(1)

Under Decision 90/424/EEC the Community is to undertake or assist the Member States in undertaking the technical and scientific measures necessary for the development of Community veterinary legislation and for the development of veterinary education or training.

(2)

The Office International des Epizooties (OIE) with the two European OIE reference laboratories FCRV-Wusterhausen and AFSSA-Nancy have taken the initiative of organising a large scale Conference on rabies in Europe and Central Asia. This Conference is to focus on new scientific developments in the field of rabies diagnostic, epidemiology and vaccine and practical aspects of the control of the disease.

(3)

The Community has for almost 10 years made financial contributions towards programmes for the eradication of rabies in infected Member States under Decision 90/424/EEC. As a result of that measure the disease has been almost eradicated throughout the territory of the Community. Nevertheless programmes are still maintained in regions bordering certain Acceding States and third countries.

(4)

It was decided in 2003 to co-finance, within the PHARE programme, rabies control programmes in Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Slovenia. Those campaigns are to start in 2004 and will continue until 2006.

(5)

Programmes for the eradication of rabies in the Czech Republic and in Slovakia for the year 2004 have been approved and granted financial contributions from the Community under Commission Decision 2003/849/EC (2).

(6)

Any action which could facilitate policy decisions in favour of a promotion of rabies control in countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia should be encouraged.

(7)

A Conference on rabies control which could result in improvements in the strategies in force and in better information for competent authorities in Eastern Europe and Central Asia should make a useful contribution and the Community should consequently support the organisation of that conference.

(8)

The publication and dissemination by the Community of technical and scientific materials related to the OIE conference on rabies in Europe and Central Asia in December 2004 will contribute to the further development of Community veterinary legislation and veterinary education or training.

(9)

The financial resources necessary for the Community contribution to the OIE Conference on rabies in December 2004 should therefore be engaged.

(10)

This financial contribution from the Community should be granted subject to the conference actually being carried out as planned.

(11)

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