# CE2004078EN.01001401.xml

| 27.3.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 78/14 |
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27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 78/14

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(2004/C 78 E/0015)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0219/03

by Alexandros Baltas (PSE) to the Commission

(3 February 2003)

Subject:   Countries which have set in place essential elements of the Integrated Administration and Control System for certain Community aid schemes (IACS)

Subject:

In order to establish the precise situation in the Member States and the willingness of each one to fully comply with the provisions regarding controls on Community aid, will the Commission say:

| 1. | To what extent has the IACS been set up in the EU Member States? Which countries have not yet completed implementation, and what are the prospects for implementation in future? |
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1.

To what extent has the IACS been set up in the EU Member States? Which countries have not yet completed implementation, and what are the prospects for implementation in future?

| 2. | Which countries have submitted full statistical data relating to the IACS and on which countries have financial corrective measures been imposed owing to a failure to submit the above data? |
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2.

Which countries have submitted full statistical data relating to the IACS and on which countries have financial corrective measures been imposed owing to a failure to submit the above data?

| 3. | What is the rate of implementation of on-the-spot checks and how reliable are they? |
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3.

What is the rate of implementation of on-the-spot checks and how reliable are they?

| 4. | Does a single computer database exist for the programme, and, if so, is it available to the bodies involved in implementing it? |
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4.

Does a single computer database exist for the programme, and, if so, is it available to the bodies involved in implementing it?

| 5. | In which countries has codification on the basis of orthophoto maps been completed? |
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5.

In which countries has codification on the basis of orthophoto maps been completed?

| 6. | What progress has Greece made in implementing elements of the IACS, and what is the outlook for 2003? |
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6.

What progress has Greece made in implementing elements of the IACS, and what is the outlook for 2003?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(24 March 2003)

(24 March 2003)

| 1. | IACS has already been implemented for several years to a high and acceptable level in all Member States except Greece. However, IACS is periodically updated in all Member States to take account of new policy instruments, such as the compatibility requirement in respect of certain aid schemes as from 1 January 2003. The Greek authorities have promised full implementation of IACS in Greece by November 2003. |
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1.

IACS has already been implemented for several years to a high and acceptable level in all Member States except Greece. However, IACS is periodically updated in all Member States to take account of new policy instruments, such as the compatibility requirement in respect of certain aid schemes as from 1 January 2003. The Greek authorities have promised full implementation of IACS in Greece by November 2003.

| 2. | All Member States supply annual statistical data in the framework of IACS-related aid schemes. Since 2000 the requirement has been laid down in IACS Regulations and the situation has shown a marked improvement in recent years.
  No financial corrections have been decided in the context of the Commission's clearance of account's procedure for Member States' failure to supply data. However the information received by the Commission's agricultural audit service is scrutinised administratively and on-the-spot during audit missions, often leading to observations and where necessary financial consequences. |
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2.

All Member States supply annual statistical data in the framework of IACS-related aid schemes. Since 2000 the requirement has been laid down in IACS Regulations and the situation has shown a marked improvement in recent years.

No financial corrections have been decided in the context of the Commission's clearance of account's procedure for Member States' failure to supply data. However the information received by the Commission's agricultural audit service is scrutinised administratively and on-the-spot during audit missions, often leading to observations and where necessary financial consequences.

| 3. | Commission Regulation (EC) No 2419/2001 of 11 December 2001 laying down detailed rules for applying the integrated administration and control system for certain Community aid schemes established by Council Regulation (EEC) No 3508/92 (1) lays down minimum on-the-spot checking levels of 5 % for surface aids, 5 % or 10 % for bovine premium schemes, depending on the operational reliability of the national Identification and Registration database, and 10 % for the ewe and goat premium scheme. In practice, all Member States generally exceed the minimum control level.
  The Commission's agricultural audit service routinely controls Member States' performance by means of analytical review, scrutiny of instructions and reports and re-performance of a sample of inspections. The quality of national checks is generally satisfactory largely as a result of the setting up of land parcel and animal identification systems, technological advances ensuring full cross referencing and risk targeting, and rationalisation of controls by means of successive regulatory improvements. |
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3.

Commission Regulation (EC) No 2419/2001 of 11 December 2001 laying down detailed rules for applying the integrated administration and control system for certain Community aid schemes established by Council Regulation (EEC) No 3508/92 (1) lays down minimum on-the-spot checking levels of 5 % for surface aids, 5 % or 10 % for bovine premium schemes, depending on the operational reliability of the national Identification and Registration database, and 10 % for the ewe and goat premium scheme. In practice, all Member States generally exceed the minimum control level.

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The Commission's agricultural audit service routinely controls Member States' performance by means of analytical review, scrutiny of instructions and reports and re-performance of a sample of inspections. The quality of national checks is generally satisfactory largely as a result of the setting up of land parcel and animal identification systems, technological advances ensuring full cross referencing and risk targeting, and rationalisation of controls by means of successive regulatory improvements.

| 4. | Article 2 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 3508/92 (2) requires that Member States set up IACS to comprise 5 main elements, including a computerised database. According to Article 3(2) of Regulation (EEC) No 3508/92 ‘Member States may set up decentralised databases on condition that these, and the administrative procedures for recording and accessing data, are designed homogeneously throughout the territory of the Member State and are compatible with one another’. Therefore, there is no single database. |
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4.

Article 2 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 3508/92 (2) requires that Member States set up IACS to comprise 5 main elements, including a computerised database. According to Article 3(2) of Regulation (EEC) No 3508/92 ‘Member States may set up decentralised databases on condition that these, and the administrative procedures for recording and accessing data, are designed homogeneously throughout the territory of the Member State and are compatible with one another’. Therefore, there is no single database.

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| 5. | According to Article 4 of Regulation (EEC) No 3508/92 there is no regulatory obligation on Member States to have an identification system on the basis of ortho-photo maps. The systems in Belgium, Ireland, Portugal, and Finland are fully dependent on ortho-photos. Greece's system is similarly constructed but not yet complete. Denmark and Italy have systems with full ortho-photo coverage, and also use digital mapping techniques. The Netherlands and Sweden deploy a system with partial use of ortho-photography. |
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5.

According to Article 4 of Regulation (EEC) No 3508/92 there is no regulatory obligation on Member States to have an identification system on the basis of ortho-photo maps. The systems in Belgium, Ireland, Portugal, and Finland are fully dependent on ortho-photos. Greece's system is similarly constructed but not yet complete. Denmark and Italy have systems with full ortho-photo coverage, and also use digital mapping techniques. The Netherlands and Sweden deploy a system with partial use of ortho-photography.

| 6. | Greece has not yet completed its bovine identification and registration system pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 of the Parliament and of the Council of 17 July 2000 establishing a system for the identification and registration of bovine animals and regarding the labelling of beef and beef products and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 820/97 (3), which had to be fully in place by 1 January 2000 at the latest. Likewise, the system whereby sheep and goat farmers are required to maintain flock movement registers, pursuant to Council Directive 92/102/EEC of 27 November 1992 on the identification and registration of animals (4), does not operate correctly. Greece's Land Parcel Identification System that pursuant to Council Regulation (EEC) No 3508/92 was to be finalised by 1 January 1997 at the latest is still incomplete.
  These deficiencies relate to key components of IACS. Consequently, the regulatory and administrative controls, such as computerised cross-checks, cannot be applied and on-farm inspections are not fully reliable.
  The Commission constantly monitors the situation in Greece, and has received certain undertakings from the Greek authorities regarding progress expected during 2003 that, if such a program is confirmed, would significantly enhance IACS performance in respect of the claim year 2004, payable in financial year 2005. |
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6.

Greece has not yet completed its bovine identification and registration system pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 of the Parliament and of the Council of 17 July 2000 establishing a system for the identification and registration of bovine animals and regarding the labelling of beef and beef products and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 820/97 (3), which had to be fully in place by 1 January 2000 at the latest. Likewise, the system whereby sheep and goat farmers are required to maintain flock movement registers, pursuant to Council Directive 92/102/EEC of 27 November 1992 on the identification and registration of animals (4), does not operate correctly. Greece's Land Parcel Identification System that pursuant to Council Regulation (EEC) No 3508/92 was to be finalised by 1 January 1997 at the latest is still incomplete.

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These deficiencies relate to key components of IACS. Consequently, the regulatory and administrative controls, such as computerised cross-checks, cannot be applied and on-farm inspections are not fully reliable.

The Commission constantly monitors the situation in Greece, and has received certain undertakings from the Greek authorities regarding progress expected during 2003 that, if such a program is confirmed, would significantly enhance IACS performance in respect of the claim year 2004, payable in financial year 2005.

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(1)  OJ L 327, 12.12.2001.

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(2)  Council Regulation (EEC) No 3508/92 of 27 November 1992 establishing an integrated administration and control system for certain Community aid schemes, OJ L 355, 5.12.1992.

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(3)  OJ L 204, 11.8.2000.

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(4)  OJ L 355, 5.12.1992.

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