In accordance with Article 75 of the Financial Regulation and Article 90(1) of the Implementing Rules, the commitment of expenditure from the budget of the European Union shall be preceded by a financing decision setting out the essential elements of the action involving expenditure and adopted by the institution or the authorities to which powers have been delegated by the institution.

Schmallenberg virus is an emerging contagious pathogen of ruminants putatively included in the Simbu serogroup of the Bunyaviridae family, genus Orthobunyavirus. Very little information is known on this emerging pathogen, most assumptions are extrapolated from scientific information available on other viruses of the Simbu serogroup.

Only some Orthobunyavirus had been isolated in the Union (Tahyna virus from the California serogroup) but never from the Simbu serogroup. Schmallenberg virus was first detected in November 2011 in Germany in samples collected in the summer and autumn 2011 from diseased animals. In December 2011, congenital malformations were reported in newborn lambs in the Netherlands, linked to the presence of the virus. Subsequently up to March 2012, Belgium, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Luxembourg, Italy and Spain have reported stillbirth and congenital malformations. Schmallenberg virus presence was confirmed through the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests.

As this is the first time that this virus is isolated in the Union, there are no harmonised rules as regards control or notification of Schmallenberg virus.

No efficient diagnostic tools are available to assess the actual spread of Schmallenberg virus and its impact on animal health.

Several trading partners have taken temporary protective measures including trade restrictions and requested for additional guarantees for certain commodities awaiting for further scientific knowledge before resuming trade.

On 23 January 2012, the Agriculture Council requested the Commission to take actions with respect to this emerging disease.

In a meeting organised on 14 February 2012, the Commission in close collaboration with the Member States identified the priorities and areas for which additional information should be gathered prior to considering the development of veterinary legislation addressing this new infection. These are in particular, the mechanism by which the disease is caused (pathogenesis), the epidemiology, notably focusing on transmission pathways, the host range, the role of vectors and reservoirs; and the confirmation of the non-zoonotic potential of this virus and the methods to diagnose the disease in animal samples and their validation.

Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom have drawn up scientific studies intended to gain knowledge on Schmallenberg virus in the areas identified above and submitted them to the Commission on 5 March 2012, requesting EU financial support.

Some of the scientific studies have been presented by several Member States in the form of a consortium, in these cases and for the purpose of clarity, one of the partners has been identified as coordinator of the consortium and responsible for communication with the Commission and transmission of technical reports.

Pursuant to Article 22 of Decision 2009/470/EC, the Union may undertake, or assist the Member States or international organisations in undertaking, the technical and scientific measures necessary for the development of EU veterinary legislation and for the development of veterinary education or training.

A financial contribution should be granted to the studies on Schmallenberg virus implemented by Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom as the outcomes may lead to new insights on the subject mentioned above.

The Commission has evaluated all the proposals and selected those that matched with the agreed priorities. Considering the resources needed to develop the studies and the need to start as soon as possible the activities in order to get the results, it is appropriate to start financing them as from 1 April 2012.

The payment of the financial contribution shall be subject to the condition that the studies planned have actually been carried out and that the authorities supply all the necessary information to the Commission.

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