20.12.2011 Official Journal of the European Union L 336/75 COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION of 15 December 2011 on a financial contribution from the Union towards certain measures to eradicate foot-and-mouth disease in wild animals in the south-east of Bulgaria in 2011-2012 (notified under document C(2011) 9225) (Only the Bulgarian text is authentic) (2011/855/EU) THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Having regard to Council Decision 2009/470/EC of 25 May 2009 on expenditure in the veterinary field (!), and in particular Article 8(2), the second paragraph of Article 14(4), Article 20, Article 23, Article 31(2), Article 35(2) and Article 36(2) thereof, Whereas: ) 0] 0] Foot-and-mouth disease is a highly contagious viral disease in wild and domestic cloven-hoofed animals with a severe impact on the profitability of livestock farming causing disturbance to trade within the Union and export to third countries. In the event of an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, there is a risk that the disease agent spreads to other holdings keeping animals of susceptible species within the affected Member State, but also to other Member States and to third countries through movements of live susceptible animals or their products. Council Directive 2003/85/EC of 29 September 2003 on Community measures for the control of foot-and-mouth disease repealing Directive 85/511/EEC and Decisions 89/531/EEC and 91/665/EEC and amending Directive 92/46/EEC (%) sets out measures which in the event of an outbreak are to be implemented by Member States as a matter of urgency to prevent further spread of the virus. Decision 2009/470/EC lays down the procedures governing the financial contribution from the Union towards  specific ~ veterinary = measures, including emergency measures. Pursuant to Article 14(2) of that L 155, 18.6.2009, p. 30. L 306, 22.11.2003, p. 1. Decision, Member States shall obtain a financial contribution towards the costs of certain measures to eradicate foot-and-mouth disease. Outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease occurred in Bulgaria in 2011 and cases of this disease were detected in susceptible wild animals. The authorities of Bulgaria were able to demonstrate through regular reporting of information on the development of the disease situation to the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health and continuous submission of reports to the Commission and the Member States that they have efficiently implemented the control measures in the framework of Directive 2003/85/EC. The authorities of Bulgaria have therefore fulfilled all their technical and administrative obligations with regard to the measures provided for in Article 14(2) of Decision 2009/470/EC and Article 6 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 349/2005 (3). In accordance with Article 85(3) of Directive 2003/85[EC, as soon as the competent authority of Bulgaria had a confirmation of the primary case of foot-and-mouth disease in wild animals, it applied the measures provided for in Part A of Annex XVIII to the Directive in order to reduce the spread of disease. Due to the occurrence of foot-and-mouth disease in areas shared between wild animals and susceptible domestic cloven-hoofed animals, for the first time a Member State drew up a plan for the eradication of foot-and- mouth disease in wild animals in the area defined as infected and specified the measures applied on the holdings in that area in accordance with Part B of Annex XVIII to Directive 2003/85/EC. On 4 April 2011, within 90 days following the confir- mation of foot-and-mouth disease in wild animals, Bulgaria submitted a plan for the eradication of foot- and-mouth disease in wild animals in parts of the regions of Burgas, Yambol and Haskovo. () OJ L 55, 1.3.2005, p. 12.