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 28(2) thereof,

Whereas:

• Council Directive 2001/89/EC of 23 October 2001 on Community measures for the control of classical swine fever^f2,

• Council Directive 92/66/EEC of 14 July 1992 introducing Community measures for the control of Newcastle disease^f3,

• Council Directive 92/40/EEC of 19 May 1992 introducing Community measures for the control of avian influenza^f4,

• Council Directive 92/119/EEC of 17 December 1992 introducing general Community measures for the control of certain animals diseases and specific measures relating swine vesicular disease^f5,

• Council Directive 93/53/EEC of 24 June 1993 introducing minimum Community measures for the control of certain fish diseases^f6,

• Council Directive 95/70/EC of 22 December 1995 introducing minimum Community measures for the control of certain diseases affecting bivalve molluscs^f7,

• Council Directive 92/35/EEC of 29 April 1992 laying down control rules and measures to combat African horse sickness^f8,

• Council Directive 2000/75/EC of 20 November 2000 laying down specific provisions for the control and eradication of bluetongue^f9,

• Council Decision 2000/258/EC of 20 March 2000 designating a specific institute responsible for establishing the criteria necessary for standardising the serological tests to monitor the effectiveness of rabies vaccines^f10,

• Council Directive 2002/60/EC of 27 June 2002 laying down specific provisions for the control of African swine fever and amending Directive 92/119/EEC as regards Teschen disease and African swine fever^f11,

• Council Decision 96/463/EC of 23 July 1996 designating the reference body responsible for collaborating in rendering uniform the testing methods and the assessment of the results for pure-bred breeding animals of the bovine species^f12;

The financial contribution from the Community should be paid provided that the actions planned are efficiently carried out and that the authorities supply all the necessary information within the time limits laid down.

For budgetary reasons, Community assistance should be granted for a period of one year.

Additional financial assistance for the organisation of a yearly workshop in the area of responsibility of the Community Reference Laboratories should be granted during the same period in some cases.

The work programmes and corresponding budget estimates submitted by the Community Reference Laboratories for 2006 have been assessed by the Commission.

In the light of the importance of those work programmes for the achievement of Community objectives in the field of animal it is appropriate to fix at 100 % the rate of financial contribution of the Community for the eligible costs to be incurred by Community reference laboratories up to a maximum amount for each laboratory.

Pursuant to Article 3, paragraph 2, of Council Regulation (EC) No 1258/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the financing of the common agricultural policy^f13, 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; for financial control purposes, Articles 8 and 9 of Regulation (EC) No 1258/1999 apply.

Commission Regulation (EC) No 156/2004 of 29 January 2004 on the Community's financial assistance to the Community reference laboratories pursuant to Article 28 of Decision 90/424/EEC^f14, establishes the eligible expenditures of the Community reference laboratories receiving financial assistance under Article 28 of Decision 90/424/EEC and the procedures for the submission of expenditures and audits.

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: