Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) amending Council Regulation (EEC) No 571/88 on the organization of Community surveys on the structure of agricultural holdings
Date: 1996-07-26
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: agricultural holding, agricultural statistics, economic survey, farm income, policy on agricultural structures

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels,  26.07.1996 
COM(96)371  final 

96/0208 (CNS) 

Proposal  for a 

COUNCIL  REGULATION  (EO 

amending Council Regulation (EEC) No 571/88 

on the organization of Community surveys on the structure of agricultural holdings 

(presented  by  the  Commission) 

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 

Council  Regulation  (EEC)  No  571/88  provides  for  a  programme  of  four  Community 
surveys on the structure  of agricultural holdings in the period  1988 to  1997;  this survey 
programme follows on from  a series of Community surveys on agricultural structures, the 
first of which was conducted in 1966/67. The Regulation in question also provides for the 
implementation  of  the EUROFARM  data bank for  storing, processing  and  disseminating 
the survey results. 

Trends in the structure of agricultural holdings are an important factor  in determining the 
development of the common agricultural policy; these  structure  surveys should  therefore 
be continued after  1997. 

Experience  in  conducting  the  structure  surveys  in  the  Community  has  shown  that  the 
survey  programme  and  methodology  of  the Community  structure  surveys should  remain 
unchanged  wherever  possible and  should  be adjusted  in future  surveys  only  in so  far  as 
this  is  necessary  to  take  account  of  new  developments  in  agriculture,  in  particular  in 
farming  techniques,  and/or  to  take  account  of  the  new  orientation  of  the  common 
agricultural  policy and  of  the new  information  requirements  of  the  European  Union  and 
the Member States. 

Council Regulation No 571/88 has been in perfect  accordance with these objectives;  it is 
therefore  logical to extend the period of application of this Regulation for ten years and to 
amend the Regulation to apply both to surveys conducted  in the period  1988 to  1997 and 
in the period  1998 to 2007. 

4 

Proposal for a 

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC\ 

amending Council Regulation (EEC) No 571/88 

on the organization of Community surveys on the structure of agricultural holdings 

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 Commission1, 

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament2, 
Whereas 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  19973, as 
last  amended  by  Commission  Decision  96/170/EC4>  provides  for  a  programme  of  four 
Community  surveys  on  the structure  of agricultural  holdings  in  the  period  1988  to  1997; 
whereas  this  survey  programme  follows  on  from  a  series  of  Community  surveys  on 
agricultural  structures,  the  first  of  which  was  conducted  in  1966/67;  whereas  the 
Regulation in question also provides for the implementation of the EUROFARM data bank 
for storing, processing and disseminating the survey results; 

Whereas  trends  in  the  structure  of  agricultural  holdings  are  an  important  factor  in 
determining  the  development  of  the  common  agricultural  policy;  whereas  these  structure 
surveys should therefore be continued after 1997; 

Whereas  experience  in  conducting  the  previous  structure  surveys  in  the  Community  has 
shown  that  the  survey  programme  and  methodology  of  the Community  structure  surveys 
should  remain  unchanged  wherever  possible and should  be adjusted  in  future  surveys only 
in  so  far  as  this  is  necessary  to  lake  account  of  new  developments  in  agriculture,  in 
particular  in  farming  techniques,  and/or  to  take  account  of  the  new  orientation  of  the 
common  agricultural  policy  and  of  the  new  information  requirements  of  the  European 
Union and the Member States; 

Whereas  Council  Regulation  (EEC)  No  571/88  has  been  in  accordance  with  these 
objectives;  whereas  it is necessary  to  extend  the period  of  application  of  this Regulation 
for another ten years covering the period  1998 to 2007; 

Whereas structure statistics broken down in small regional detail are increasingly needed in 
the context  of  the reform  of the  common  agricultural  policy,  but  also for  regional  policy 
purposes;  whereas it is therefore  necessary to  organise  and conduct  structural  surveys in 

1 

3 

4> 

OJ No C 

OJNoC 

OJ No L 56, 2.3.1988, p. 1 

OJN°L 47, 24.2.1996, p.23. 

*> 

such a way that disaggregates survey results can be provided at district level; consequently, 
the  survey  costs  will  be  higher  and  it  will  be  necessary  to  increase  the  Community 
contribution towards costs of the  1999/2000 basic survey. 

Whereas, in order  to carry out  these surveys, both  the Member States and  the Community 
will  need  to  set  aside  over  a  number  of  years  substantial  budgetary  resources,  a  large 
proportion  of  which  will  have  to  be  used  to  meet  the  information  requirements  of  the 
Community  institutions;  whereas  continuing  provision  should  therefore  be  made  in  the 
Community  budget  for  the  necessary  funds  for  a  Community  contribution  towards  the 
survey  costs  and  towards  the  processing  and  dissemination  of  the  survey  results  via  the 
EUROFARM system; 

Whereas  for  the  purpose  of  implementing  the  present  regulation  and  in  particular  the 
EUROFARM  project,  the  individual  data  transmitted  to  the  Statistical  Office  of  the 
European  Communities  must  be  treated  in  accordance  with  the  contents  of  Council 
Regulation  (EURATOM,  EEC)  No  1588/901)  on  the  transmission  of  data  subject  to 
statistical confidentiality  to the Statistical Office  of the European Communities. 

Whereas  to  carry  out  these  surveys  successfully,  the  close  and  trusting  cooperation 
between  the  Member  States  and  the  Commission  must  continue,  in  particular  via  the 
Standing Committee for Agricultural Statistics set up by Decision 72/279/EEC2», 

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 

') 

2) 

OJ  No L  151 of  15.6.1990, p. 1 

OJ No L  179 of 7.8.1972, p. 1 

Article 1 

Council Regulation (EEC) No 571/&  is amended as follows: 

1. 

In the title of Regulation 571/88, the words "between 1988 and 1997" are deleted. 

2.  The recitals are amended as follows: 

a) 

b) 

In the tilth recital, the words "during the period  1993 to 1997" aie deleted. 

The ninth recital is replaced by the following: 

"Whereas,  when  the  procedures  to  be  employed  for  the  Community  censuses  in 
1989/90 and  1999/2000 are determined, account must be taken as  far  as possible of 
the recommendations of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) 
regarding world censuses of  agriculture  to be conducted  sometime  around  1990 and 
also around 2000." 

3. 

In Article  1, the words " 1988 and 1997" are replaced by the words " 1988 and 2007". 

4.  Article 2 is replaced by the following : 

"In  line  with  the  FAO recommendations  for  world  censuses  of  agriculture  ,  Member 
States  shall  carry  out  a  basic  survey  in  one  or  more  stages  in  the  form  of  a  general 
census  (full  survey)  of  all  agricultural  holdings,  between  1  December  1988  and  1 
March  1991  and  between  I  December  1998  and  1 March  2001  respectively.  These 
surveys shall relate to the crop year corresponding  to  the crop  to  be harvested  in  1989 
or  1990 and in  1999 or 2000. 

5.  Article 3 is amended as follows: 

a) 

In  the  first  sentence,  after  the  words  "The  following  surveys",  the  words  "interim 

b) 

The  third  indent  becomes  the  second  indent;  after  this  indent,  the  words  "as  last 
amended  by  Regulation  (KKC)  No  797/85"  are  replaced  by  the  words  "as 
last 
amended  by  the  Act  of  Accession  of  Austria,  Finland  and  Sweden^)". 

c) 

Between  the  third  and  fourth  indent,  the following  is added  as an  additional  indent: 

d) 

e) 

"-  the  "objective  zones"  within  the  meaning  of  Council  Regulation  (EEC)  No 
2052/883),  as  last  amended  by  Council  Regulation  (EEC)  No  2081/934)  and 
Commission  Decision  No 94/197/EEC5)  ", 

After  the  fourth  indent,  after  the  words  "Decision  85/377/HEC6)"  the  following  words 
aie  added: 

"as last  amended  by  Decision 

( to be  specified) 

" 

At  the  end  of  the  article,  the  following  paragraph  is  added:  "The  Member  states  take 
the  necessary  measures  to  ensure  that  samples  are  structured  in  a  way  which  allows 
the  use  of  one  single  coefficient  per  holding  for  raising  the  information  collected  by 
sampling." 

7. 

Article  8 is amended  as  follows: 

a) 

b) 

In paragraph  ( 1 ), the  words  " 1993 to  1997" are replaced  by  the  words  " 1993 to  2007". 

After  paragraph  (1), the  following  new paragraph  (2) is  added: 

"2. 

In the  1999/2000 basic survey, the  geographic  situation  of  each  holding  is 
defined  by  a  code  which  allows  for  aggregation  by  tenitorial  units  lower 
than  the survey-district  level  or at least  by objective  zones". 

c) 

Paragraph  (2)  is replaced  by  the  following  paragraph  (3): 

"3. 

The  definitions  relating  to  the  characteristics  and  to  the  delimitation  and 
coding  of  regions,  survey  districts  and  other  tenitorial  units  shall  be  fixed 
in  accordance  with  the procedure  laid down in  Article  15". 

d) 

e) 

The  former  paragraph  (3) becomes  paragraph  (4). 

The  footnotes  1), 2) and  3) are  deleted. 

8. 

Article  10 is amended  as  follows: 

"Member  States  shall  forward  to  the  Statistical  Office  of  the  European  Communities  the 
information  mentioned  in  Article  8  (1)  obtained  from  the  censuses  and  sample  surveys  in  the 
form  of  individual  data  per  holding,  in  accordance  with  the  procedure  described  in  Annex  II, 
hereafter  called  'EUROFARM  project'. 

The  Member  States  shall  ensure  that  the  data  transferred  in  the  Hurofarm  standard  record 
layout  are  complete  and  plausible,  using  the  uniform  checking  conditions  laid  down  by  the 
Statistical  Office  of  the European  Communities  after  consultation  of the  competent  committees 

2>  OJ No LI  of  1.1.1995,  p. 1 
3>  OJ No L185 of  15.7.1988, p.9 
4)  OJ No L193 of 31.7.1993, p.5 
5>  OJ No L96 of  14.4.1994, p. 1 
6>  OJ No L220 of  17.8.1985, p. 1 

6 

and working  parties;  the checking  tables mentioned in paragraph  9 of Annex 11  shall  also be 
used for checking individual data." 

9.  Article 14, (1) is amended as follows: 

a) 

b) 

In  the  first  sentence  the  words  "in  carrying  out  the  basic  survey  and  the  surveys 
provided  for  in  article  3"  aie  replaced  by  the  words  "in  carrying  out  the  surveys 
provided for in articles 2 and 3". 

The  maximum  sums per  survey concerning  the  Member  States  Austria,  Finland  and 
Sweden are inserted as follows: 

"- ECU 600 000 for Sweden, 
-  ECU 700 000 for Finland, 
-  ECU  1 400 000 for Austria." 

c) 

Between the first and the second subparagraph, the following is inserted: 

"For  carrying  out  the  1999/2000  basic survey,  the  sums  mentioned  before  are 
increased  by 50 %." 

d) 

The second subparagraph of paragraph  1  becomes subparagraph 3; the word "four" is 
deleted. 

10.  Article 14, (2) is amended as follows: 

a) 

b) 

c) 

After  the  word  "development",  the  words  "maintenance,  necessary  adaptations"  are 
added; 
After  the words "Kurofarm project", the words "including the dissemination of results" 
aie added; 
The  annual  maximum for  the development  and  maintenance  of the  Eurofarm  system 
concerning the period  1999 to 2010 is fixed as follows: 

ECU 700.000 for  1999 and 2000; 
ECU 550.000 for 2001 to 2010." 

11. 

In  Article  15  (2)  the  words  "by  a  majority  of  54  votes"  are  replaced  by  the  words  "by  a 
majority  of 62 votes". 

Annex II of regulation 571/88/EEC is amended as follows: 

1. 

In paragraph 2, the first indent is replaced by the following: 

Article 2 

the  Individual  Data  Bank  (BDI),  which will  contain  the  individual  data  not  directly 
identifiable  on all holdings (in the case of basic surveys) or data on all holdings or on 
a representative sample of holdings (in the case of interim surveys) which is  sufficient 
to enable analyses to be carried out at the geographical levels mentioned in Article 4 of 
the Regulation." 

2. 

In paragraph 3, the words "Except in the case of Germany" are replaced by the words "Except 
in case of the individual data of Germany concerning the 1988 to 1995 surveys". 

3. 

Paragraph 6 is amended as follows: 

¥ 

"By  way  of  derogation,  Germany  will  not  forward  individual  data  but  tabular  results 
corresponding  to the  BDT  table  programme  mentioned  under  paragraph  2.  This  derogation 
expires after the surveys of the period  1988 to 1995. 

Germany  undertakes  to centralise  the individual  data  on a magnetic carrier  in  a  single data-
processing centre, within  12 months of completion of data collection in the  field." 

4. 

Paragraph  16 is replaced by the following: 

"16. 

In  the  framework  of  their  respective  responsibilities  and  in  accordance  with 
Council  Regulation  (Euratom,  EEC)  N°  1588/90,  the  Statistical  Office  of  the 
European  Communities  and 
rapid 
consultation  procedures with a view to: 

the  Member  States  will  establish 

- 

ensuring  the  confidentiality  and  statistical  reliability  of  the  information 
prepared  on the basis of the individual  data, 

- 

informing  the Member States of the use made of these  data. 

Article 3 

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official 
Journal of the European Communities. 

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. 

Done at Brussels,... 

For the Council 

FL  ANCIAL STATEMENT 

on  a  draft  Regulation  amending  Regulation  571/88  on  the  organization  of 
Community surveys on the structure of agricultural  holdings 

1. 

TITLE OF ACTION 

Draft  Council  Regulation  amending  Regulation  No  571/88  on  the  organization  of 
Community surveys on the structure of agricultural holdings. 

2. 

BUDGET LINE  CONCERNED 

B2-5121 (new line in the 1997 PDB), (previously contained partly in line B-5600) 

3. 

LEGAL BASE 

Article 43 of the Treaty. 

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

4. 

DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTION 

4.1 

Specific  objectives 

To  collect  statistics  permitting  a  monitoring  over  time  of  developments  in  agricultural 
structures  for  the  purposes  of  Community  policies  (agricultural,  regional,  social, 
environmental  etc.),  and  to  enable  other  statistical  surveys  to  be  carried  out  in  the 
agricultural  field. 

4.2 

Period  covered 

After  amendment,  Council Regulation No  571/88 would  cover the period  from  1988 to 
2007. 

4.3 

Target  population 

Beneficiaries: 

The Member States; 

The Community Institutions: Council, EP, Commission, Court of Auditors etc.; 

The general public (business, universities, agricultural associations etc.). 

<* 

5. 

CLASSIFICATION OF EXPENDITURE OR RECEIPTS 

5.1  NCE 

5.2 

DA 

5.3 

Types of receipts 

6.  WHAT  KIND  OF  EXPENDITURE  OR  RECEIPTS  WOULD  BE 

INVOLVED? 

6.1 

Subsidy 

No:  Community  contribution  to  the  costs  of  the  survey.  The  Community  would  cover 
only a very small part of the total survey costs, i.e. around  5% of total expenditure in the 
case  of  a  basic  (full)  survey  and  around  15%  to  20%  in  the  case  of  a  sample  survey. 
Nevertheless, this contribution  is necessary to  offset  in part the additional  costs incurred 
by Member States in order to meet the Commission's specific statistical requirements. 

6.2 

Subsidy for cofinancing with other public and/or private sources 

Cofinancing  with  the  public  sector  (budgets  of  national  governments  and  statistical 
services) and the private sector (receipts from sales of statistical products). 

6.3 

Interest rebate 

No 

6.4  Other 

None. 

6.5 

No. 

In  the  event  of  economic  success,  is  partial  or  total  reimbursement  of  the 
Community contribution provided for? 

6.6  Will there be a change in the level of receipts? 

No. 

7. 

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS 

7.1 

Calculation of total costs 

After amendment, Regulation 571/88 would be extended to cover the period  1998 
to 2007, providing for a basic (full)  survey in 1999/2000 and three interim surveys 

JUo 

in 2003,  2005  and 2007,  which the Member  States  could  choose  to  carry  out  as 
full surveys or sample surveys. 

As  a  contribution  to  the  costs  incurred,  Member  States  would  be  reimbursed 
ECU 20  per  holding  for  which  complete  data  are  transmitted  to  the  Statistical 
Office up to a maximum fixed for each Member State. 

The  calculation  is  based  on  the  number  of  agricultural  holdings  covered  by  the 
survey  in  1985  (full  survey  or  sample  survey  according  to  the  choice  of  the 
Member State in question) and in  1989/90 (full  basic survey) and on the  following 
elements. 

ECU 20 per holding for which complete data are transmitted to Eurostat; 

a  sample  of  around  25% of  the  holdings  covered  by  the  survey,  up  to  a  limit  of 
100 000 holdings per country; 

rounding of the calculation result. 

On  the  basis  of  these  criteria  and  the  total  number  of  holdings  in  1985,  the  following 
amounts  (in ECU  1 000)  per  country  and per  survey  have been  arrived  at  for  1988  (the 
year in which Regulation No  571/88 was adopted): 

Luxembourg. 
Belgium: 
Denmark: 
Netherlands: 
Ireland: 
United Kingdom 

100 
500 
500 
700 
1 100 
1300 

Germany: 
Greece: 
Spain: 
France: 
Italy: 
Portugal: 

2 0001 
2 0001 
2 0001 
2 0001 
2 0001 
2 0001 

On the basis  of the  same  criteria and the total  number of holdings  in  1985  and  1989/90, 
the following amount have been arrived at for the new Member States  (in ECU  1 000): 

Sweden: 
Austria: 
Finland: 

600 
1400 
700 

In  all,  the  amendment  to  the  Regulation  would  entail  an  additional  ECU  92  million  in 
commitment  appropriations  and  payment  appropriations,  broken  down  according  to  the 
annual schedule shown in paragraph 7.3. 

These costs comprise the following: 

Amounts reimbursed to countries: 

ECU 28.35 million (for the basic survey) 

ECU  18.9 million (per interim survey) 

1 

ceiling 

M 

Total for four surveys: 

ECU 85.05 million 

Development and maintenance1 of the Eurofarm system over the period  1999-2010: 

- 

- 

- 

1999 and 2000:  ECU 1.4 million 

2001 to 2010: 

ECU 5.5 million 

Total: 

ECU 6.9 million 

Total (ECU 85.05 million + ECU 6.9 million): 
The total annual appropriations would be decided under the annual budget  procedure on 
the basis of the funds available. 

ECU 91.95 million 

This contribution is intended for the national bodies responsible for  collecting statistics in 
the  field  of  agriculture  on  the  basis  of  work  done  under  established  and  approved 
programmes. 

7.2  Share of mini-budget in the total costs. 

7.3  Approximate schedule for commitment and payment appropriations 

The total costs are distributed on the period  1998 to 2007 as follows: 

Year: 

1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 

1000 Ecu 

8000  8000  8500  9000  9500  9700  9700  9700  9900  10000 

8.  ARE  ANY  ANTI-FRAUD  MEASURES  PROVIDED  FOR  IN  THE 

PROPOSAL 

a)  Community  contributions  will  be  paid  on  the  basis  of  contracts  and  agreements 
concluded by the Commission,  and payments will be made on the basis of progress 
reports and after transmission and validation of the survey results. 

b)  Statistics  are  regarded  as  an  objective  instrument  for  evaluating  and  monitoring 
Community  action  programmes  in  statistical  terms,  and  hence  reinforce  the 
anti-fraud  measures. 

1 

The calculation  of the costs for  the  development  and  maintenance  of the  Eurofarm 
system  over  the  period  1999-2010  is based  on  actual  expenditure  over  the  period 
1989-1995, which was in fact  substantially higher than provided for in Article  14 of 
Regulation No 571/88/EEC. 

At-

9.  COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS 

9.1  Aim(s) 

The aim of this draft Regulation is to harmonize and improve the flows of data and hence 
considerably increase their value. 

The surveys on the structure of agricultural  holdings are central to  agricultural  statistics, 
since  they  supply,  at  regular  intervals  (normally  every  two  years),  a  large  volume  of 
statistics  on  the  main  socio-structural  characteristics  of  Community  agriculture  (size  of 
holdings, land use, agricultural labour force, type of farming, other gainful  activity, type of 
tenure  etc.).  These  statistics  are  collected  by  means  of  full  or  representative  sample 
surveys  on  the  basis  of  a  list  of  survey  characteristics  which  has  been  harmonized  at 
Community level. Their usefulness is not restricted to the establishment of socio-structural 
policy  and  rural  development  but  there  are  also  numerous  uses  in  connection  with  the 
administration  of the agricultural markets and  other  policies (particularly  regional,  social 
and  environmental  policy). In  addition,  the  structural  survey provides the basic  data  for 
carrying out  other  agricultural  statistical  surveys (on livestock, fruit trees  etc.).  Finally, 
structural surveys also play a central part in the 'ex post' assessment of the socio-economic 
impact of agricultural policies and rural development,  since they make it possible to trace 
the development over time of the main characteristics of agricultural holdings. 

Target population: 

Community Institutions 

the Member States 

the  general  public  (business,  universities,  research  institutes,  professional 
organizations etc.). 

9.2  Justification 

The  structure  of agricultural  holdings largely determines potential  income in agriculture. 
The results of the Community farm structure surveys, which are carried out approximately 
every  two  years,  thus  form  a  very  important  decision-making  basis  for  framing  the 
common  agricultural  policy.  Furthermore,  Community  decisions  must  increasingly  be 
quantified  in terms of their impact  on European  agriculture  and thus on the  Community 
budget.  The  Community  farm  structure  surveys  allow  the  impact  and  results  of 
agricultural policy decisions to be verified and monitored over time. 

In the course of meetings of the Agricultural  Statistics Committee and its working  party 
responsible  for  statistics  on  the  structure  of  agricultural  holdings,  most  national 
delegations  have  repeatedly  stressed  that  they  see  the  farm  structure  surveys  as  the 
cornerstone  of their  agricultural  statistics  systems.  This view  is  shared  by Eurostat  and 
DG VI (Agriculture). 

A*> 

The broad  harmonization  of the  Community  farm  structure  surveys  (e.g.  delimitation  of 
the survey  scope, definition  of the agriculture  holding,  list of  survey characteristics with 
definitions  and  other  methodological  aspects)  also  has  positive  repercussions  on  the 
harmonization  of  specific  agricultural  statistics.  The  results  of  the  basic  surveys  (full 
surveys every ten years) are also used to update the farm registers and thus provide a basis 
for specific sample surveys in the agricultural  field. 

The  results  of  the  Community  farm  structure  surveys  are  extremely  important  as  a 
decision-making  basis  for  the  reform  of  the  CAP,  the  object  of  which  is  not  just  to 
improve  the  economic  situation  of  persons  employed  in  agriculture,  but  also  to  reduce 
Community expenditure in this  field. 

impose  on  Member  States  special  requirements  regarding 

The  structure  surveys,  like  the  Common  Agricultural  Policy,  are  thus  a  Community 
the 
concern.  They 
characteristics to be recorded  and the representativeness  of results at regional  level. It is 
thus  only  fair  that  the  Community  grant  Member  States  a  survey  subsidy  to  cover  this 
specific information requirement. Although this subsidy only amounts to around 5% of the 
cost of the full  survey or  15% to 20% of a sample survey, it is nevertheless crucial for the 
relevant  statistical  services, as these financial resources allow the bulk of variable survey 
costs  to  be  met,  e.g.  expenditure  on  recruitment  and  training  of  temporary  staff,  and 
expenditure on data processing. 

The  importance  of the  Common  Agricultural  Policy  led  Eurostat  to  develop  numerous 
statistical  applications during the  1960s and  1970s. These applications  correspond  to the 
substantial  statistical  requirements  resulting  from  the  CAP  for  purposes  of  day-to-day 
management and planning, and for monitoring its development over time. 

All  of  these  applications  have  been  updated  to  take  account  of  changes  in  the  sectors 
concerned.  The reform  of the Common Agricultural Policy and its repercussions in other 
fields  (such as the future  of rural society and the environment etc.) mean that  Community 
farm structure surveys must continue. 

In  the  organization  of  the  European  Statistical  System,  in  which  great  account  is 
taken  of the principle  of subsidiarity,  collection  and initial processing of (agricultural) 
statistics  are  carried  out  and financed by the  national  statistical  bodies.  Nevertheless,  a 
Community  contribution  is vital if work is to be carried  out with a view to  improved 
harmonization  and  coordination  of statistics  at Community  level  and if the Member 
States  are  obliged  to  collect  specific  data  to  meet  Commission  requirements  (as 
stipulated). 

9.2.1. 

Cost 

The  costs  are  mainly  borne  by  the  Member  States  (cf.  paragraph  6.1),  which  have  a 
well-established  collection  and  processing  structure.  If the  Commission  were  to  finance 
the  programme  totally,  costs  would  be  extremely  high  and  results  certainly  less 
reliable. 

ALf 

9.2.2Secondary effects 

The results will contribute to improving statistics used in 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 

Progress  towards  a  European  statistical  area  and  hence  greater  Community-level 
integration of the national statistical systems. 

Researchers and universities will have a unique source of scientific material for studies and 
analyses in the agricultural sector. 

There  will  be  implications  for  the  countries  of  Eastern  Europe  wishing  to  adapt  their 
agricultural statistics to the EU system, particularly as regards agricultural structures. 

9.3  Monitoring and assessment 

9.3.1 Selected performance indicators 

A. Implementation of the programme 

Work  under  this  Regulation  will  be  prepared  and  carried  out  by  the  national  and 
Commission departments responsible for agricultural  statistics as part of the annual work 
programmes under the Statistical Programme of the European Union. 

B. Use of human and budgetary resources 

Organising and conducting pilot surveys; 

Adapting sampling plans, organising surveys, adapting registers; 

Conducting surveys; 

- 

Checking quality and guaranteeing comparability of results; 

Activities  concerning  the  administrative  system  as  a  source  of  additional 
statistics. 

9.3.2 Evaluation procedures and frequency 

The  regulations  in force  stipulate that  the  Member  States  shall  forward  to  Eurostat,  in 
accordance  with  a  predetermined  timetable  and  procedure,  the  results  of  surveys  and 
information  on  methodology.  The  Standing  Committee for  Agricultural  statistics  is also 
consulted whenever necessary. Finally, every three years, the Commission must  submit to 
the Council a report on the implementation of this work, and particularly the operation of 
the database containing the results of the surveys (Eurofarm) 

AS 

9.4  Consistency with the financial plan 

9.4.1 

Yes 

9.4.2 

Is  this  action  provided  for  in  the  DG's financial  plan  for  the  years 
concerned 

To what more general objective defined in the DG's financial plan  does the 
objective of the proposed action correspond? 

Improving and harmonising the agricultural statistics of the Community Member States. 

9.4.3 

Points of uncertainty which might affect the specific results of the action 

Financial and human resources available in Eurostat and the Member States. 

10.  ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENDITURE (PART A OF THE BUDGET) 

Will  the  proposed  action  require  an  increase  in  the  number  of 
Commission  staff? 

10.1 

No 

10.2 

What operating and staff costs will be incurred by the proposed action? 

Since this would  be an  extension  of an  existing  action,  there  would  be  no  new  staff  or 
operating  costs  apart from the  normal  increase  in the  cost  of  developing  the  Eurofarm 
database, including protection of confidentiality  and security of individual data. 

A£ 

ISSN 0254-1475 

COM(96) 371  final 

DOCUMENTS 

EN 

17  03 

Catalogue number  : CB-CO-96-374-EN-C 

ISBN 92-78-07281-8 

Office for Official  Publications of the European Communities 

L-2985 Luxembourg 

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