L 82/44 Official Journal of the European Communities 26.3.1999 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 9 March 1999 on a Community financial contribution towards the eradication of bluetongue in Greece (notified under document number C(1999) 507) (Only the Greek text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (1999/221/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Decision 90/424/EEC of 26 June 1990 on expenditure in the veterinary field ('), as last amended by Decision 94/370/EC (*), and in particular Article 3 thereof, Whereas: 1) outbreaks of bluetongue occurred on several islands of the Dodecanese in November and December 1998; (2)  the island of Samos has since been infected by the disease; (3  the provisions concerning slaughtering entire infected flocks are not suited to the particular case of bluetongue because of the way in which it is transmitted; (4)  in the first instance emergency measures had to be taken; (5)  a progress report on the implementation of the measures in question up to 8 January 1999 has been submitted by the Greek authorities and whereas a Community financial contribution 224, 18. 8. 1990, p. 19. 168, 2. 7. 1994, p. 31. 00 =< onll o towards the cost of the measures should be envis- aged; (6)  the arrangements put in place will be reviewed in the light of the results of the sero-surveillance programme; (7) the conditions for Community financial assistance have been met; (8)  the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Veter- inary Committee, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 For the purposes of this Decision, ‘animals affected’ means animals with clinical symptoms of the disease and ‘animals infected or suspected of being affected or infec- ted’ means animals which have reacted positively to a serological test. For the eradication of the bluetongue outbreak in Greece, the Community financial contribution towards the cost of the measures implemented up to 8 January 1999, up to a maximum amount of EUR 0,3 million shall be: — 50 % of the costs incurred by Greece in compen- sating owners for the slaughter and destruction of the animals affected, infected or suspected of being affected or infected,