2005/241/: Commission Decision of 14 March 2005 on the Community's financial contribution to a programme for the control of organisms harmful to plants and plant products in the French overseas departments for 2004 (notified under document number C(2005) 603)

A Community financial contribution to the official programme for the control of organisms harmful to plants and plant products in the French overseas departments presented by the French Republic for 2004 is hereby approved.

The official programme shall consist of three subprogrammes: 1. an inter-departmental subprogramme for Martinique, Guadeloupe, Guyana and La Réunion in two parts: pest risk analysis for certain invasive plants relevant to the French overseas departments, detection methods for viroids of citrus; 2. a subprogramme drawn up for the department of Martinique in four parts: plant health evaluation and diagnostics by use of the regional laboratory and its mobile unit (labo vert) strategy for the control of the corn earworm in the tomato crop, set up of a database on phytosanitary practices in sugarcane, vegetables and fruit production, integrated farming in fruit production: citrus and guava, inventory of pests and phytosanitary practices, publication of technical sheets; 3. a subprogramme drawn up for the department of Guyana: plant health evaluation and diagnostics by use of the regional laboratory and its mobile unit (labo vert), promotion of good agricultural practices.

The Community’s financial contribution to the programme presented by the French Republic in 2004 shall be 60 % of expenditure related to eligible measures as defined by Commission Decision 93/522/EEC, with a maximum of EUR 187800 (VAT excluded). The schedule of programme costs and their financing is set out as Annex I to this Decision. The breakdown of costs is set out as Annex II to this Decision.

An advance of EUR 100000 shall be paid within 60 days after reception of a request of payment by France.

The eligibility period for the costs related to this project shall start on 1 October 2004 and end on 30 September 2005. The period of execution of the actions may exceptionally be extended only with the express written agreement of the Monitoring Committee as referred to in point I.A of Annex III before the tasks have been completed.

The financial contribution by the Community shall be granted provided that the implementation of the programme shall be in conformity with the relevant provisions of Community law, including rules of competition and on the award of public contracts.

The actual expenditure incurred shall be notified to the Commission broken down by type of action or subprogramme in a way demonstrating the link between the indicative financial plan and expenditure actually incurred. Such notifications may be in electronic form. The balance of the financial contribution referred to in Article 3 shall be paid provided that the document specified in the second subparagraph of the third paragraph of point I.B(4) of Annex III shall be submitted before 30 September 2005. The Commission may, on duly justified request of the French Republic, adjust the financing plans within a limit of 15 % of the Community contribution to a subprogramme or measure for the entire period, provided that the total amount of eligible costs scheduled in the programme is not exceeded and that the main objectives of the programme are not thereby compromised. All payments of aid granted by the Community under this Decision shall be made to the French Republic, which will also be responsible for repayment to the Community of any excess amount.

The French Republic shall ensure compliance with the financial provisions, with Community policies and the information to be supplied to the Commission set out in Annex III.

This Decision is addressed to the French Republic.