15.3.2003 Official Journal of the European Union L 71/25 COMMISSION DECISION of 14 March 2003 on a financial contribution from the Community towards the operational costs of the eradication of foot-and-mouth disease in Ireland in 2001 (notified under document number C(2003) 761) (Only the English text is authentic) (2003/184/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 2001/572/EC (¥, and in particular Article 3(3) and Article 11 thereof, Whereas: (1) As soon as the presence of foot-and-mouth disease was officially confirmed in 2001, Ireland reported that it had immediately implemented the control measures to be applied in the event of an outbreak of that disease as provided for in Council Directive 85/511/EEC of 18 November 1985 introducing Community measures for the control of foot-and-mouth disease (), as last amended by Commission Decision 2003/11/EC (%), as required in order to obtain a financial contribution from the Community for the eradication of the disease in accordance with Decision 90/424/EEC. (2)  Pursuant to Article 3(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1258/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the financing of the common agriculture policy (), veterinary and plant health measures undertaken in accordance with Commu- nity rules are to be financed under the Guarantee Section of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund; for financial control purposes, Articles 8 and 9 of Regulation (EC) No 1258/1999 apply. (3)  The financial contribution from the Community should be granted provided that the actions planned are carried out efficiently and that the competent authorities supply all the necessary information within the time limits laid down in this Decision. (4)  Foot-and-mouth disease represents a serious danger to Community stocks. Accordingly, in order to prevent the spread of that disease and contribute to its eradication, the Community should further contribute to eligible () OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 19. () OJ L 203, 28.7.2001, p. 16. () OJL 315, 26.11.1985, p. 11. () OJL7,11.1.2003, p. 82. () OJ L 160, 26.6.1999, p. 103. expenditures incurred by Ireland. Accordingly, it is appropriate that a financial contribution from the Community should be granted to Ireland under the provisions of Decision 90/424/EEC in order to cover the costs related to the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in 2001. (5)  Under Commission Decision 2001/646EC (*), a Community financial contribution was granted towards the compensation of owners for value of animals compulsorily slaughtered under eradication measures relating to outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in 2001. A financial contribution from the Community should also be granted towards the other, operational costs associated with the slaughter of those animals and toward other costs directly linked to such measures. (6)  The measures provided for in this Decision are in accor- dance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Atrticle 1 Payment of a financial contribution from the Community to Ireland Ireland may obtain a financial contribution from the Commu- nity of 60 % of the eligible expenditure for the operational costs of the measures foreseen in Article 11(4)(a)( i) to (iv) and (b) of Council Decision 90/424/EEC for the eradication of foot- and-mouth disease in Ireland in 2001. Atticle 2 Definitions For the purpose of this Decision, the following definitions shall apply: (a) ‘reasonable payments’ means payments for the purchase of materials or services at proportionate prices compared to the market prices before the outbreak of the foot-and- month disease; Cx justified payments’ means payments for the purchase of materials or services of which the nature and the direct link with the compulsory slaughter of animals as referred to in Article 11 of Decision 90/424[EEC in the holdings is demonstrated. () OJ L 228, 24.8.2001, p. 24.