(1)

Council Regulation (EU) No 43/2012 of 17 January 2012 fixing for 2012 the fishing opportunities available to EU vessels for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks which are not subject to international negotiations or agreements (2), lays down quotas for 2012.

(2)

According to the information received by the Commission, catches of the stock referred to in the Annex to this Regulation by vessels flying the flag of or registered in the Member State referred to therein have exhausted the quota allocated for 2012.

(3)

It is therefore necessary to prohibit fishing activities for that stock,

(1)

Council Regulation (EU) No 43/2012 of 17 January 2012 fixing for 2012 the fishing opportunities available to EU vessels for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks which are not subject to international negotiations or agreements (2), lays down quotas for 2012.

(2)

According to the information received by the Commission, catches of the stock referred to in the Annex to this Regulation by vessels flying the flag of or registered in the Member State referred to therein have exhausted the quota allocated for 2012.

(3)

It is therefore necessary to prohibit fishing activities for that stock,

(1)

Council Regulation (EU) No 44/2012 of 17 January 2012 fixing for 2012 the fishing opportunities available in EU waters and, to EU vessels, in certain non- EU waters for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks which are subject to international negotiations or agreements (2), lays down quotas for 2012.

(2)

According to the information received by the Commission, catches of the stock referred to in the Annex to this Regulation by vessels flying the flag of or registered in the Member State referred to therein have exhausted the quota allocated for 2012.

(3)

It is therefore necessary to prohibit fishing activities for that stock,

(1)

Commission Regulation (EC) No 792/2009 of 31 August 2009 laying down detailed rules for the Member States' notification to the Commission of information and documents in implementation of the common organisation of the markets, the direct payments′ regime, the promotion of agricultural products and the regimes applicable to the outermost regions and the smaller Aegean islands (2), lays down common rules for notifying information and documents by the competent authorities of the Member States to the Commission. Those rules cover in particular the obligation for the Member States to use the information systems made available by the Commission and the validation of the access rights of the authorities or individuals authorised to send notifications. In addition, that Regulation sets common principles applying to the information systems so that they guarantee the authenticity, integrity and legibility over time of the documents and provides for personal data protection.

(2)

Pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 792/2009, the obligation to use the information systems in accordance with that Regulation has to be provided for in the Regulations establishing a specific notification obligation.

(3)

The Commission has developed an information system that allows managing documents and procedures electronically in its own internal working procedures and in its relations with the authorities involved in the common agricultural policy.

(4)

It is considered that several notification obligations can be fulfilled via that system in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 792/2009, in particular those provided for in Commission Regulations (EC) No 2535/2001 of 14 December 2001 laying down detailed rules for applying Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 as regards the import arrangements for milk and milk products and opening tariff quotas (3), (EC) No 917/2004 of 29 April 2004 on detailed rules to implement Council Regulation (EC) No 797/2004 on measures improving general conditions for the production and marketing of apiculture products (4), (EC) No 382/2008 of 21 April 2008 on rules of application for import and export licences in the beef and veal sector (5), (EC) No 748/2008 of 30 July 2008 on the opening and administration of an import tariff quota for frozen thin skirt of bovine animals falling within CN code 0206 29 91 (6), (EC) No 810/2008 of 11 August 2008 opening and providing for the administration of tariff quotas for high-quality fresh, chilled and frozen beef and for frozen buffalo meat (7) and (EC) No 610/2009 of 10 July 2009 laying down detailed rules for the application of the tariff quota for beef and veal originating in Chile (8).

(5)

In the interest of efficient administration and taking account of the experience, some notifications should be either simplified and specified or deleted in those Regulations.

(6)

Regulations (EC) No 2535/2001, (EC) No 917/2004, (EC) No 382/2008, (EC) No 748/2008, (EC) No 810/2008 and (EC) No 610/2009 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(7)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for the Common Organisation of Agricultural Markets,

(1)

In Article 10, paragraph 3 is replaced by the following:

(2)

Article 39 is deleted.

(3)

In Article 40, paragraph 2 is replaced by the following:

(4)

Article 45 is replaced by the following:

(5)

The following Article 45a is inserted:

(*1)   OJ L 228, 1.9.2009, p. 3." "

(6)

Annexes V and XIV are deleted.

(1)

Article 1 is replaced by the following:

(*2)   OJ L 299, 16.11.2007, p. 1." "

(2)

In Article 6, the third paragraph is replaced by the following:

"By 15 December each year, Member States shall notify the Commission of a summary of the implementation of expenditure broken down according to the headings referred to in Article 1(b)."

(3)

The following Article 6a is inserted:

(*3)   OJ L 228, 1.9.2009, p. 3." "

(1)

Article 6 is replaced by the following:

(*4)   OJ L 238, 1.9.2006, p. 13." "

(2)

Article 7 is replaced by the following:

(3)

Article 16a is replaced by the following

(*5)   OJ L 228, 1.9.2009, p. 3." "

(4)

Annexes II, III and IV are deleted.

(1)

In Article 8, paragraphs 2 and 3 are replaced by the following:

(2)

Article 9 is amended as follows:

(3)

Annexes IV, V and VI are deleted.

(1)

In Article 5, paragraphs 2 and 3 are replaced by the following:

(2)

Article 11 is amended as follows:

(3)

Annexes IV, V and VI are deleted.

(1)

In Article 10, paragraphs 2 and 3 are replaced by the following:

(*8)   OJ L 228, 1.9.2009, p. 3." "

(2)

Annexes V, VI and VII are deleted.

(1)

In accordance with Regulation (EU) No 978/2012 the tariff preferences of the general arrangement of the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) are to be suspended in respect of products of a GSP section originating in a GSP beneficiary country when the average value of Union imports of such products over three consecutive years from that GSP beneficiary country exceeds the thresholds listed in Annex VI of that Regulation.

(2)

Prior to the application of the tariff preferences under the general arrangement, a list of GSP sections for which the tariff preferences are suspended in respect of the GSP beneficiary countries concerned should be established by the Commission. The list should be based on data available on 1 September 2012 and of the two preceding years.

(3)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Generalised Preferences Committee,

(1)

Implementing Regulation (EU) No 543/2011 lays down, pursuant to the outcome of the Uruguay Round multilateral trade negotiations, the criteria whereby the Commission fixes the standard values for imports from third countries, in respect of the products and periods stipulated in Annex XVI, Part A thereto.

(2)

The standard import value is calculated each working day, in accordance with Article 136(1) of Implementing Regulation (EU) No 543/2011, taking into account variable daily data. Therefore this Regulation should enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union,

(1)

Directive 2011/65/EU prohibits the use of lead in electrical and electronic equipment placed on the market.

(2)

The substitution of lead in PZT based dielectric ceramic materials for capacitors which are part of integrated circuits or discrete semiconductors is still technically impracticable. The use of lead in those materials should therefore be exempted from the prohibition.

(3)

Directive 2011/65/EU should therefore be amended accordingly,

(1)

Directive 2011/65/EU prohibits the use of cadmium in electrical and electronic equipment placed on the market.

(2)

The substitution of cadmium in photoresistors for analogue optocouplers applied in professional audio equipment is still technically impracticable. The use of cadmium in those photoresistors should therefore be exempted from the prohibition. However, that exemption should be limited in time as the research for cadmium free technology is in progress and substitutes could become available by the end of 2013.

(3)

Directive 2011/65/EU should therefore be amended accordingly,

(1)

Regulation (EC) No 861/2006 lays down the conditions whereby Member States may receive a contribution from the European Union for expenditure incurred in their national programmes of collection and management of data.

(2)

Those programmes are to be drawn up in accordance with Council Regulation (EC) No 199/2008 of 25 February 2008 concerning the establishment of a Community framework for the collection, management and use of data in the fisheries sector and support for scientific advice regarding the Common Fisheries Policy (2) and Commission Regulation (EC) No 665/2008 of 14 July 2008 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 199/2008 concerning the establishment of a Community framework for the collection, management and use of data in the fisheries sector and support for scientific advice regarding the Common Fisheries Policy (3).

(3)

Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Finland, Sweden and the United Kingdom submitted national programmes for the collection, management and use of data in the fisheries sector for the years 2011-2013 as provided for in Article 4(4) and 4(5) of Regulation (EC) No 199/2008. Those programmes were approved in 2011 in accordance with Article 6(3) of Regulation (EC) No 199/2008.

(4)

Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Romania, Slovenia and Finland have not amended their national programmes 2011-2013 for the year 2012. By Commission Implementing Decision 2012/276/EU (4), the Commission decided on the contribution to those national programmes for the year 2012, for these Member States, except Greece.

(5)

Germany, Ireland, Spain, France, Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Sweden and the United Kingdom submitted amendments to their national programmes for the year 2012, pursuant to Article 5(2) of Regulation (EC) No 199/2008. The amendments for Germany, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden and the United Kingdom were adopted by the Commission in 2012 in accordance with Article 6(3) of Regulation (EC) No 199/2008. By Commission Implementing Decision 2012/654/EU (5), the Commission decided on the contribution to those national programmes for the year 2012, for these Member States.

(6)

Ireland, Spain, France, Malta and Portugal also submitted annual budget forecasts for the year 2012 according to Article 2(2) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1078/2008 of 3 November 2008 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 861/2006 as regards the expenditure incurred by Member States for the collection and management of the basic fisheries data (6). The Commission has evaluated Member States’ annual budget forecasts, as laid down in Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1078/2008, by taking into account the approved amendments to the national programmes in accordance with Article 6(3) of Regulation (EC) No 199/2008.

(7)

Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 1078/2008 establishes that the Commission is to approve the annual budget forecast and is to decide on the annual Union financial contribution to each national programme in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 24 of Regulation (EC) No 861/2006 and on the basis of the outcome of the evaluation of the annual budget forecasts as referred to in Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1078/2008.

(8)

Article 24(3)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 861/2006 establishes that a Commission Decision is to fix the rate of the financial contribution. Article 16 of that Regulation provides that Union financial measures in the area of basic data collection are not to exceed 50 % of the costs incurred by Member States in carrying out the programme of collection, management and use of data in the fisheries sector.

(9)

This Decision constitutes the financing decision within the meaning of Article 75(2) of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities (7).

(10)

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee for Fisheries and Aquaculture,

(1)

Pursuant to Article 22 of Directive 2000/29/EC, Member States may receive a ‘plant health control’ financial contribution from the Union to cover expenditure relating directly to the necessary measures which have been taken or are planned to be taken for the purpose of combating harmful organisms introduced from third countries or from other areas in the Union, in order to eradicate or, if that is not possible, to contain them.

(2)

Germany introduced four requests for financial contribution. The first one was introduced on 19 December 2011 and relates to measures taken in 2011 to eradicate or contain Diabrotica virgifera in Nordrhein-Westfalen. The outbreak of that harmful organism was detected there in 2010.

(3)

The second one was introduced on 25 April 2012 and relates to measures taken from August 2010 until August 2011 to control Anoplophora glabripennis in Nordrhein-Westfalien. The outbreak of that harmful organism was detected there in 2009.

(4)

The third request of Germany was introduced on 27 April 2012 and relates to measures taken in 2011 to eradicate or contain Diabrotica virgifera in Baden-Württemberg. The outbreaks of that harmful organism were detected in different rural or city districts of that State (Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald, Emmendingen, Freiburg city, Konstanz, Lörrach, Ortenaukreis and Rastatt — city district of Baden-Baden) in different years, i.e. 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011. The measures taken in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 have also been the subject to co-financing in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

(5)

The fourth request of Germany was introduced on 27 April 2012 and relates to measures taken in 2011 to eradicate or contain Diabrotica virgifera in Hessen. The outbreak of that harmful organism was detected there in 2011.

(6)

Spain introduced four requests for financial contribution. The first one was introduced on 20 April 2012 and relates to measures taken or planned for 2012 in Extremadura to control Bursaphelenchus xylophilus. The outbreak of that harmful organism was detected in 2008 in the Sierra de Dios Padres. The measures taken in November – December 2008, and in 2009, 2010 and 2011 have also been the subject of co-financing in 2009, 2010 and 2011. A follow-up request for measures from January 2012 until October 2012, i.e. to cover the maximum duration of four years, has been accepted.

(7)

The second request of Spain was introduced on 23 April 2012. It relates to measures taken or planned for 2012 in Galicia to control Bursaphelenchus xylophilus. The outbreak of that harmful organism was detected in 2010 in the area of As Neves.

(8)

The third request of Spain was introduced on 25 April 2012. It relates to measures taken or planned for 2012 in Catalonia to control Pomacea insularum. The outbreak of that harmful organism was detected in 2010.

(9)

The fourth request of Spain was introduced on 27 April 2012. It relates to measures taken or planned for 2012 in Extremadura to control Bursaphelenchus xylophilus. The outbreak of that harmful organism was detected in 2012 in the area of Valverde del Fresno.

(10)

France introduced two requests for financial contribution. The first one was introduced on 30 December 2011 and relates to measures taken or planned from September 2011 until September 2012 to control Rhynchophorus ferrugineus. The initial outbreaks of that harmful organism were detected in 2009. Measures taken from September 2009 until September 2011 have also been the subject of co-financing in 2010.

(11)

The second request was introduced on 30 April 2012 and relates to measures taken or planned from November 2011 until December 2012 to controlAnoplophora glabripennis in Alsace. Measures were taken in France as a consequence of findings in 2011 of that harmful organism in the bordering area of Germany.

(12)

Italy introduced two requests for financial contribution on 30 April 2012. The first request of Italy relates to the measures taken or planned for 2012 in Veneto, province of Treviso, area of Cornuda, to control Anoplophora glabripennis. The outbreak of that harmful organism was detected in 2009. The measures taken in 2009, 2010 and 2011 have also been the subject of co-financing in 2010 and 2011.

(13)

The second request of Italy relates to measures taken in 2011 in Emilia-Romagna, provinces of Bologna, Ferrara, Ravenna and Forlì-Cesena, to control Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae. The outbreak of that harmful organism was confirmed in 2010. The measures taken in 2010 have also been the subject of co-financing in 2011.

(14)

Cyprus introduced a request for financial contribution on 30 April 2012 relating to measures taken or planned for 2012 to control Rhynchophorus ferrugineus. The intial outbreaks of that harmful organism occurred in 2009. Measures taken in 2010 and 2011have also been the subject of co-financing in 2010 and 2011.

(15)

The Netherlands introduced one request for financial contribution on 23 December 2011. That request relates to measures taken from November 2010 until December 2011 in the area of Almere to control Anoplophora glabripennis. The appearance of that harmful organism was detected in November 2010.

(16)

Portugal introduced two requests for financial contribution on 30 April 2012 relating to measures taken to control Bursaphelenchus xylophilus. The first request relates to measures taken or planned in the first half of 2012 in continental Portugal, with the exception of the originally infested zone of Setubal of 1999, to control the outbreaks detected in 2008. The measures taken in the second half of 2008, in 2009, 2010 and 2011 have also been the subject of co-financing in 2009, 2010 and 2011. A follow-up request for measures from January 2012 until June 2012, i.e. to cover the maximum duration of four years, has been accepted.

(17)

The second request of Portugal concerns exclusively measures of heat treatment of wood or wood packaging material in the area of Setubal, in 2012. The measures taken in 2010 and 2011 have also been the subject of co-financing in 2011.

(18)

Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Cyprus, the Netherlands and Portugal have each established a programme of actions to eradicate or contain the above harmful organisms introduced in their territories. These programmes specify the objectives to be achieved, the measures carried out, their duration and their cost.

(19)

All the above measures consist of a variety of plant health measures, including destruction of contaminated trees or crops, application of plant protection products, sanitation techniques, inspections and testings carried out officially or upon official request to monitor the presence or extent of contamination by the respective harmful organisms, and replacement of destroyed plants, within the meaning of Article 23(2)(a), (b) and (c) of Directive 2000/29/EC.

(20)

Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Cyprus, the Netherlands and Portugal have applied for the allocation of a Union financial contribution to these programmes in accordance with the requirements laid down in Article 23 of Directive 2000/29/EC, in particular paragraph 1 and 4 thereof, and in accordance with Commission Regulation (EC) No 1040/2002 of 14 June 2002 establishing detailed rules for the implementation of the provisions relating to the allocation of a financial contribution from the Union for plant-health control and repealing Regulation (EC) No 2051/97 (2).

(21)

The technical information provided by Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Cyprus, the Netherlands and Portugal has enabled the Commission to analyse the situation accurately and comprehensively. The Commission has concluded that the conditions for the granting of a Union financial contribution, as laid down in particular in Article 23 of Directive 2000/29/EC, have been met. Accordingly, it is appropriate to provide a Union financial contribution to cover part of the expenditure on those programmes.

(22)

In accordance with the second subparagraph of Article 23(5) of Directive 2000/29/EC, the Union financial contribution may cover up to 50 % of eligible expenditure for measures that have been taken within a period of not more than two years after the date of detection of the appearance or that are planned for that period. However, in accordance with the third subparagraph of that Article, that period may be extended if it has been established that the objective of the measures will be achieved within a reasonable additional period, in which case the rate of the Union financial contribution shall be digressive over the years concerned. Having regard to the conclusions of the Working Group on evaluation of the respective requests, it is appropriate to extend the two-year period for the programmes concerned, while reducing the rate of the Union financial contributions for these measures to 45 % of eligible expenditure for the third year and to 40 % for the fourth year of these programmes.

(23)

The Union financial contribution up to 50 % of eligible expenditure should therefore apply to Germany, Baden-Württemberg, Diabrotica virgifera, rural district of Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald and Freiburg city, rural district of Rastatt and city district of Baden-Baden (2011), Germany, Diabrotica virgifera, Hessen (2011), Germany, Diabrotica virgifera, Nordrhein Westfalen (2011), France, Anoplophora glabripennis, (November 2011 to December 2012), Italy, Emilia-Romagna, Pseudomonas syringae pv. Actinidiae, provinces of Bologna, Ferrara, Ravenna and Forlì-Cesena (2011), the Netherlands, Anoplophora glabripennis, Almere area (November 2010 to December 2011).

(24)

The Union financial contribution up to 45 % of eligible expenditure should therefore apply to the third year of the following programmes: Germany, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Anoplophora glabripennis (2011), Germany, Baden-Württemberg, Diabrotica virgifera, rural districts of Emmendingen, Konstanz, and Lörrach (2011), Spain, Catalonia, Pomacea insularum (2012), Spain, Galicia, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (2012), France, PACA Region, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (September 2011 until September 2012), Cyprus, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (2012) and Portugal, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, Setubal area (2012) as the measures concerned have already been the subject of a Union financial contribution under Commission Decision 2010/772/EU (3) (Germany, Diabrotica virgifera, France, Italy, Cyprus) and/or Commission Implementing Decision 2011/868/EU (4) (Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal) for the first two years of their implementation.

(25)

Moreover, a Union contribution up to 40 % should apply to the fourth year of the following programmes: Spain, Extremadura, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, outbreak 2008 (2012), Italy, Veneto, Anoplophora glabripennis (2012), Portugal, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (2012), area of continental Portugal with the exception of the originally infested zone of Setubal of 1999, as the measures have been the subject of a Union financial contribution under Commission Decision 2009/996/EU (5), Decision 2010/772/EU and Implementing Decision 2011/868/EU for the first three years of their implementation.

(26)

In accordance with the conclusions of the audit mission in Portugal from 19 to 28 March 2012 of the Food and Veterinary Office of the Commission, only 85 % of the number of coniferous host trees infested by pinewood nematode, or showing any symptoms of poor health, had been felled and destroyed at the date of 1 April 2012, which represents an under-implementation of 15 %. In addition, the sampling and testing of the suspicious coniferous trees was applied at an intensity of about 1 %, which is far below the requirements of Commission Decision 2006/133/EC of 13 February 2006 requiring Member States temporarily to take additional measures against the dissemination of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner et Buhrer) Nickle et al. (the pine wood nematode) as regards areas in Portugal, other than those in which it is known not to occur (6).

(27)

In view of this, the level of eligible expenditure in the request relating to measures in continental Portugal, with exception of the originally infested zone of Setubal, should be reduced as regards the cost of felling coniferous trees and the costs of laboratory tests executed by the National Forestry Authority. Taking into account that in 2011 already, the felling of the trees and the testing intensity was not properly implemented, a reduction higher than the level of under-implementation should be applied in 2012. Therefore, a reduction of 25 % to the expenditure of tree felling should be applied and the testing activities should not be eligible.

(28)

Moreover, in accordance with the conclusions of the financial audit by the Commission of heat treatments costs for wood and wood packaging material in Portugal, the unit cost per equivalent-pallet should be fixed to EUR 0,30 in place of EUR 0,43. Therefore, the amount of eligible expenditure for those heat treatment measures should be adapted in the two dossiers introduced by Portugal in order to reflect those conclusions.

(29)

In accordance with Article 3(2)(a) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1290/2005 of 21 June 2005 on the financing of the common agricultural policy (7), plant-health measures are financed from the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund. For the purpose of financial control of these measures, Articles 9, 36 and 37 of the above Regulation should apply.

(30)

In accordance with Article 75 of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities (8) and Article 90(1) of Commission Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2342/2002 of 23 December 2002 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities (9), the commitment of expenditure from the Union budget shall be preceded by a financing decision adopted by the institution to which powers have been delegated, setting out the essential elements of the action involving the expenditure.

(31)

The present decision constitutes a financing decision for the expenditure provided in the co-financing requests presented by Member States.

(32)

The measures provided in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plant Health,

(a)

evidence of the measures taken has been submitted by the Member State concerned in accordance with the provisions laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1040/2002;

(b)

a request for payment has been submitted by the Member State concerned to the Commission, in accordance with Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 1040/2002.

(1)

European Union reference laboratories may be granted a Union financial aid in accordance with Article 31 of Decision 2009/470/EC.

(2)

In accordance with Article 75 of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 (3) (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Financial Regulation’) and Article 90(1) of Commission Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2342/2002 (4) (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Implementing Rules’), the commitment of expenditure from the EU budget shall be preceded by a financing decision setting out the essential elements of action involving expenditure and adopted by the institution or the authorities to which powers have been delegated by the institution.

(3)

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 926/2011 of 12 September 2011 for the purposes of Council Decision 2009/470/EC as regards Union financial aid to the EU reference laboratories for feed and food and the animal health sector (5) provides that the financial aid from the Union is to be granted if the approved work programmes are implemented effectively and that the beneficiaries supply all the necessary information within certain time limits.

(4)

The Institute for Food Safety in Wageningen, the Netherlands (RIKILT) — has been designated as EU reference laboratory for residue testing in Commission Regulation (EU) No 563/2012 of 27 June 2012, amending Annex VII to Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the list of EU reference laboratories (6) with retroactive effect as of 1 January 2012.

(5)

In September 2011 RIKILT introduced a provisional work programme for the year 2012 as a part of its candidacy. Following its designation, an updated work programme and corresponding budget estimates were transmitted by RIKILT. The Commission has assessed and approved the updated work programme and corresponding budget estimates submitted by the European Union reference laboratories for the year 2012.

(6)

The work programme is being performed since 1 January 2012. A financing is therefore needed as of 1 January 2012.

(7)

The 2012 work plan being a sufficiently detailed framework in the meaning of Article 90(2) and (3) of the Implementing Rules, the present decision constitutes a financing decision.

(8)

Accordingly, a Union financial aid should be granted to the European Union reference laboratories designated in order to co-finance their activities to carry out the functions and duties provided for in Article 32 of Regulation (EC) No 882/2004. The Union’s financial aid should be at the rate of 100 % of eligible costs as defined in Implementing Regulation (EU) No 926/2011.

(9)

In accordance with Article 3(2)(a) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1290/2005 of 21 June 2005 on the financing of the common agricultural policy (7), animal disease eradication and control programmes (veterinary measures) shall be financed from the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF). Furthermore, Article 13, second paragraph of that regulation foresees that in duly justified exceptional cases, for measures and programmes covered by Council Decision 90/424/EEC of 26 June 1990 on expenditure in the veterinary field (8), expenditure relating to administrative and personnel costs incurred by Member States and beneficiaries of aid from the EAGF shall be borne by the Fund. For financial control purposes, Article 9, 36 and 37 of Regulation (EC) No 1290/2005 are to apply.

(10)

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

(1)

Achieving a single monetary policy entails defining the instruments and procedures to be used by the Eurosystem in order to implement such a policy in a uniform manner throughout the Member States whose currency is the euro.

(2)

A number of updates are required to address, inter alia, the phasing-in of asset-backed security loan-level data reporting requirements, specifications regarding coupon definitions, performance monitoring data and the calculation of financial penalties for non-compliance with counterparty obligations.

(3)

Therefore, Guideline ECB/2011/14 of 20 September 2011 on monetary policy instruments and procedures of the Eurosystem (1) should be amended accordingly,