Introductory text

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^f1, and in particular Article 24(6) and Articles 29 and 32 thereof,

Whereas:

Decision 90/424/EEC provides for the possibility of a financial contribution by the Community in the eradication and monitoring of animal diseases and for checks aimed at the prevention of zoonoses.

The Member States have submitted programmes for the eradication and monitoring of certain animal diseases as well as for the prevention of zoonoses in their territories.

After examination of those programmes they were found to comply with relevant Community veterinary legislation and in particular with the Community criteria relating to the eradication of those diseases, in accordance with Council Decision 90/638/EEC of 27 November 1990 laying down Community criteria for the eradication and monitoring of certain animal diseases^f2.

Those programmes appear on the list of programmes established by Commission Decision 2004/695/EC of 14 October 2004 on the list of programmes for the eradication and monitoring of animal diseases and of checks aimed at the prevention of zoonoses qualifying for a financial contribution from the Community in 2005^f3.

In the light of the importance of those programmes for the achievement of Community objectives in the field of animal and public health, it is appropriate to fix the financial contribution of the Community at 50 % of the costs to be incurred by the Member States concerned for the measures referred to in this Decision up to a maximum amount for each programme.

Under Council Regulation (EC) No 1258/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the financing of the common agricultural policy^f4, programmes for the monitoring and eradication of animal diseases are to be financed under the Guarantee Section of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund; for financial control purposes, Articles 8 and 9 of Regulation (EC) No 1258/1999 apply.

The financial contribution from the Community should be granted subject to the condition that the actions planned are efficiently carried out and that the competent authorities supply all the necessary information within the time limits laid down in this Decision.

There is a need to clarify the rate to be used for the conversion of the payment applications submitted in national currency as defined in Article 1(d) of Council Regulation (EC) No 2799/98 of 15 December 1998 establishing agrimonetary arrangements for the euro^f5.

The approval of some of those programmes should not prejudge a decision of the Commission on rules for eradication of the concerned diseases based on scientific advice.

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: