THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Council Decision 2009/470/EC of 25 May 2009 on expenditure in the veterinary field, and in particular Article 4 thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
In accordance with Article 84 of the Financial Regulation and Article 94 of the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1268/2012 of 29 October 2012 on the rules of application of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Rules of Application’), the commitment of expenditure from the Union budget 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.
(2)
Decision 2009/470/EC lays down the procedures governing the financial contribution from the Union towards specific veterinary measures, including emergency measures. With a view to helping to eradicate avian influenza as rapidly as possible the Union should contribute financially to eligible expenditure borne by the Member States. Article 4(3) first and second indents of that Decision lays down rules on the percentage that must be applied to the costs incurred by the Member States.
(3)
Article 3 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 349/2005 of 28 February 2005 laying down rules on the Community financing of emergency measures and of the campaign to combat certain animal diseases under Council Decision 90/424/EEC sets rules on the expenditure eligible for Union financial support.
(4)
Commission Decision 2010/148/EU of 5 March 2010 on a financial contribution from the Union towards emergency measures to combat avian influenza in the Czech Republic, Germany, Spain, France and Italy in 2009 granted a financial contribution by the Union towards emergency measures to combat avian influenza, among others, in Spain in 2009. An official request for reimbursement was submitted by Spain on 26 March 2010 and 3 May 2010, as set out in Article 7(1) and (2) of Regulation (EC) No 349/2005.
(5)
The payment of the financial contribution from the Union is to be subject to the condition that the planned activities were actually implemented and that the authorities provided all the necessary information within the set deadlines. Commission Implementing Decision 2011/798/EU provided that a first tranche of EUR 500 000,0 be paid as part of the Union’s financial contribution.
(6)
Spain has in accordance with Article 3(4) of Decision 2009/470/EC without delay informed the Commission and the other Member States of the measures applied in accordance with Union legislation on notification and eradication and the results thereof. The request for reimbursement was, as required in Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 349/2005, accompanied by a financial report, supporting documents, an epidemiological report on each holding where the animals have been slaughtered or destroyed and the results of respective audits.
(7)
An audit according to Article 10 of Regulation (EC) No 349/2005 was carried out by the Commission’s services. The Commission’s observations, method of calculating the eligible expenditure and final conclusions were communicated to Spain on 12 September 2012. Spain agreed by e-mail dated 9 October 2012.
(8)
Consequently the total amount of the financial support from the Union to the eligible expenditure incurred in connection with the eradication of avian influenza in Spain in 2009 can now be fixed.
(9)
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: