22.12.2011 Official Journal of the European Union L 341/57 COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION of 19 December 2011 on a Union financial contribution for 2011 to cover expenditure incurred by Germany, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Malta, the Netherlands and Portugal for the purpose of combating organisms harmful to plants or plant products (notified under document C(2011) 9243) (Only the Dutch, German, Greek, Italian, Maltese, Portuguese and Spanish texts are authentic) (2011/868/EU) THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Having regard to Council Directive 2000/29/EC of 8 May 2000 on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community ('), and in particular Article 23(5) thereof, Whereas: 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. Germany introduced two requests for financial contribution. The first one was introduced on 20 December 2010 and relates to measures taken in 2009 and 2010 to control Anoplophora glabripennis in Nordrhein-Westfalen. The outbreak of that harmful organism was detected there in 2009. The second request of Germany was introduced on 15 April 2011 and relates to measures taken in 2010 to eradicate or contain Diabrotica virgifera in Baden-Wiirt- temberg. The outbreaks of that harmful organism were detected in different districts of that State (Breisgau- Hochschwarzwald, ~ Emmendingen,  Freiburg city, Konstanz, Loerrach, Ortenaukreis and Ravensburg) in different years, ie. 2008, 2009 and 2010. The measures taken in 2008 and 2009 have also been the subject to co-financing in 2009 and 2010. Italy introduced three requests for financial contribution on 29 April 2011. The first request relates to measures taken in 2011 in Lombardia, province of Brescia, commune of Gussago, to control Anoplophora chinensis. The outbreak of that harmful organism was detected in () O] L 169, 10.7.2000, p. 1. (10) 2008. The measures taken in 2008, 2009 and 2010 have also been the subject of co-financing in 2009 and 2010. The second request of Italy relates to the measures taken in 2011 in Veneto, province of Treviso, commune of Cornuda, to control Anoplophora glabripennis. The outbreak of that harmful organism was detected in 2009. The measures taken in 2009 and 2010 have also been the subject of co-financing in 2010. The third request of Italy relates to measures taken in 2010 in Emilia-Romagna, provinces of Bologna, Ferrara, Ravenna and Forli-Cesena, to control Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae. The outbreak of that harmful organism was confirmed in 2010. Moreover, Italy introduced a fourth request for financial contribution on 20 April 2011. That request relates to measures taken in 2011 in Lazio, commune of Rome, to control Anoplophora chinensis. The outbreak of that harmful organism was detected in 2008. Measures taken in 2008, 2009 and 2010 have also been the subject of co-financing in 2009 and 2010. Cyprus introduced a request for financial contribution on 29 April 2011 relating to measures taken or planned for 2011 to control Rhynchophorus ferrugineus. The outbreaks of that harmful organism were detected in 2009, 2010 and 2011. Measures taken in 2010 have also been the subject of co-financing in 2010. Malta introduced a request for financial contribution on 29 April 2011 relating to measures taken in 2010 and 2011 to control Rhynchophorus ferrugineus. The outbreaks of that harmful organism were detected in 2008, 2009 and 2010. Measures taken in 2008 and 2009 have also been the subject of co-financing in 2009. The Netherlands introduced three requests for financial contribution on 13 December 2010. The first request relates to measures taken in 2009 and 2010 in the area of Boskoop to control Anoplophora chinensis. The appearance of that harmful organism was detected in December 2009. The second request of the Netherlands relates to measures taken in 2009 to control Potato Spindle Tuber Viroid (PSTVd). The suspected appearance of that harmful organism was detected in 2009.