Introductory text

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1452/2001 of 28 June 2001 introducing specific measures for certain agricultural products for the French overseas departments, amending Directive 72/462/EEC and repealing Regulations (EEC) No 525/77 and (EEC) No 3763/91 (Poseidom)^f1, and in particular Article 20(3),

Having regard to the programmes submitted by France for the control of organisms harmful to plants or plant products in the French overseas departments,

Whereas:

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^f2 defines the measures eligible for Community financing under programmes for the control of organisms harmful to plants and plant products in the French overseas departments, the Azores and Madeira.

Specific growing conditions in the French overseas departments call for particular attention and measures concerning crop production, in particular plant health measures, must be adopted or strengthened in those regions.

The plant health measures to be adopted or strengthened are particularly costly.

A programme of measures has been presented to the Commission by the competent French authorities; this programme specifies the objectives to be achieved, the operations to be carried out, their duration and their cost with a view to a possible Community financial contribution.

According to Article 20(4) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1452/2001 the Community's financial contribution may cover up to 60 % of eligible expenditure, protective measures for bananas being excluded.

In accordance with Article 3(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1258/1999^f3, 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. Financial control of these measures comes under Articles 8 and 9 of the above Regulation.

The technical information provided by France has enabled the Standing Committee on Plant Health to analyse the situation accurately and comprehensively.

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plant Health,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: