6.8.2015   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 209/9

(1)

Commission Regulation (EC) No 349/2005 (2) lays down the rules for the payment of a financial contribution from the Union towards emergency measures to eradicate certain animal diseases, including avian influenza. Article 7 of that Regulation lays down the documents to be submitted by the Member State requesting the financial contribution from the Union and the deadlines for submitting such documents.

(2)

Commission Implementing Decision 2012/667/EU (3) fixed the amount of the financial contribution from the Union for the expenditure incurred by the Netherlands in taking measures to combat avian influenza in 2011 at EUR 429 425,74.

(3)

Commission Implementing Decision 2013/775/EU (4) provides for a financial contribution from the Union to be granted to the Netherlands towards the costs incurred by that Member State in taking measures to combat avian influenza in 2012 and in 2013 pursuant to Council Decision 2009/470/EC (5). Accordingly, a first tranche of EUR 210 000,00 for 2012 and a first tranche of EUR 250 000,00 for 2013 were paid to that Member State as part of the financial contribution from the Union. Implementing Decision 2013/775/EU further provides that the amount of the financial contribution from the Union is to be fixed in a subsequent decision to be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred therein.

(4)

Regulation (EU) No 652/2014 provides for payments to be made to Member States in those circumstances. In that respect, it provides for the adoption of implementing acts, setting out the financial contribution. That Regulation also repealed Decision 2009/470/EC and references to that Decision are to be construed as references to Regulation (EU) No 652/2014.

(5)

Through Implementing Decisions 2012/667/EU and 2013/775/EU, the requirements of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council (6), in particular Article 84 thereof, have been complied with.

(6)

Following the result of the on-the-spot audit, managed by the competent audit service, additional expenditure amounting to EUR 13 278,64 was considered to be eligible, according to the decision mentioned in recital two, and the financial contribution from the Union for 2011 can be fixed at EUR 442 704,38. Therefore, in addition to the instalment already paid, a final complementary tranche of EUR 13 278,64 should be granted.

(7)

On 14 February 2014, the Netherlands submitted an official request for reimbursement to the Commission accompanied by a financial report, supporting documents and an epidemiological report on each holding where the animals have been slaugthered and destroyed. The request for reimbursement amounts to EUR 417 663,71 for 2012 and to EUR 616 592,33 for 2013. However, following an examination of the documents submitted by that Member State, the amounts of respectively EUR 17 548,46 and EUR 40 018,73 were considered to be ineligible for reimbursement in accordance with Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 349/2005.

(8)

Hence the final contribution for 2012 and 2013 can respectively be fixed at EUR 400 115,25 and EUR 576 573,60 being the difference between the requested amount for reimbursement and the ineligible amount. After deduction of the first tranches mentioned in recital three, the balance to be paid to the Netherlands for 2012 and 2013 can respectively be fixed at EUR 190 115,25 and EUR 326 573,60.

(9)

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,