
Article 1 
The preparatory action, as set out in the Annex, (the preparatory action) is hereby adopted.
Article 2 
For the purposes of this Decision, the definition of ‘control post’ in Article 1(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1255/97 shall apply.
Article 3 
The maximum contribution of the European Union for the implementation of the preparatory action is set at EUR 2 000 000, to be financed from budget line 17 04 03 03 of the general budget of the European Union for 2010.
Article 4 

1. The authorising officer may adopt any changes to this Decision which are not considered substantial within the meaning of Article 90(4) of Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2342/2002, in accordance with the principles of sound financial management and of proportionality.
2. Cumulated changes of the allocations to the actions covered by the preparatory action not exceeding 10 % of the maximum contribution provided for in Article 3 of this Decision shall not be considered to be substantial within the meaning of Article 90(4) of Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2342/2002, provided that they do not significantly affect the nature and objective of the preparatory action.
Done at Brussels, 30 April 2010.
For the Commission
The President
José Manuel BARROSO
ANNEX
1.1. 
This preparatory action contains one implementing measure for 2010.

On the basis of the objectives given in the preparatory action, the allocation of the budget is for grants for the building or the renovation of control posts (to be implemented in direct centralised management) and is set at: EUR 2 000 000.

1.2. 
Grants shall be awarded by means of a written agreement (grant agreement).

Preparatory action within the meaning of Article 49(6)(b) of Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002.

17 04 03 03

The increased number of animals being transported by road over long journeys has increased the need for improved control posts where animals are to rest. In the interest of animal health and welfare, it has been necessary to introduce specific measures to avoid stress to the animals and the spread of infectious diseases. The objective of the preparatory action is to increase the use of control posts and promote high quality control posts. This preparatory action is a follow up of a previous preparatory action provided for in Decision 2009/755/EC.

The preparatory action shall consist in building or renovating high quality control posts in order to validate an experimental certification scheme based on the results of the feasibility study launched in 2009 pursuant to Decision 2009/755/EC. The preparatory action is expected to encourage an economically viable certification scheme for high quality control posts in order to improve the welfare of animals transported over long journeys.

The implementation shall be carried out directly by the Directorate-General for Health and Consumers.

A single call for proposals of EUR 2 000 000 shall be published.

The preparatory action shall be performed within 24 months from the date of the signature of the grant agreement.

The call for proposals shall be launched after the completion of the study on the evaluation of the feasibility as referred to in Section 1.2 of Decision 2009/755/EC foreseen by the end of May 2010.

70 %


— Financial capacity of the applicant:
— applicants must show that they have the financial capacity to carry out the action to be financed,
— applicants must provide evidence that they have available own resources needed for the Union co-financing requested and to manage the necessary cash-flow for the management of the project. The amount of the grant given to a beneficiary must not exceed the total amount of his/her own capital and long-term debt.
— Technical and professional capacity of the applicant:
— applicants must have the technical capacity and the professional capability to carry out the action to be co-financed. They must provide evidence of their knowledge and experience in the field of animal-related infrastructure and animal transport operations. They must provide certification and descriptions of projects and activities undertaken by them three years before the date of their application and more particularly of projects related to related issues (transport or keeping of animals, building of infrastructure related to animals). They must provide detailed curriculum vitae of each member of their team and demonstrate the managerial capabilities of the project director and manager, including his or her educational background, degrees and diplomas, professional experience, research work and publications,
— applicants must demonstrate that organisations applying for the action are committed to the objectives of the project and support the principle of introducing a certification scheme for control posts which is to be implemented by the action. They must provide evidence of the contacts and international stakeholders that they intend to consult, in particular as regards certification, and whose resources they intend to draw upon in the course of the execution of the preparatory action.

The following general award criteria shall apply:


— soundness of the approach (20 %),
— organisation of work and degree of involvement of competent authorities/organisations in the Member States covered by the action (30 %),
— relevance of the project at Union level and multiplier effect (30 %),
— cost-effectiveness ratio of the project (20 %).

Written agreement.
