THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 43 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission(1),
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament(2),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee(3),
Whereas live animals and products of animal origin appear on the list in Annex II to the Treaty; whereas livestock farming and the placing on the market of products of animal origin constitute a source of income for a large part of the agricultural population;
Whereas the rational development of this sector and an improvement in its productivity may be achieved by the initiation of veterinary measures aimed at protecting and raising the level of public and animal health in the Community;
Whereas the pursuit of that objective necessitates the provision of Community aid for actions undertaken or intended to be undertaken;
Whereas the Community is to adopt measures designed to establish the internal market progressively over a period expiring on 31 December 1992;
Whereas, within that framework, the Community should make a financial contribution towards the eradication, as quickly as possible, of any outbreak of a serious infectious disease;
Whereas it is also necessary to prevent and reduce, by appropriate control measures, the appearance of zoonoses which pose a threat to human health;
Whereas the new control strategy postulates the suppression of internal frontier controls and the harmonization of the control system for products coming from third countries; whereas it seems appropriate to facilitate the implementation of that strategy by providing for a financial contribution by the Community towards the initiation and the development of the new strategy;
Whereas the harmonization of essential requirements concerning the protection of public health, the protection of animal health and the protection of animals presupposes the designation of Community liaison and reference laboratories and the undertaking of technical and scientific actions; whereas it seems appropriate to provide for a Community financial contribution; whereas, in the field of animal protection in particular, it is desirable to create a database to gather, store and disseminate any information necessary;
Whereas Community measures for the eradication of certain animal diseases already qualify for financial aid from the Community; whereas the provisions concerned include those adopted by way of Council Directive 77/391/EEC of 17 May 1977 introducing Community measures for the eradication of brucellosis, tuberculosis and leucosis in cattle(4), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 3768/85(5), Council Directive 82/400/EEC of 14 June 1982 amending Directive 77/391/EEC and introducing a supplementary Community measure for the eradication of brucellosis, tuberculosis and leucosis in cattle(6), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 3768/85, Council Decision 89/145/EEC of 20 February 1989 introducing a Community financial measure for the eradication of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) in Portugal(7), Council Decision 80/1096/EEC of 11 November 1980 introducing Community financial measures for the eradication of classical swine fever(8), as last amended by Decision 87/488/EEC(9), Council Decision 86/649/EEC of 16 December 1986 introducing a Community financial measure for the eradication of African swine fever in Portugal(10), as last amended by Decision 89/577/EEC(11), Council Decision 86/650/EEC of 16 December 1986 introducing a Community financial mesure for the eradication of African swine fever in Spain(12), Council Decision 89/455/EEC of 24 July 1989 introducing Community measures to set up pilot projects for the control of rabies with a view to its eradication or prevention(13); whereas it is advisable that financial contributions from the Community which are intended for the eradication of the diseases referred to above continue to be governed by the Decision relating thereto; whereas, nevertheless, as concerns the additional measure for the eradication of brucellosis, tuberculosis and leucosis in cattle, as provided for in Decision 87/58/EEC(14), there would appear to be justification, in the interests of consistency, for providing for the possibility of increasing the level of the Community's financial contribution up to 50 % of the costs incurred by Member States for the slaughter of cattle;
Whereas provision should be made for a Community financial measure for the eradication and monitoring of certain animal diseases; whereas all Community financial measures for the eradication and monitoring of animal diseases which involve compulsory Community budget expenditure should be brought together under one head;
Whereas it is appropriate to confer upon the Commission the task of taking the necessary applicatory measures,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: