(1)

On 24 November 2004, outbreaks of bluetongue appeared in Portugal. The emergence of this disease may represent a serious risk to the Community's livestock population.

(2)

In order to prevent the spread of the disease as rapidly as possible, the Community should contribute financially to the eligible expenditure incurred by Portugal in the context of the emergency measures taken to combat the disease, as provided for in Decision 90/424/EEC. Therefore, on 15 September 2005 Commission Decision 2005/660/EC concerning a financial contribution by the Community in the context of the emergency measures taken to combat bluetongue in Portugal in 2004 and 2005 (2) was adopted.

(3)

The Commission has adopted various decisions in order to demarcate the protection and surveillance zones and to set out the conditions governing movements of animals from these zones, the last one being Decision 2005/393/EC of 23 May 2005 on protection and surveillance zones in relation to bluetongue and conditions applying to movements from or through these zones (3).

(4)

Since autumn 2004 the exceptional weakness of rainfalls in Portugal has seriously affected the fodder supply and consequently the possibilities of animal feeding, causing additional costs for the farmers. This situation is of particular consequence in Portugal since holdings specialising in bovine and ovine births are located in the areas affected by the restrictions on animal movements, while those specialising in fattening, which are the natural outlet for animals raised on such holdings, are located outside those areas.

(5)

Other measures were put in place by Portugal in collaboration with Spain to control the epidemic by carrying out epidemiological surveys and disease surveillance measures, including laboratory tests for serological and virological surveillance in the framework of pre-movement testing of animals and entomological surveillance.

(6)

Portugal and Spain have provided evidence of cooperation between both Member States to avoid the spread of the disease by carrying out disease surveillance measures.

(7)

In accordance with Article 3(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1258/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the financing of the common agricultural policy (4), veterinary and plant health measures undertaken in accordance with Community rules are financed by the Guarantee Section of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund. The auditing of those measures falls within Articles 8 and 9 of that Regulation.

(8)

The payment of the financial contribution from the Community should be subject to the condition that the actions planned have actually been carried out and that the authorities supply all the necessary information within the time limits laid down.

(9)

On 25 February 2005, Portugal submitted an initial estimation of the costs incurred in the context of the other emergency measures, including epidemiological surveillance measures taken to combat the disease. This estimation of epidemiological surveillance measures amounts to EUR 4 303 336.

(10)

Pending on-the-spot checks carried on by the Commission, it is now necessary to fix the first instalment of the Community financial contribution. That first instalment should be equal to 50 % of the Community contribution, established on the basis of the estimated eligible expenditure of epidemiological surveillance measures. It is also appropriate to fix the maximum amounts to be reimbursed for the cost of tests and traps used in the framework of these measures.

(11)

Portugal has fulfilled all their technical and administrative obligations with regard to the measures provided for in Article 3 of Decision 90/424/EEC.

(12)

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