Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on improving Community Agricultural Statistics
Date: 1995-10-16
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU programme, EU statistics, action programme, agricultural statistics, national statistics, statistical method

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES 

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Brussels,  16.10.1995 
COM(95) 472 final 

95/0250  (CNS) 

Proposal  for  a 

COUNCIL  DECISION 

on improving Community Agricultural Statistics 

(presented  by the  Commission) 

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 

Summary 

The set  of  Community  agricultural  statistics  built  up piecemeal  over the  last  30 years  has served  and 
continues to serve well.  In order to follow the reform of the Common Agricultural  Policy  a screening of 
agricultural  statistics  has been carried out  under the  1989-1992 statistical  programme  v»).  As a  result 
of  this  operation  it  is  possible  to  identify  those  improvements  and  advantages  which  can  be  obtained 
from a restructuring which, while conserving the main part, would 

(i) 

achieve economies by rationalisation, by pruning and by a more flexible approach 

(ii) 

take account of new priorities and new information needs. 

Following  the  framework  programme  for  priority  actions  in  the  field  of  statistical  information  1993  to 
1997 (2) the present draft  Council decision sets down the areas where economies  are to be sought and 
those where strengthening  is needed.  It provides a management  framework  for  implementing  changes 
and sets out the  principles  governing  the  changes.  It provides  a mechanism  for  continuing  adaptation 
it  ensures  that  the  statistical  services  of  the  Member  States  are  closely 
as  circumstances  change, 
involved  in the  planning  of  the  tasks  they  will  carry  out.  The  procedures  proposed  will  also  facilitate 
integration of this sector planning in overall statistical planning. 

The needs for action 

1. 

2. 

The  importance  of the  Common Agricultural  Policy  (CAP)  lead to the development  by Eurostat 
in the 60's and 70's of  numerous statistical  applications.  Many were  covered  by  Council  legal 
instruments.  Others are based on "gentleman's agreements".  These met and continue to meet 
the  considerable  needs  of  the  CAP  for  statistics  to  support  its  current  management  and  to 
prepare and monitor its evolution. 

Each  of  the  applications  has  been  kept  up-to-date  in  the  face  of  changes  in  the  sector 
concerned.  However  the  need for  more fundamental  revision  has made  itself  increasingly  felt 
in recent years.  There are seven main issues: 

(i) 

(ii) 

the  progressive  enlargements  of  the  Community  (and  the  prospect  of  further 
enlargement)  have made inappropriate some aspects of  most  applications,  either in 
their general approach  or in their details.  There are new agricultural situations, new 
statistical situations and so greater diversity also. 

The  passing  of  time  has  seen  substantial  changes  in  agricultural  situations  and  in 
statistical technology affecting the way data can be collected. 

C ) Council Resolution of 19 June 1989 (OJ No. C/161 of 26 June 1989) 

<2) Council Decision 93/464/EEC  (OJ No. L 219 of 28 August  1993) 

a 

(iii) 

(iv) 

(v) 

(vi) 

(vii) 

As the problems which policies have to adress have changed so have the  information 
requirements.  The  reform  of  the  Common  Agricultural  Policy  and  the  increased 
recognition  of  the  impact  of  agricultural  policies  on  other  areas  (future  of  the  rural 
world,  environment  etc.)  require  changes  and  developments  in  the  information 
furnished by agricultural statistics applications. 

National  administrations  everywhere  are  under  pressure  to  make  economies;  also 
national  statistical  services. 
In  choosing  where  to  make  economies  statistical 
managers look with an increasingly  critical eye at the mass of community  agricultural 
statistics.  To  meet  the  many  new  needs  where  Community  and  national  interest 
coincide  they  transfer  resources  away  from  agricultural  statistics  seen  as  already 
over-endowed,  inefficient  and  not  a  national  priority.  There  is  a  danger  that  the 
quality of  Community  agricultural statistics deteriorates. 

The  Agricultural  Statistics  applications  were  developed  piecemeal,  each  meeting 
clear  needs  in  a  particular  area  regarded  at  the  time  as  not  overlapping  with  other 
applications.  However  the  lack  of  integration  into  a  unified  coherent  structure  has 
become increasingly seen as leading to waste. 

In  recent  years  Eurostat  has  built  up  various  other  sectors  of  statistics.  The  gap 
between agricultural statistics and other sectors is now much less.  This facilitates the 
balanced  integration  of  agricultural  statistics within  the general  community  statistical 
system which is now necessary. 

The management of the European Statistical  Information System has been structured 
and formalised  in  recent  years.  There  is integrated  programme  planning  as well  as 
regular  consultation  procedures  with  Member  States'  statistical  services.  These 
services  carry  out  almost  all  the  data  collection  required  by  the  Community 
programme  (which  overlaps  with  national  programmes).  For  agricultural  statistics 
there is heavy involvement of agricultural  ministries as data suppliers and users.  The 
efficient  and transparent  management  of this  strongly  subsidiarised  system  needs to 
include  a formal  mechanism which  both specifically  involves  agricultural  statisticians 
and also fits into overall statistical planning. 

Exploration of the problem 

3. 

The  Commission  has  carried  out  a  detailed  review  of  the  existing  agricultural  statistics 
applications  in  the  light  of  current  information  requirements.  This  review,  complemented  by 
informal  discussions  with  Member  State  agricultural  statisticians,  has  allowed  the  following 
conclusions to be reached 

(i) 

the  resource  demands  which  current  applications  make  on  Member  States  can  be 
reduced by 

rationalisation 

allowing  Member  States  more flexibility  (within  a controlled  framework)  on 
how data are collected 

concentrating resources on the most important  phenomena 

reducing coverage of items which now have less importance. 

(ii) 

Specific areas have been identified where there is potential for such savings.  Careful 
planning  is needed  however to  ensure  (a) that  any  quality  reductions  are  minimised 
and are acceptable given the use which will be made of the data, (b) that the "acquis 
communautaire" is not endangered. 

a 

(iii) 

(iv) 

(v) 

There are areas where there are new or reinforced information  needs for  Community 
agricultural statistics. 

The  process  of  restructuring  Community  Agricultural  Statistics,  of  adaptation  of 
national systems and of developing  new tools will  not be easy. Community  financial 
support will facilitate the necessary changes. 

The  aim  has  to  be  not  to  revolutionise  the  current  system  but  to  improve  it  by 
appropriate adaptations, reductions and extensions. 

The solution proposed 

4. 

This Council decision 

- 

fixes the work  areas  in which  improvements  are to  be sought,  and the  principles  governing 
those improvements; 

-  establishes  a  mechanism  for  implementing  the  improvements  which  ensures  appropriate 

involvement  of all those concerned; 

-  provides  measures  to  facilitate  the  small  changes  necessary  in  the  specification  of 

community  requirements and in national systems for meeting those requirements; 

-  allows adaptation to take account of evolving circumstances. 

It thus provides the tools for tackling the various issues requiring action set out in paragraph 2. 

Proposal for a Council decision 
on improving Community Agricultural Statistics 

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION 

Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the  European  Community  and  in  particular  article  43 
thereof, 

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission  1), 

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament  2\ 

Having  regard to the framework  programme for priority actions in the field  of statistical  information 
1993 to 19973) and in particular its Article 4.a), 

Whereas  this  1993-1997  framework  programme  foresees  a  better  utilisation  of  the  resources 
devoted  to  agricultural  statistics  by  the  implementation  of  the  results  of  a  "screening"  operation 
carried out under the previous statistical programme  4); 

Whereas  this  "screening"  has  identified  the  main  features  of  the  changes  required  to  Community 
agricultural statistics; 

Whereas these features include the main areas where economies may be obtained and where there 
are new reinforced needs; whereas these changes should conform to agreed general principles. 

Whereas  the  national  adaptations  have  to  be  coordinated  and  monitored  at  Community  level,  in 
order to ensure that 

(i) 

(ii) 

(iii) 

(iv) 

(v) 

1) 

2) 
3) 
4) 

data  remain  adequately  reliable  at  country  level  and  adequately  comparable  between 
countries, 
the  changes  to  Council  legislation  which  may  be  necessary  can  be  identified,  prepared 
and proposed by the Commission  in good time and in addition that Commission  decisions 
implementing details of Council legislation are also taken in good time, 
methodological  studies by different  Member States into efficient  ways of  meeting the new 
information needs are complementary  and comprehensive, 
the  scheduling  of  national  activities  take  good  account  of  the  collective  Community 
interest, 
the  community  financial  resources  facilitating  this  programme  are  used  in  the  most 
efficient way. 

OJNo.  ... 

OJ No. ... 

Council Decision 93/464/EEC  (OJ No  L219 of 28 August  1993) 

Council Resofution of  19 June 1989 (OJ No  C/161 of 26 June 1989) 

S 

Whereas the  best  means to  achieve this coordination  is within  a formal  structure  which  allows the 
technical  constraints  and  preferences  to  be  considered  collectively  and  choices  made  which 
reconcile  national and community  interests  ; whereas the broad conclusion of this collective  choice 
must be taken into account in the forward planning of statistics submitted each year for examination 
by the Statistical Programme Committee; 

Whereas  a  financial  contribution  from  the  Community  to  Member  States  is  necessary  under 
carefully defined conditions to facilitate the changes required; 

Whereas  to  achieve  the  desired  economies,  changes  may  be  necessary  in  the  technical 
implementation  of  certain  surveys;  such  changes  should  be  permitted  subject  to  appropriate 
safeguards; 

Whereas the  collection  and primary  processing  by  Member  States  of  agricultural  statistics  needed 
for  Community  purposes  and  the  coordination  of  this  work  as  well  as  the  secondary  processing, 
storage  and  dissemination  of  the  data  concerned  by  the  services  of  the  Commission,  governed 
where appropriate by legal acts of the Council, is fully in accord with the principles of subsidiarity; 

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION 

ARTICLE 1 

Purpose 

In  order  to  improve  the  way  Community  agricultural  statistics  meet  current  information  needs 
following  the  reform  of  the  Common  Agricultural  Policy,  Member  States  shall  adapt  their  national 
agricultural  statistics  in  the  work  areas  set  out  in  annexes  1  and  2  hereto,  to  the  objectives, 
characteristics and criteria given in annex 3. 

Role of Commission 

ARTICLE 2 

The  Commission  shall  contribute  to  this  process  by  (a)  establishing  in  conjunction  with  Member 
States  (i)  common  work  scheduling  and  (ii)  general  frameworks  for  methodological  studies,  (b) 
checking  data quality  and comparability,  (c)  identifying  and  implementing  community  level  actions 
which are important for the purpose of this decision. 

Time frame and procedure 

ARTICLE 3 

A  first  phase  of  improvements  to  Community  agricultural  statistics  shall  be  carried  out  during the 
period  1995-1997. 
It  shall  be  coordinated  by  the  Commission  through  technical  action  plans  as 
provided for in Article 4 hereto. 

6 

Technical Action Plans for Agricultural Statistics 

ARTICLE 4 

1. 

A technical  action  plan for agricultural  statistics  shall  be decided  by the  Commission  each 
year in accordance with the procedure  in article  10.  These  plans shall cover the actions to 
be carried out by the Member States pursuant to Article  1 hereto.  They shall use available 
resources  in  such  a way  as  to  make  the  greatest  improvement  to  the  cost-efficiency  of 
Community  agricultural statistics, in meeting the  requirements  of  Community  law,  informal 
agreements and new information needs. 

2. 

Each annual technical  action plan shall include a detailed statement  of activity  for the  next 
year and an indicative timetable for the following 2 years.  It shall take account of: 

(i) 

the  existing  obligations  for  the  years  in  question  e.g.  the  list  and  periodicity  of 
Community  surveys to  be  carried  out  by the  Member  States  and  other  data  to  be 
provided to the Commission, 

(ii) 

written input from Member States as provided for in article 5b) and c) hereof, 

(iii) 

the  resources  required  for  each  of  the  actions  under  consideration  and  the 
resources available. 

ARTICLE 5 

Member State Reports 

Member States shall submit each year (year n) before the 31st of March: 

(a) 

(b) 

(c) 

a succinct  report  on  the  execution  of  the  actions  agreed  for  the  previous  year, 
(year n-1), 

a description of the actions proposed for the following year (year n+1), 

notification  of  any  relevant  major  activities  planned or foreseen  in the  two  years 
thereafter  (years n+2 and n+3) which are relevant to the purposes of this decision. 

The description  shall  cover  the  changes  proposed  for  immediate  action  and  any  preparatory  work 
needed, difficulties  foreseen  and proposals for  overcoming  them, the  implications  for  national  and 
Community  resources  and  proposals  for  improvements  at  Community  level.  Actions  for  which 
Community financial support is sought shall be identified. 

Financial provisions 

ARTICLE 6 

1. 

2. 

The  Community  shall  contribute  to  the  costs  of  adapting  national  agricultural  statistical 
systems or of preparatory work related to new or reinforced needs. 

The  amount  of  the  contribution  for  Member  States  shall  be  decided  each  year  by  the 
Commission  in  conjunction  with  the  technical  action  plan  and  in  accordance  with  the 
procedure laid down in Article 10. 

9 

The contribution shall be made available to Member States each year after submission and 
approval by the Commission of the annual report on the execution of the actions agreed for 
the  previous  year.  The  Commission  shall  carry  out  any  on-the-spot  checks  it  judges 
necessary. 

Flexibility 

ARTICLE 7 

Where  necessary  to  meet the  purposes  of this decision, the  Commission  may  approve  a  member 
state's  request  to  adapt  one  or  more  of  the  following  features  of  the  surveys  listed  in  annex  4: 
regions  covered,  territorial  sub-divisions,  definitions,  survey  methodology,  survey  date,  list  of 
characteristics and size classes, in accordance with the procedure laid down in article 10. 

Adapting to changing  circumstances 

ARTICLE 8 

The  Commission  may  add  new  items  to  annex  1 (areas  in which  potential  economies  have  been 
identified)  or  annex  2  (areas  where  there  are  new  or  reinforced  needs)  in  accordance  with  the 
procedure laid down in Article 10. 

Role of Standing Committee on Agricultural Statistics 

ARTICLE 9 

The  SCAS  (Standing  Committee  on  Agricultural  Statistics)5)  shall  meet  at  least  once  a  year  to 
discuss the following: 

(i) 

(ii) 

(iii) 

(iv) 

the reports made by the Member States on the execution of the programme, 

the  actions  proposed  by  the  Member  States  for  the  following  year  and  the 

outlook for the two years thereafter, 

the technical action plan for the following year, 

the Community financial contribution provided for in article 6 hereto. 

Necessary measures for the implementation 

ARTICLE 10 

The Commission  shall  adopt the  necessary  measures for the  implementation  of this decision. The 
Commission  shall  be  assisted  by  the  Standing  Committee  on  Agricultural  Statistics,  hereinafter 
referred to as the "Committee". 

The representative  of the Commission shall submit to the Committee  a draft  of the measures to be 
taken. The  Committee  shall deliver  its  opinion  on the draft  within  a time  limit  which  the  chairman 
may lay down according to the urgency of the matter, if necessary by taking a vote. 

5) 

Instituted by Council Decision 72/279/EEC of 31 July  1972 

tf 

The opinion shall be recorded in the minutes, in addition, each Member State shall have the right to 
ask to have its position recorded in the minutes. 

The Commission  shall take the  utmost  account  of the opinion delivered  by the Committee.  It shall 
inform the Committee of the manner in which its opinion has been taken into account. 

Report 

ARTICLE 11 

Before the  1st of December  1997 the  Commission, having  consulted the  Standing  Committee for 
Agricultural  Statistics,  shall  make  a  report  on  the  operation  of  this  Decision  to  the  European 
Parliament and to the Council accompanied if necessary by proposals for its renewal. 

This decision is addressed to the Member States. 

ARTICLE 12 

Done at Brussels 

1995 

For the Council 

The President 

? 

IMPROVING COMMUNITY AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS: 

ANNEX 1.  AREAS IN WHICH POTENTIAL  ECONOMIES  HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED1) 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

8. 

Farm structure surveys: less frequency, reduction of typology and of the questionnaire. 

Survey  on  the  area  under  vines:  elimination  of  several  tables;  possible  integration  into  the 
structure survey. 

Survey on fruit trees: possible elimination of intermediate surveys. 

Farm income index: elimination of the first desegregated estimates in October, less detail. 

Total Income of Agricultural Households: greater flexibility  in frequency and in target concepts. 

Animal  surveys:  to  apply  the  agriflex  concept,  i.e.  to  adapt  the  frequency  of  the  surveys  to  the 
importance of livestock in each country. 

Slaughterings: meat  production to concentrate investigations on industrial slaughtering. 

Dairy  statistics: to  eliminate  weekly  statistics;  to  eliminate  statistics  on  casein, to  reduce  annual 
and dairy structure statistics. 

9. 

Eggs and hatcheries: to eliminate statistics on eggs in incubators and on layer chickens. 

10. 

Animal  feeding  stuffs:  reduced  frequency  of  surveys  (every  five  years)  for  the  effective 
establishment of a fodder balance sheet (supply and demand). 

1 ) 

In the review of agricultural statistics carried out under the Statistical Programme of the European Communities 1989-1992. 

IMPROVING COMMUNITY AGRICULTURAL  STATISTICS: 

ANNEX 2.  AREAS WHERE THERE ARE NEW OR REINFORCED NEEDS2) 

Topics 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

8. 

Rapid  estimates  of  sowings  and  planting  intentions  at  the  beginning  of  the  winter  for  principal 
crops. 

Estimates on the volume of stocks of principal products (inter alia cereals, oilseeds, meats). 

Statistically reliable data on poultry and egg production. 

Statistically  reliable data on fruit and vegetable production. 

Estimates  of  the  consumption  of  principal  products:  animal  consumption  of  cereal  and  oil  seed 
cakes: and wine consumption. 

Inclusion  in the  structure  survey  of  questions  about  other  gainful  employment  and  of  breakdown 
according to target regions. 

Publication of harmonised Community forestry statistics. 

Agriculture  Price  Statistics:  new  selection  of  the  absolute  agricultural  price  series  taking  into 
account the technical progress and economic changes. 

Methodology 

9. 

Improved  and  new  methods  to  allow  Member  States  to  meet  more  efficiently  existing  and  new 
information needs e.g. light surveys, administrative data, panels, remote sensing. 

2) 

Identified  in the  review  of  agricultural  statistics  carried  out  under  the  Statistical  Programme  of  the  European  Communities 
1989-1992.  N.B. Any new statistical obligations will be the subject of separate Council legal instruments. 

lo 

IMPROVING COMMUNITY AGRICULTURAL  STATISTICS: 

ANNEX 3.  OBJECTIVES, CHARACTERISTICS AND CRITERIA 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

8. 

Constant  improvement 

The  Community  Agricultural  Statistics  (CAS)  will  steadily  increase  in  cost-efficiency  and  in 
completeness in meeting Community and other needs for agricultural statistical information. 

Positive comparability  checking 

The  CAS  will  incorporate  continuing  quality  checking  to  ensure  that  data  are  adequate  for  the 
needs  to  which  they  are  put. 
In  particular  Member  States  may  be  required  to  inform  the 
Commission and other Member States about the statistical methods used and their suitability. 

Response burden 

The  CAS  will  impose  the  smallest  burden  of  response  consistent  with  meeting  needs  for 
information. 

Integration of agriculture and other statistics 

The  improvement  to  CAS will  facilitate  (a) drawing  on statistics  from  other  areas,  (b)  contributing 
data  to  general  statistical  systems,  (c)  use  of  the  agricultural  statistics  apparatus  to  collect 
statistical information required by other areas. 

Complementarity  between Community and national levels 

National agricultural statistics systems may collect and deliver to the Commission data not formally 
provided  for  at  the  Community  level  and  certain  applications  developed  directly  at  Community 
level  (for  example  EUROFARM,  SPEL)  may  be  used  to  provide  to  Member  States  information 
which is not available at the national level. 

Concentrate on the most important 

The amount  of  information  each Member  State supplies  may  vary  according to the  importance of 
the phenomenon covered regionally, nationally and at Community level. 

Most efficient  national approach 

Member States may collect basic data by the statistical method which is most efficient  in providing 
data  of  the  definition,  timeliness  and  accuracy  required  (subject  to  2.  above).  The  use  of 
administrative data as input into agricultural statistics is not excluded. 

Optimisation 

The  detailed  Community  requirements  as  set  out  in  various  Community  legal  instruments  and 
informal agreements do not in themselves  constitute  an optimised structure.  Each  Member State 
optimises  in  its  own way,  how  its  national  system  of  agricultural  statistics  meets  the  Community 
requirements.  The Community requirements shall not unnecessarily impede national optimisation. 

K 

IMPROVING COMMUNITY AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS: 

ANNEX 4.  COUNCIL REGULATIONS AND DIRECTIVES ON AGRICULTURAL  STATISTICS 

DIRECTIVE 72/280/EEC 
L 179/2 
7.8.1972 

Council  Directive  of  31  July  1972  on the  statistical  surveys  to  be 
made by Member States on milk and milk products 

DIRECTIVE 76/625/EEC 
L 218/10 
11.8.1976 

Council  Directive  of 20 July  1976 concerning  statistical  surveys to 
be  carried  out  by  the  Member  States  in  order  to  determine  the 
production potential of plantations of certain species of fruit trees 

DIRECTIVE 93/23/EEC 
L 149/1 
1.6.1993 

DIRECTIVE 93/24/EEC 
L 149/5 
1.6.1993 

DIRECTIVE 93/25/EEC 
L 149/10 
1.6.1993 

Council  Directive  of  1 June  1993  on  the  statistical  surveys  to  be 
carried out on pig production 

Council  Directive  of  1 June  1993  on  the  statistical  surveys  to  be 
carried out on bovine animal production 

Council  Directive  of  1 June  1993  on  the  statistical  surveys  to  be 
carried out on sheep and goat stocks 

REGULATION (EEC) No 3768/85 
L 362/8 
31.12.1985 

Council  Regulation  (EEC)  No  3768/85  of  20  December  1985 
adapting,  on  account  of  the  accession  of  Spain  and  Portugal, 
certain  agricultural  acts  as  regards  the  voting  procedure  of  the 
Committees 

REGULATION (EEC) No 571/88 
L56/1 
2.3.1988 

Council  Regulation  (EEC)  No  571/88  of  29  February  1988  on the 
organization  of Community  surveys  on the  structure  of  agricultural 
holdings between 1988 and 1997 

REGULATION (EEC) No 837/90 
L 88/1 
3.4.1990 

Council  Regulation  (EEC)  No 837/90 of 26 March  1990 concerning 
statistical  information  to  be  supplied  by  the  Member  States  on 
cereals production 

REGULATION (EEC) No 959/93 
L 98/1 
24.4.1993 

Council  Regulation  (EEC)  No  959/93  of  5  April  1993  concerning 
statistical  information  to  be  supplied  by  Member  States  on  crop 
products other than cerials 

V 

FINANCIAL INFORMATION SHEET 

for a programme for improving Community 
agricultural statistics 

1. 

TITLE OF PROJECT 

Programme for the restructuring and adaptation of Community agricultural statistics. 

2. 

BUDGET LINE CONCERNED 

B2-513: Restructuring of agricultural survey systems. 

3. 

LEGAL BASE 

Article 43 of the Treaty. 

4. 

DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT 

4.1 

Specific  objectives 

The  activities  provided  for  in  the  Draft  Decision  are  aimed  at  harmonising  and  improving  the 
flows of data required  for  the implementation  of the Common  Agricultural  Policy.  The legal text 
proposed provides for: 

a  planning  mechanism  permitting  an  adaptation  of  the  national  systems  of  agricultural 
statistics  with  a  view  to  meeting  the  rationalisation  and  efficiency  requirements  more 
effectively; 

a clear definition  of the principles and field of application; 

an  integrated  system  for  Community  agricultural  statistics  which  can  be  continually 
adapted on the basis of developments in information  requirements; 

a  tool  permitting  improved  integration  of  agricultural  statistics  into  a  general  statistical 
system, while retaining their specific  features. 

/)l\ 

4.2 

Duration 

This  is  an  ad  hoc  activity  aimed  at  supporting  the  work  of  the  national  statistical  authorities, 
scheduled for the period  1995-1997. 

4.3 

Target population 

Beneficiaries: 

the  Community  Institutions,  i.e.  Commission,  Council,  European  Parliament,  Court  of 
Auditors etc.; 

Member States; 

the general public (businesses, universities, agricultural associations etc.). 

5. 

CLASSIFICATION  OF EXPENDITURE  OR  REVENUE 

5.1 

Non-compulsory  expenditure 

5.2 

Differentiated  appropriations 

5.3 

Types of revenue 

The sale of the statistics produced only partly covers cost of collection. 

6.  NATURE OF EXPENDITURE OR REVENUE 

6.1 

100% subsidy 

No. 

6.2 

Subsidy for  co-financing  with  other public and/or private sector sources 

Yes:  co-financing by public sector (budgets of national statistical services). 

The principle of subsidiarity is generally applied to statistical activities in the Community - in other 
words the major  portion  of costs are borne  by the Member  States.  The Community  contribution 
to  the  entire  Community  agricultural  statistics  is  less  than  5%  of  the  total  expenditure 
Nevertheless,  the  Community  contribution  may be  greater,  but  not  more  than  50%  of  the  total 
costs of each operation,  in the case of certain  very specific  ad hoc activities which are vital for the 
adequate  integration  of the national  systems into the  Community  system.  This  is particularly  the 
case with the specific  programme forming  the subject  of the draft  Decision. This contribution will 

be restricted to investment essential for the implementation of the above-mentioned  activities, and 
will not  include day-to-day  operating  costs. The details of the  contribution  will be  decided  each 
year by the  Commission  as provided  for  in Article 6.2  of the  draft  Decision.  The programme  of 
activities to be carried  out  by each Member  State  must be  submitted  in advance to the  Standing 
Committee on Agricultural  Structures  (CPS A) (cf.  Article 9 of the draft  Decision), before  being 
approved by the Commission. 

6.3 

Interest subsidy 

No. 

6.4  Other 

None. 

If  the  activity  is  an  economic  success,  is  partial  or  total  reimbursement  of  the 
Community financial  contribution provided for? 

6.5 

No. 

6.6 

Does the proposed activity entail a change in the amount of revenue? 

No. 

7. 

FINANCIAL  IMPLICATIONS 

7.1  Method for calculating the total cost of the activity 

A  total  of  ECU  3  million  (or  an  average  of  200  000  per  Member  State  for  the  entire  period 
scheduled)  of  commitment  and  payment  appropriations  distributed  according  to  the  annual 
timetable shown in 7.3. 

The  annual  allocation  of  appropriations  for  this  activity  will  be  decided  as  part  of  the  annual 
budget procedure on the basis of the results achieved in the light of a cost-benefit  analysis. 

This contribution  will go to the national  bodies responsible for  collecting agricultural  statistics on 
the basis of the work carried out under programmes which have been drawn up and approved. 

7.2  What proportion of the total cost is accounted for by the "mini-budget": 

None. 

1C 

7.3 

Provisional schedule of commitments and payments 

Commitment appropriations (ECU Mio) 
Payment appropriations (ECU Mio) 

1995 
0.4 
0.2 

1996 
0.4 
0.4 

1997 
2.2 
1.5 

1998 

0.9 

S. 

a) 

b) 

ANTI-FRAUD PROVISIONS IN THE PROPOSAL 

Payment  for  the contract  and conventions concluded by the Commission  will be based on 
results obtained. 

Statistics  are  regarded  as  an  objective  instrument  for  assessing  Community  action 
programmes and thus contribute towards the consolidation of the anti-fraud  mechanisms. 

9. 

COST/BENEFIT 

9.1  Objective(s) 

This draft  Decision is aimed at harmonising and improving flows of data which for the most part 
already exist. The action planned would permit: 

savings to be made by rationalising and streamlining the programmes and adopting a more 
flexible approach; 

account to be taken of the new priorities and the information  requirements emerging from 
them. 

9.2 

Justification  of the activity 

The importance of the Common  Agricultural  Policy led Eurostat  to  develop  numerous  statistical 
applications  during  the  1960s  and  1970s.  These  applications  meet  the  considerable  statistical 
requirements resulting from  the CAP for  purposes of day-to-day administration  and for  preparing 
and keeping track of its development over time. 

All  of these  applications  have been  updated  in  order  to  take  account  of  changes  in  the  sector. 
However,  the  reform  of the CAP  and  its  repercussions  in other fields (such  as the  future  of the 
rural  world,  the  environment  etc.)  demand  a  radical  revision  of  the  information  which  the 
statistical  applications are supposed  to provide. 

Eurostat  and  DG  VI  have  analyzed  the  existing  applications  in  detail  in  the  light  of  current 
statistical  requirements.  The  results  of  this  work,  together  with  informal  discussions  with  the 
persons responsible for agricultural statistics at national level, have made It possible to identify 

•r? 

areas in which rationalisation measures are possible; 

general criteria underlying the work to be done (flexibility,  harmonisation, connection with 
other statistical areas, new sources etc.) 

This Decision defines  the formal  framework  for  the organisation,  coordination  and  administration 
of all these activities. 

Tn the  organisation  of  the  European  Statistical  System  (which  is  very  much  subject  to  the 
principle  of  subsidiarity,  ci\  also  the  additional  notes  under  9.2.2),  the  collection  and  initial 
processing  of  statistical  data  (on  agriculture)  are  carried  out  and  financed  by  the  national 
statistical  institutes.  Nevertheless,  a  Community  contribution  is  vital  for  the  work  on 
improving the harmonisation  and coordination  of statistics at Community level, as provided 
for in the action. 

9.2.1  Cost 

The  financing  of  this  project  will  be  essentially  provided  by  the  Member  States  (Section 1, 
paragraph 6.1) which have a well established  statistical collection  and processing structure.  If the 
Commission  had  to  finance  the  programme  in its entirety,  the  costs  would  be  extremely  high 
and the results certainly less reliable. 

9.2.2  Secondary effects 

The results of this activity will contribute to the improvement of the statistics used for the work of 
the  Member  States  and  the  exploitation  of  agricultural  statistics  in  the  General  System  of 
Community Statistics. 

9.2.3  Knock-on effects 

This would  constitute  a step  towards  a European  statistical  area  and  hence  greater  Community-
level integration of the national statistical systems. 

It  will  affect  the  research  and  university  environment,  in  that  they  will  have  unique  scientific 
material for study and analysis in the agricultural  sector. 

9.3  Monitoring and evaluation of the activity 

9.3.1  The selected performance indicators 

Three indicators have been selected for assessing progress: 

budgetary:  for  comparing the annual  plan with  the implementation  of the budget,  which 
must be 100%; 

Itf 

programming:  for  comparing the statistical  output  with the programme fixed in advance 
and the estimated budget for its implementation; 

utilisation  of  resources:  comparative  analyses  are  planned  in  order  to  measure  the 
volume of appropriations required for similar operations and thus to assess evaluations. 

A.  Implementation  of the programme 

The  activities  for  the  implementation  of  this  Decision  will  be  prepared  and  conducted  by  the 
national  and  Commission  departments  responsible  for  agricultural  statistics  as  annual  work 
programmes under the  1993-1997 Community Statistical Programme. 

Each  year,  the  Commission  will  draw  up  a  technical  action  plan  after  consulting  the  Standing 
Committee  on  Agricultural  Statistics  (CPSA).  This plan will  also include  a provisional  schedule 
for the next two years. 

B.  Use of human and budgetary  resources 

-  - 

organisation of pilot surveys; 
adaptation of sampling plans, organisation of surveys, adaptation of registers; 
quality control and guaranteeing comparability of results; 
activities for extracting statistical information from the administrative system; 
training. 

9.3.2  Evaluation procedures and frequency 

The above work will be monitored  on the basis of written communications  submitted once a year 
(year n) by the Member States containing. 

a  summary  report  on  the  implementation  of  activities  provided  for  during  the  previous 
year (year n-1) 

a) 

b) 

(i) 

an action plan for the following year (year n+1 ) 

(ii) 

an  outline  of  important  activities  planned  or  envisaged  for  the  next  two  years 
(years n+2 and n+3). 

The  report  and  plans  will  particularly  concern  any  changes  made  or  difficulties  encountered, 
national and Community resources to be mobilised and proposals for improvement. 

The  monitoring  procedure  provides  for  the  consultation  of  the  Standing  Committee  on 
Agricultural Statistics (CPSA). 

The Commission  will,  by December  1997,  present  a report  to  the European  Parliament  and  the 
Council  on  the  results  obtained,  possibly  accompanied  by  proposals  for  modifications  to  the 
Decision and particularly the annexes. 

>0 

9.4  Consistency with the financial  plan 

9.4.1  Is the work covered by the financial plan of the DG for  the years concerned? 

Yes. 

9.4.2  To what more general objective set out in the DGs financial plan  does the objective of 

the proposed activity correspond? 

Improvement and harmonisation of agricultural statistics at national and Community level. 

9.4.3  Main elements of uncertainty which may affect the specific results of the project 

Resources available to Eurostat  and in the Member States. 

10. 

ADMINISTRATIVE  EXPENDITURE (PART A OF THE BUDGET) 

10.1  Does the proposed activity involve an increase in the number of Commission  staff? 

No. 

10.2  What operating and staff costs will be generated by the proposed activity? 

2 

ISSN 0254-1475 

COM(95) 472  final 

DOCUMENTS 

EN 

17  03 

Catalogue number  : CB-CO-95-517-EN-C 

ISBN 92-77-94292-4 

Office  for Official  Publications of the European Communities 

L-2985 Luxembourg 

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