
Article 1 
Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/159 is amended as follows:

((1)) the first subparagraph of Article 1 is replaced by the following:
'In order to be granted a financial contribution of the Union the Member States shall provide, within 2 months from the official confirmation of the presence of a pest referred to in Article 17 of Regulation (EU) No 652/2014, preliminary information concerning the outbreak of the pest. That preliminary information shall be submitted by means of an electronic file, in accordance with the template set out in Annex I to this Decision. The notifications to the Commission as described in Article 1 and 2 of Implementing Decision 2014/917/EU are considered as such preliminary information.';
((2)) the second subparagraph of Article 1 is replaced by the following:
'No later than 6 months after the official confirmation of the presence of the pest, Member States shall submit to the Commission an application for a grant pursuant to Article 16(1) of Regulation (EU) No 652/2014 by means of an electronic file, in accordance with templates 1 and 2 set out in Annex II to this Decision.';
((3)) in the third subparagraph of Article 1, the following point is inserted:
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(e) the estimated costs of compensation to owners for the values of the destroyed plants, plant products or other objects as referred to in Article 18(1)(d) of Regulation (EU) No 652/2014.
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((4)) the fifth subparagraph of Article 1 is replaced by the following:
'Applications for a grant for the estimated cost essential for the eradication and/or containment of a pest for which an application was already sent in previous calendar years, shall contain the updated versions of Annex II (1 and 2) to this Decision.';
((5)) in Article 2, points (a) and (b) are replaced as below, and the following point (c) is inserted:
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((a)) the request for payment for the eligible costs incurred, using an electronic file in accordance with templates 1 and 2 set out in Annex III to this Decision; consequently, if applicable, the request for payment set out in Annex III (1) should be applied;
((b)) a final technical report in accordance with Annex IV to this Decision;
((c)) the applications for a grant for the estimated costs of compensation to owners for the values of the destroyed plants, plant products or other objects as referred to in Article 18(1)(d) of Regulation (EU) No 652/2014 shall contain Annex III (2) to this Decision.';
((6)) Article 4 is replaced by the following:
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Article 4 
This Decision shall apply with respect to pest outbreaks notified to the Commission as of 1 January 2017.';
((7)) Annexes I, II, III and IV are amended in accordance with the Annex to this Decision.
Article 2 
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 23 June 2017.
For the Commission
Vytenis ANDRIUKAITIS
Member of the Commission
ANNEX

The Annexes to Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/159 are amended as follows:

((1)) Annex I is replaced by the following:
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ANNEX I 
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((2)) Annex II is replaced by the following:
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ANNEX II 





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((3)) Annex III is replaced by the following:
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ANNEX III 



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((4)) the following Annex IV is added:
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ANNEX IV 


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