultural products for the Azores and Madeira(1), and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 1600/92 (Poseima), and in particular Article 32(3),
Having regard to the programmes submitted by Portugal for the control of organisms harmful to plant or plant products in Madeira,
Whereas:
(1) Commission Decision 93/522/EEC of 30 September 1993 on the definition of the measures eligible for Community financing in the programmes for the control of organisms harmful to plants or plant products in the French overseas departments, in the Azores and in Madeira(2), as last amended by Decision 96/633/EC(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.
(2) Specific agricultural production conditions in Madeira call for particular attention, and action must be taken or reinforced as regards crop production, in particular the phytosanitary aspects for this region.
(3) The action to be taken or reinforced on the phytosanitary side is particularly costly.
(4) 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.
(5) The Community's financial contribution may cover up to 75 % of eligible expenditure, protective measures for bananas being excluded.
(6) The operations provided for in the European Community Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development cannot be the same as those contained in this programme.
(7) The measures foreseen in the environmental programme approved for the Region of Madeira in the framework of Regulation (EEC) No 2078/92(4), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1962/96(5), cannot be the same as those contained in this programme.
(8) The technical information provided by Portugal has enabled the Standing Committee on Plant Health to analyse the situation accurately and comprehensively.
(9) 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 Island of Madeira presented for 2001 by the relevant Portuguese authorities is hereby approved.
The official programme is made up of a programme for the autocidal control of the fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata Wied).
The Community's financial contribution to the programme in 2001 presented by Portugal shall be 75 % of expenditure related to eligible measures as defined by Commission Decision 93/522/EEC with a maximum of EUR 150000 (VAT excluded).
The schedule of programme costs and their financing is set out as Annex I to this Decision.
A first instalment of EUR 75000 shall be paid to Portugal immediately after the official notification of the present Decision.
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 January 2001 and 31 December 2001. The final date for payments in connection with the operations shall be 31 March 2002, and non-compliance without justification of delay shall entail loss of entitlement to Community financing.
In the case where a request for extension of the final date for payment is necessary, the responsible official authorities have to introduce this request before the final date and present the justification concerning this request.
Specific provisions relating to the financing of the programme, provisions on compliance with Community policies and the information to be provided to the Commission by Portugal shall be as set out in Annex II.
Any public contracts connected with investments covered by this Decision shall be subject to Community law.
This Decision is addressed to the Portuguese Republic.