Report from the Commission to the Council on the implementation of the European Forestry Information and Communication System (EFICS) established by the Council Regulation (EEC) No 1615/89
Date: 1998-03-24
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: data collection, forestry legislation, forestry policy, information system, statistics

"W*§s 

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 24.03.1998 
COM(1998) 173 final 

REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL 

on the implementation of the European Forestry 
Information  and Communication  System (Efics) established  by Council 
Regulation (EEC) No 1615/89 

Proposal for a 

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) 

amending Council Regulation (EEC) No 1615/89 establishing a European 

Forestry Information  and Communication System  (Efics) 

(presented by the Commission) 

Report  to the Council  on  the implementation  of the European  Forestry 
Information  and  Communication  System  (Efics)  established  by  Council 
Regulation  (EEC)  No  1615/89 

1. 

Efics's  objectives 

The  European  Forestry  Information  and  Communication  System  (Efics)  was  established 
by  Council  Regulation  (EEC)  No  1615/89  of  29 May  19891  and  extended  by  Council 
Regulation  (EC) No  400/94  of 21 February  19942. 

The  objectives  of  the  System  are  defined  in Article  1 of  the  Regulation,  which  stipulates 
that: 

- 

the  purpose  of  the  System  is  "to  collect,  coordinate,  standardise  and  process  data 
concerning  the forestry  sector  and  its  development". 

-  The  System  is  created  "in  order  to  collect  comparable  and  objective  information  on 
the  structure  and  operation  of  the forestry  sector  in the  Community,  and  thus  facilitate 
implementation  and  monitoring  of the Community  forestry  provisions 

in  force"3. 

Article  2  also  stipulates  that  the  System  "shall  take  account  of  existing  data,  and  in 
particular  statistics  compiled  by  the  Statistical  Office  of  the  European  Communities,  and 
data 
shall  make  use  of  information  available 
contained  in  national  forestry  inventories,  and  of  any  database  accessible  at  Community 
and  international 

in  the  Member  States, 

in  particular 

level". 

2. 

Implementation  of the System  during  1989-97 

2.1 

Initial period  (1989-92) 

A  small  number  of  measures  were  carried  out  during  the  initial  period  of  application  of 
the  Regulation.  An  initial,  limited,  study  was  launched  to  evaluate  the  differences  in  the 
forestry 
inventory  procedures  in  the  Member  States.  It  demonstrated  the  lack  of 
harmonisation  in  the  field  of  forestry  statistics.  However,  given  the  lack  of  detail  in  the 
study,  it  was  not  possible  to  draw  any  operational  conclusions  on  steps  to  be  taken  to 
improve  the  situation. 

Preparatory  work  was  also  carried  out  to  evaluate  the  status  of  forestry  data  available  in 
the  different  Member  States. It was found  that there were no data at all  for  a large  number 
of activities  in the  sector. 

1  O JL  165,  15.6.1989, p.  12. 
2  OJ  L 54. 25.2.1994,  p. 5. 

The  main  measures  referred  to  are  the  subject  of  the  following  Regulations  and  Decisions:  Regulation 
(EEC)  No  1610/89  laying  down  provisions  for  implementing  Regulation  (EEC)  No  4256/88  as  regards 
the  scheme  to  develop  and  optimally  utilise  woodlands  in  rural  areas  in  the  Community;  Regulation 
(EEC)  No  2080/92 
in  agriculture; 
Regulation  (EEC)  No  867/90  on  improving  the  processing  and  marketing  conditions  for  forestry 
products;  Decision  89/367/EEC  setting  up  a  Standing  Forestry  Committee;  Regulation 
(EEC) 
No  2157/92  amending  Regulation  (EEC)  No  3528/86  on  the  protection  of  the  Community's  forests 
against  atmospheric  pollution;  Regulation  (EEC)  No  2158/92  on  protection  of the  Community's  forests 
against  fire. 

instituting  a  Community  aid  scheme  for  forestry  measures 

1 

In  view  of  the  modesty  of  the  results  obtained  in  the  initial  period  of  application,  the 
Regulation  had to be extended for the period  1993-97. 

2.2 

Second period (1993-97) 

At  its  meeting  on  10 June  1994 the  Standing  Forestry  Committee  (SFC)  identified  five 
main fields  which it felt should form an initial framework  for the Efics. They were: 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

forestry  resources  (including  the  parameters  sustainable  development,  biodiversity, 
etc) 

forest  products (the timber industry) 

forest  ownership structure 

forestry  activities at Community level 

the organisation  and objectives  of and means for  implementing  forestry  policies in the 
Member States. 

Several  operations  forming  part  of  the  above  objectives  were  then  undertaken  by  the 
Commission: 

-  The collection, verification  and publication  by Eurostat of forestry  statistics as part  of 
Efics  ("Forestry  statistics"  document  published  in  1995  for  1985-91  and  under 
preparation  for  1992-96). 

-  The implementation  of measures  in the field of remote  sensing  applied to the  forestry 
sector, in connection with work undertaken by the S AI (department for remote  sensing 
applications)  at  the  Joint  Research  Centre  (JRC)  in  Ispra  as part  of  the  FIRS  (Forest 
Information  from  Remote Sensing)  project4. 

-  The  creation,  and  participation  in  the  work,  of  the  Intersecretariat  Working  Group 
(IWG)  bringing  together  several  international  organisations  working  in  the  forestry 
statistics field (DG  VI, Eurostat, the Economic  Commission  for  Europe  of the  United 
Nations  (UN-ECE),  the  UN  Food  and  Agriculture  Organisation  (FAO),  the 
Organisation 
the 
International  Tropical  Timber  Organisation  (ITTO))  and  intended  to  guarantee 
cooperation  between the organisations  and complementarity  of their  activities  so as to 
avoid  any  duplication  of  work.  This  cooperation  has  enabled  a  questionnaire  to  be 
drawn  up  common  to  Eurostat,  the  FAO  and  the  UN-ECE  for  the  collection  of 
statistical  data on the production of and trading in forest products. 

for  Economic  Cooperation  and  Development  (OECD)  and 

-  Collaboration  with the UN-ECE and the FAO in the work undertaken by those  bodies 
to assess  temperate  and  boreal  forest  resources  for  the year 2000  (TBFRA-2000,  part 

Launching  of a study on the application  of remote sensing to the monitoring  of changes  in forest  cover 
and  the  structural  diversity  of  forests.  Entrusted  to  a  consortium  led  by  GAF  (Gesellschaft  fur 
Angewandte  Fernerkundung  mbH), the study was part of the scientific  and technical  support  activities 
for Community  policies and should be completed  by August  1988. 
Launching  by  the  Centre  for  Earth  Observation  (CEO)  of the  SAI  at  Ispra  JRC  as  part  of  the  Forest 
Monitoring  in  Europe  with  Remote  Sensing  (FMERS)  project,  of  a  study  intended  to  develop  and 
implement  methods  aimed  at  deriving  from  remote  sensing  data  certain  information  linked  to  forests 
(surface,  structure and volume). 

of the overall assessment  FRA-2000), which included Community  financial  assistance 
to the analyses carried out by the UN-ECE into the sustainable development  of  forests 
(implementation  of Resolution No  1 of the ministerial  conference  on the protection of 
forests  in  Europe  (Helsinki,  1993)  and  integration  of  the  sustainable  management 
criteria and indicators into forestry  inventories). 

In addition  to the above work  a second comparative  study  on forestry  inventory  systems 
in  Europe  was  carried  out  by  the  European  Forestry  Institute  (EFI).  This  had  more 
ambitious  objectives  than  the first and  was allocated  more  resources.  It  was  intended  to 
make  a  critical  inventory  of  the  quality  and  comparability  of  statistical  data  resulting 
from  the  different  protocols  used  to  measure  forestry  resources  in  Europe.  It  was 
completed at the end of January  1997. 

An  initial  report  describing  and  comparing  the  forestry  inventory  systems  in  the 
European  Union  and  several  other  European  countries5  was  published  by 
the 
Commission  in  19976. A second report, issued  at the end of the  study  in February  1997, 
proposed  several  scenarios for action to be undertaken if Europe was to have reliable and 
comparable  statistics on forestry  resources. The scenarios were based on a comparison of 
the national  inventories carried  out during the first stage and on the results, also noted  in 
the  report,  of  an  inquiry  intended  to  assess  the  needs  of  users  with  regard  to  forestry 
resources  statistics  and  of  a  simulation  study  estimating  the  discrepancies  produced  in 
such  statistics  by  the  disparities  between  the  data  collection  and  processing  procedures 
used in the countries covered by the study7. 

In addition,  a number  of  measures  undertaken  outside  the  scope  of the  Efics  Regulation 
have  already  supplied  results  the  use  of  which  could  help  to  implement  the  System. 
Without  encroaching  on  those  measures,  Efics  could  be  a  suitable  method  for 
disseminating and following  up their results. The measures were: 

-  Work  carried  out  under  Council  Regulation  (EEC) No  3528/86  on  the  protection  of 
the  Community's  forests  against  atmospheric  pollution  which  is  used  for  the 
preparation  of  an  annual  report  on  the  state  of  health  of  Europe's  forests.  The  work 
comprises  a periodical  inventory  of damage caused to forests  by observing  more than 
70 000  trees  from  about  3 400  observation  points  covering  all  European  forests  and 
the intensive monitoring of about 500 observation plots in all Member States. 

-  The system  implemented  under  Council  Regulation  (EEC) No 2158/92  on  protection 
of the Community's  forests  against fire. This covers 319 NUTS II or III regions  in the 
six  Member  States  containing  the  fire-risk  zones  (Germany,  Spain,  France,  Greece, 
Italy  and  Portugal)  and  contains  a  description  of  the  460 000  fires  studied  between 
1985 and 1995. 

-  The  report  prepared  in  application  of  Council  Regulation  (EEC)  No 2080/92  of 
30 June  1992 instituting a Community aid scheme for forestry measures in agriculture. 

Iceland. Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland. 
"Document" series, 2 volumes,  1328 pp.; ISBN 92-827-9846-1. 
The  simulation  demonstrated,  for  example,  that  if  the  definitions  used  in  Luxembourg  and  in  the 
United  Kingdom  were applied to the determination  of the forest  area of Finland there would  be a 14% 
discrepancy  between the two calculated  figures. 

V 

-  A  description  of  the  forestry  research  projects  financed  by  the  Commission  under  the 

Framework  Programmes  for  Research  and Technological  Development. 

2.3 

Missing 
implementation 

information 

and  difficulties 

and  obstacles 

encountered 

during 

Alongside  the  problems  already  mentioned  -  lack  of  European  harmonisation  of  forestry 
statistics  and  the  availability  of  some  data  -  the  main  difficulties  encountered 
in 
implementing  the  Regulation  to  date  have  been  the  reservations  expressed  by  Member 
States  in taking  the  measures  required to improve the quality  of international  data  (lack  of 
personnel  and  funding). 

Although  there  has  been  significant  progress  in  the  field  of  forestry  resources,  work 
carried  out  in  the other  areas  identified  as priorities by the  SFC  in  1994 have  yielded  little 
success  because  of the above  difficulties. 

3. 

Guidelines  for  implementing  the System  during  the period  1998-2002 

3.1 

The  challenges 

Recent  developments  and  discussions  on  forests,  their  products  and  markets,  particularly 
with  regard  to  the  concept  of  sustainable  management,  have  confirmed  that  existing 
statistical  data  in  the  sector  are  not  reliable  or  comparable  enough.  The  economic, 
environmental  and  social  significance  of  forests  is  currently  receiving  increased  attention 
and  the  data  available  from  national  inventories  are  not  adequate  for  meeting  challenges 
such  as: 

- 

- 

- 

the action  to be taken  as a result  of the  European  Parliament's  legislative  initiative  (the 
Thomas  Report).  In  paragraph  13  of  one  of  its  resolutions  it  asks  the  Commission  to 
information  and 
make  provision  for  "the  effective 
communication  system  (Efics)"  and  for  the  forestry  sector  to  "discuss  forthwith 
the 
inventory  by  state  and  by  region  which  would 
usefulness  of  a  European  forestry 
provide  the  Union  with  the  necessary  information 
sustainable 
to  continue  to  ensure 
management  of forestry  resources"; 

implementation  of  the  forestry 

the  contribution  which  must  be  made  to  the  work  of  the  European  Environmental 
Agency  (EEA)  on  the  report  on  the  state  of  the  environment  in  Europe  (the  Dobris 
assessment)  with  regard  to  the  forestry  aspects  (resources,  multi-function  role  of 
forests); 

the  evaluation  that  has  to  be  made  of  future  trends  in the  timber  and  derived  products 
market, 
liberalisation  of 
international  trade,  and  of  the  resulting  forestry  forecasts  that  can  be  made  at  Union 
level; 

impact  on  the  market  of  the 

taking  account  of  the 

- 

the  necessary  reinforcement  of the  multi-function  role  of  the  forest  with  its  impact  on 
rural  development  and  employment  policies. 

After  the  accession  of  Austria,  Finland  and  Sweden  Europe  became  the  second-largest 
producer  and  consumer  of  forestry  products  in  the  world  and  it  must  therefore  have  a 
statistical  tool  enabling  it to  give  reliable  information  on  at  least  the  most  important  data. 

ç 

That  need  can  only  be  underlined  by  the  likely  accession  in  the  near  future  of  six  new 
countries  from  central,  eastern  and  Mediterranean  Europe,  which  will  significantly 
increase our forestry  resources and the potential consumption of forestry  products. 

In  addition,  suitable  information  needs  to  be  available  for  current  discussions  on 
ecological  certification,  on  use  of  timber  compatible  with  the  environment  (e.g.  as  a 
renewable  energy  resource)  or  as  a building  material  with  thermal  and  sound  insulation 
properties. 

3.2 

Topics to be considered 

The Commission  is proposing to establish an indicative working programme for the next 
few years which will concentrate on the following: 

- 

- 

forestry  resources, 

forest  ownership structure, 

-  non-commercial  forest values, 

-  Community  forestry  measures, 

- 

forestry  products  (wood  as  a  structural  material  ("mechanical")  and  other  forestry 
products). 

The  Commission  is  aware  of  the  amount  of  work  required  on  those  topics.  It  would  be 
unrealistic  to  think  that  all  the  problems  they  contain  can be  resolved  during  the  period 
covered  by  the  Regulation.  Efics's  implementation  can  only  be  gradual;  it  is  a  process 
whose regular progress must be guaranteed. 

3.3 

The proposed  working programme 

The  working  programme  proposed  by  the  Commission  is  summarised  in  the  annexed 
Table, which  is based on the priorities mentioned above. It has already  been presented  to 
the  SFC  and  the  Eurostat  "forestry  statistics"  working  party  at  their  joint  meeting  in 
Luxembourg  on 21 July  1997, where, although the meeting stressed that some points still 
required  discussion  in more detail, it was on the whole given a positive reception.  It will 
be  re-presented  to  the  SFC  for  approval  in accordance  with  the procedure  set  out  in the 
new  Regulation. 

Implementation  of the measures in the working programme  will require the  maintenance 
and,  if  necessary,  reinforcement  of  the  existing  cooperation  with  other  international 
institutions  active  in  the  forestry  statistics  field,  particularly  within  the  intersecretariat 
working  group  on  forestry  statistics,  so  that  the  work  of  the  various  institutions  can  be 
coordinated  and duplication  avoided. 

Measures  to  be  undertaken  on  the  development  of  nomenclatures,  the  harmonisation  of 
existing  data  or  the  coordinated  development  of  new  data  (e.g.  on  biodiversity)  will  be 
discussed  within  an Efics  working party whose members can be taken from  the  SFC and 
the "forestry  statistics" working party. The working party will  also have to decide  which 
of the working programme's measures should be given priority. 

C 

The  sectoral  studies  and  analyses  (forestry  product  markets,  statistics  on  foreign  trade, 
etc)  which  the  Commission  intends  to  launch  must  link  the  various  departments 
concerned  (Eurostat,  DG III, DG VI, etc). In more  general terms, it will  be necessary  to 
specify  during  the  measures'  initial  implementation  phases  the  responsibilities  of  the 
various  Commission  departments; these are currently  only mentioned  in  indicative  terms 
in the working programme and only for certain measures. 

It  is expected  that  the  working  programme  will  permit  the  development  over  the  course 
of  the  next  few  years  of  the  most  important  measures  and  contribute  to  the  broader 
discussion  of forestry  strategy in which Efics will be called on to play a role. 

> 

EFICS: INDICAT IVE WORKING  PROGRAMME 

Measure 

Type of work 

Creation of a 
database 

Feasibility study 

Launch of a computer-based  project 

Design of the database and 
inputting of data already 
available 

<*) 

Inputting new  information 

Forestry- resources:  Eurostat and/or UN-ECE data 
Forestry products and trade: Joint  Eurostat/UN-ECE/FAO  questionnaire  and  historical  data 
(COMEXT) 
Forest ownership: Information  collected by Eurostat and UN-ECE 
Community forestry measures: 
-  Report on Regulation (EEC) No 2080/92 instituting a Community aid scheme for  forestry 

measures in agriculture 

-  Annual  reports  on  Regulations  concerning  protection  against  atmospheric  pollution  and 

fire 

-  Data on research measures and COST-type activities 
Other information: 
-  Addresses of contacts  in the Member  States possessing the results of national  inventories 

- 

or direct links with information  servers 
links  with  other  international  databases  managed  by  governmental  organisations  (UN-
ECE, FAO, etc) 

Geo-referenced  information  and/or  maps  resulting  from  cooperation  with  the  institute  for 
remote-sensing applications as part of the FIRS project, or CORINE Land Cover extracts 

Improvement of 
data and 
harmonisation 

Forestry resources 
nomenclature (timber) 

Results of specific analyses linked to sectoral requirements 
Development  of a common nomenclature  for the most important features  (related to  forestry 
area,  changes,  species,  volume  and  its  variation),  with  study  of  the  possibility  of  using  for 
Efics the definitions  adopted as part of TBFRA-2000. 

Study 

Services 

Internal  DG VI  work  in  liaison 
with the JRC at Ispra, the EEA, 
etc 
Services 
Discussions  within  an  ad  hoc 
Efics  working  party  under  the 
SFC's 
plus 
control, 
collaboration with the IWG and 
consideration  of  the  work  on 
the assessment of temperate and 
boreal  forests  for the year 2000 
(TBFRA-2000). 

EFICS: INDICATIVE WORKING  PROGRAMME 

Measure 

Development of a common  nomenclature of goods and services other than timber production 

Improvement of 
data and 
harmonisation 
(continued) 

Forestry resources 
nomenclature (goods and 
services other than timber 
production) 

-o 

Forest ownership nomenclature 

Development  of  a  common  nomenclature  for  forestry  ownership.  Determine  whether  the 
nomenclature  chosen  by  TBFRA  2000  meets  Efics's  needs,  if  necessary  agree  on 
nomenclature to be adopted. 

Conversion of national data on 
forestry resources (timber) 

Establishment  of  conversion  factors  for  national  data  on  forestry  resources  (timber)  so  that 
they can be aligned on the European definitions  adopted (application  of the factors will be an 
intermediate  step  between  the  adoption  of the  new  nomenclature  and  its  implementation  in 
the national inventories). 

Forestry products and trade 

Launch of a study on trade statistics for roundwood and forestry  industry products aimed at: 
-  analysing  in detail the  various  sources of  foreign  trade  statistics  in the Union  and  EFTA 
(joint FAO/UN-ECE/Eurostat questionnaire, Eurostat's COMEXT database, UN  Statistics 
Office's  COMTRADE database, etc), 

-  determining the reasons for the differences  and incompatibilities between the data in these 

sources, 
and including: 
-  an  examination  of  the  impact  on  data  quality  of  the  introduction,  from  1993,  of  the 

Intrastat system, 

-  proposals based on the analysis and aimed at improving the reliability of trade statistics in 

the forestry  sector. 

Type of work 

Analyses  within  Efics  working 
part)'  under  the  SFCs  control, 
plus  collaboration  with 
the 
IWG  and  consideration  of  the 
TBFRA-2000 work. 
Analyses  within  Efics  working 
part>'  under  the  SFCs  control, 
the 
plus  collaboration  with 
IWG  and  consideration  of  the 
TBFRA-2000 work. 
Internal  study  in  each  Member 
State  with  coordination  by  the 
and 
party 
Efics  working 
financial  support 
the 
from 
Commission if necessary 
Study 

Extension of harmonisation 

Extension  of harmonisation to a larger number of factors  (if the gradual approach  chosen  for 
the harmonisation of the first ten factors proves  effective) 
Monitoring  of  the  technological  developments  which  could  help  to  implement  an  "Efics 
inventory" based on remote sensing, possible launching of studies in that field 

the  Efics 

Discussions  within 
working party. 
Internal  Commission  work. ; 
f 
Studies 

EFICS: INDICATIVE WORKING  PROGRAMME 

Measure 

Data collection in 
the Member 
States 

Forestry  resources  and  forest 
ownership 

Collection  in  the  Member  States  of  supplementary  data  on  forestry  resources  and  forest 
ownership, taking account of established  nomenclature. 

Community measures 

Provision by the Member States of supplementary information  on measures taken in favour of 
forests  in  Structural  Funds'  regional  programmes  (Objectives  1,  5(b)  and  6,  ERDF,  ESF, 
Regulation (EEC) No 867/90. 

Publications 

Annual publication of the document "Forestry statistics". 

0 

Establishment of a 
communication network 

Specific studies 

Establishment,  in  close  collaboration  with  the  Union's  forestry  industry  and  other  bodies 
concerned, of a communication network in the forestry sector with the aim of encouraging the 
rapid and efficient  exchange of  information. 

Study of the operation of the timber sector: identification  of the structure and operation of 
the timber markets, mainly the roundwood market, with examination of regional flows. In 
a  second phase, extension  of the study to derived products (wood as a structural material 
("mechanical") and other forestry  products). 
Analysis  of  the  wood/paper/printing  sector  aimed  at  providing  detailed  economic  and 
strategic  information  on  the  wood  processing,  paper  and  board  manufacturing  and 
processing, and printing and publishing industries. 
Other specific  analyses linked to the forestry  sector and connected  industries, in particular 
in relation to the central and eastern European countries. 

Type of work 

Internal  work  within  Member 
States  with  possible  part-
financing  by  the  Commission 
of  additional  work  required  for 
data collection. 
Internal  work  within  Member 
States  with  possible  part-
financing  by  the  Commission 
of  additional  work  required  for 
data collection. 
Collection,  verification 
and 
publication of forestry  statistics 
Pilot  DG  III/DG  IV,  industry, 
etc, project. 

Studies and services (DG II/DG 
VI collaboration) 

Proposai for a 

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 

amending Council Regulation (EEC) No  1615/89 

establishing a European Forestry Information  and Communication  System 
(Efics) 

<ia 

EXPLANATORY  MEMORANDUM 

1.  The  Community  measure  comprising  the  establishment  of  a  European  Forestry 
information  and  Communication  System  (Efics),  as provided  for  in Regulation  (EEC) 
No  1615/89,  extended  for  the  first  time  by  Regulation  (EC) No 400/94  and  based  on 
Article  213  of  the  Treaty,  expires  on  31 December  1997.  The  Commission  is 
presenting  to  the  Council,  as  provided  for  in  its  1997  agriculture  and  fisheries 
programme, a proposal  for the measure's extension for a further  five years. 

2.  The  objective  of  the  System  is to  collect,  coordinate,  standardise  and  process  data 
concerning  the  forestry  sector  and  its  development,  in  order  to  compile  comparable 
and  objective  information  on the  structure  and  operation  of the  forestry  sector  in  the 
Union  and  to  facilitate  the  implementation  and  monitoring  of  Community  provisions 
in force  in the matter. 

3.  During  the  past  period  of  application  of  the  Regulation  substantial  progress  has 
been  made in several  fields: 

-  European  forestry  statistics  are  again  being  regularly  collected,  verified  and 

published  by  Eurostat. 

-  Several  research  projects  have been  launched  on the application  of remote  sensing 
to the  forestry  sector; these are independent  of comparable projects  in the R & TD 
Framework  Programme but do not duplicate them. 

-  An  In ter secretariat  Working  Group  (IWG)  has  been  created  linking  several 
international  organisations  active  in  the  forestry  statistics  field  with  the  aim  of 
the 
to  prevent  duplication 
establishing  cooperation 
organisations.  Its  work  has  resulted  in the  preparation  of  a joint  questionnaire  for 
Eurostat, the  FAO and UN-ECE  for  the collection  of statistical  data on  production 
of and trading  in forestry  products. 

the  activities  of 

in 

-  A  critical  inventory  has  been  produced  of  the  quality  and  comparability  of 
statistical  data obtained  from  the various forestry  resource  inventories produced by 
the  Member  States  and  other  European  countries;  the  analysis  has  helped  to 
establish  several ways to improve the future  quality of the data. 

4.  The  major  difficulties  encountered  during  the  period  of  application  of  the 
Regulation have been: 

-  The lack of harmonisation between Member States in the field of forestry  statistics; 
there  were  considerable  differences  in  terms  of  the  inventory,  data  sources, 
nomenclature  and methods of analysis and organisation. 

-  The total absence of data for a great many activities in the sector. 

-  Reservations  expressed  by  Member  States  concerning  national  implementation  of 
the  measures required to improve the quality  of international  data, mainly  because 
of a lack of personnel and  funding. 

<12-

5.  Despite  the  difficulties  and  taking  account  of  the  progress  already  made,  the 
Commission  and the members of the  Standing Forestry  Committee  (SFC) believe that 
a  decisive  stage  has  been  reached  in  the  implementation  of  the  System  and  that  the 
measure  must  be continued  with  a number  of activities  of a high  added-value for  the 
operation  of  the  System  being  strengthened  or  launched.  In  general  terms,  forestry 
information  requirements  are  still  urgent  and  have  in  fact  been  accentuated  by  the 
following: 

-  Accession  to  the  Union  in  1995  of  Austria,  Finland  and  Sweden;  this  has 
considerably  increased the relative significance  of the forestry  sector in the Union's 
economic activities. 

-  Community  commitments  entered  into  at  the  ministerial  conferences  on  forest 
protection  (Strasbourg  1990  and  Helsinki  1993).  The  Community  and  Member 
States  have  undertaken  to cooperate  in the collection  of data on the protection  and 
sustainable management of forests in Europe. 

-  The  increasing  worldwide  responsibilities  of  the  Union  in  the  protection  and 
sustainable  management  of forests,  reflecting  its commitment  to implementing  the 
recommendations of the intergovernmental  group on forests  (following  on from  the 
United  Nations  Conference  on  Environment  and  Development,  Committee  on 
Sustainable  Development), particularly as regards the integration of the criteria and 
indicators  for  the  sustainable  management  of  forests  into  forestry  inventories,  the 
harmonisation  of  definitions  and  the  international  coordination  of  work  on 
assessing forestry  resources. 

-  The forestry  strategy  which the Commission  is obliged to prepare as a result of the 
European  Parliament  request  expressed  in  its  resolution  of  30 January  1997.  The 
resolution  also  underlines  the  importance  of  Efics  in  that  context,  namely  as  an 
information  tool on Union forestry  activities. That importance was also noted in the 
Economic  and  Social  Committee  non-initiative  opinion  of  24 April  1997  on  the 
situation  and  problems of forestry  in the European  Union, and  in the draft  opinion 
of the  Committee  of the Regions  on the management,  utilisation  and protection  of 
the Union's  forests. 

6.  The measures which the Commission is proposing to undertake during the next  few 
years  have  been  laid  out  in  a  working  programme  covering  a  number  of  priority 
topics. The plan had already been presented to the SFC and the Eurostat working party 
on forestry  statistics and approved by them at their joint meeting held on 21 July  1997 
in  Luxembourg.  It  will  be  re-presented  to  the  SFC  for  approval  under  the  rules 
specified  in the new Regulation. 

Implementation  of the measures contained  in the working programme  will require the 
maintenance and, if necessary, reinforcement  of the existing cooperation with  Member 
States  and  with  other  international  institutions  active  in  the  forestry  statistics  field, 
particularly  in the IWG, so as to coordinate  and  supplement  the work  of the  different 
bodies and avoid  duplication. 

•4-3 

At  the  SFC  meeting  on  21 July  a  general  consensus  was  reached  in  favour  of 
extending the  Regulation. 

7.  Extension  of 
proportionality: 

the  measure 

respects 

the  principles  of  subsidiarity  and 

-  Responsibility  for the measure is shared by the Community and the Member States. 
Although 
it  is  the  Community's  duty  to  collect,  process  and  disseminate 
comparable  and  objective  data  on  the  European  forestry  sector,  it  cannot  do  this 
unless  the  Member  States  are  willing  to  undrtake  the  work  to  improve  the 
comparability  of  the  data  obtained  from  the  forestry  inventories.  Given  the  work 
needed  to  realise  that,  action  by  the  Member  States  alone  will  not  be  enough  and 
will  have to be combined with that of the Community. Coordination at Community 
level  and  exchanges  of experience  between the Member  States  will  help to  reduce 
the total cost of the measure. 

-  The development of common European definitions  and nomenclatures could not be 
undertaken  by  the  Member  States  alone.  Community  activities  in  that  field 
coordinated  with  those  of  other  international  bodies  will  supply  a  definite  added 
value to Member States' work. 

- 

If the initiative had been left to the Member States the consequence of inactivity on 
the part  of the Community  would have been the continued  lack of reliable  data on 
the  European  forestry  sector  or,  in  some  cases,  the  lack  of  any  data  at  all.  That 
situation  would  not  be  satisfactory  since  both  the  Member  States  and  the 
Community  institutions  acknowledge  that  such  data  are  an  invaluable  aid  both 
internationally  and throughout  Europe for  sustainable  development  (post-Rio  and -
Helsinki  process)  and  within the  Community  to  support the measures presented  in 
favour  of forests  and to prepare the future  forestry  strategy. 

-  The  financial  framework  of  the  Regulation  remains  unchanged.  The  reference 
amount,  ECU 3 900 000, stays the  same.  During  1989-97 the  appropriations  were 
under-used  (ECU 600 000) because  activities were concentrated  on the  analysis of 
the  existing  quality  of  forestry  data  and  of methods  for  improving  it.  The  amount 
remaining  for  1998-2002  is relatively  modest  given the objectives  pursued  and the 
cost  of  collecting  and  processing  forestry  information  in  the  Member  States.  In 
addition  to  the  creation  of  the  information  system,  Community  assistance  will  be 
concentrated  on  supporting  Member  States  in their  efforts  to  develop  appropriate 
processes  for  improving  the  comparability,  reliability  and  comprehensiveness  of 
the data on a European scale. 

-  As  the  difficulties  encountered  during  the  past  period  of  application  of  the 
Regulation  have  shown, the process of creating the  System  is a slow and  complex 
one. The five-year extension is not disproportionate given the size of the tasks to be 
accomplished. 

8.  The  action 
the  Union's  agricultural,  structural  and 
environmental policies.  It meets the requirements of those policies as well as being an 

is  consistent  with 

44 

important  information  and  evaluation  tool,  making  available  a  number  of  indicators 
and parameters on Europe's natural resources and their environment. 

The measure does not mean that the Community must implement  new procedures  for 
collecting  data,  it  supplements  measures  already  undertaken  as  part  of  the  Union's 
statistics policy. 

4.5-

Proposal for a 

COUNCIL REGULATION  ŒC) No 

amending Council Regulation (EEC) No 1615/89 establishing a European 

Forestry Information  and Communication  System  (Efks) 

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 

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

Article 213 thereof, 

I laving  regard to the proposal from  the Commission1, 

Whereas  the  period  of  application  of  Council  Regulation  (EEC)  No  1615/89  of  29 

May  1989 establishing  a European  Forestry  Information  and  Communication  System 
(Efics)2,  as  amended  by  Council  Regulation  (EC)  No 400/94  of  21  February  19943, 

expires on 31 December  1997; 

Whereas  several  Community  measures have already been undertaken  to  establish  the 

system;  whereas  they  are  mainly  based  on  an  analysis  of  the  reliability  and 

comparability  of  the  data  obtained  from  Member  States'  forest  inventories  and  on 

improving  coordination  of 

the  statistical  work  undertaken  by 

international 

organisations  on the forest  sector; whereas that work  has demonstrated  the  timeliness 

of the process  initiated  by the Community  and the benefits  which the latter can expect 

from  the continuation  of that work; 

Whereas  the  system  cannot  be  implemented  unless  the  Member  States  take 

appropriate  measures  to  that  end;  whereas  such  measures  must  be  specified  in  a 

working  programme  prepared  by  the  Commission  and  presented  to  the  Standing 

Forestry  Committee; 

l 
2  OJ L  165,  15.6.1989, p. 12. 
3  OJ I. 54, 25.2.1994, p. 5. 

<u 

Whereas 

the 

implementation  of  Community  policies,  the  European  Union's 

international  commitments  as  part  of  the  post-Helsinki  process  and  to  the  United 

Nations  General  Assembly  and  the  work  of  the  European  Environmental  Agency 

require  that  the  measures  to be taken  to  improve  the  quality  of  international  forestry 

data  and  to  improve  the  use  of  the  computer  and  remote-sensing  techniques  most 

suitable for disseminating those data, should be reinforced; 

Whereas  also the  European  Parliament  Report No A4-0414/96 of  18 December  1996 

on  the  European  Union's  forestry  strategy  stresses  that  the  Commission  must  ensure 

that  Efics  is  effectively  implemented;  whereas  the  own-initiative  opinion  of  the 

Economic  and  Social  Committee  of  24 April  1997 on the  situation  and  problems  of 

forestry  in the European Union and the potential for developing forestry  policies notes 

the  importance  of  improving  information  in the  forestry  sector  and  the  contribution 

that Efics could make to that, in particular by including data on forest  protection; 

Whereas  the  above  Regulation  should  therefore  be  extended  and  amended  to  take 

account of the above requirements, 

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 

Article 1 

Regulation (EEC) No  1615/89 is hereby amended as follows: 

(1 ) 

Article  1  is replaced by the  following: 

"Article  1 

In order to collect objective, reliable and pertinent information  on the  structure 

and operation of the forestry  sector in the Union, and thus: 

improve  consideration  of  the  interests  of  the  forestry  sector  in 

international discussions; 

facilitate  the  implementation  of  measures  in  favour  of  the  forestry 

sector under existing Community policies; 

d 7-

facilitate  implementation  of  Member  State  policies  relating  to  forestry 

or having an impact on the forestry  sector; 

authorise  access by the  general  public  to  information  on the  European 

forestry  sector, 

a  European  Forestry  Information  and  Communication  System  (Efics), 

hereinafter  called  'the  System',  is hereby  set  up, the  objective  of  which  is to 

collect,  coordinate,  standardise  and  process  information  concerning  the 

forestry  sector and its development." 

(2) 

Article 3 is replaced by the  following: 

'Article  3 

The  Commission  shall  set  up  the  System  in  close  cooperation  with  the 

Member States and international bodies active in the field of European  forestry 

statistics  during  an  initial  four-year  stage  starting  on  1  January  1989  and 

ending on 31 December 2002. 

To  improve  the  comparability  and  completeness  of  the  data  at  a  European 

level,  implementation  of  the  System  may  require  that  Member  States  take 

measures  aimed  at  adjusting  or  supplementing  their  procedures  for  the 

collection  of data, in particular  where the evaluation  of forestry  resources  and 

the monitoring of the timber and forestry products market are concerned. 

The  Commission  shall,  where  appropriate,  support  measures  undertaken  by 

Member  States  and  other  international  organisations  such  as  the  United 

Nations  Food  and  Agriculture  Organisation  (FAO)  and  the  Economic 

Commission  for  Europe  (UN-ECE)  and  intended  to  meet  the  specific 

requirements for setting up the System." 

(3) 

The following  Article 3a is inserted: 

^8 

"Article 3 a 

( 1 ) 

The Commission shall present to the Standing Forestry  Committee, set 
up  by  Decision  89/367/EEC4  for  a  period  extending  to  31 December 

2002,  a  working  programme  detailing  the  measures  which  must  be 

taken  by  Member  States  and  the  Commission  with  a  view  to 

establishing the System. 

(2) 

The  Committee  shall  deliver  its  opinion  on  the  working  programme 

within  a  time  limit  to  be  fixed  by  its  chairman  on  the  basis  of  the 

urgency of the matter in question. The opinion shall be by a majority  as 

provided  for  in  Article  148(2)  of  the  Treaty  for  the  adoption  of 

decisions which the Council is requested to take on a proposal  from  the 

Commission. Member States' votes in the Committee shall be weighted 

as set out in the said Article. The chairman shall not have a vote. 

(3) 

(a) 

The  Commission  shall  adopt  the  envisaged  measures  where 

they are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee. 

(b)  Where  the  envisaged  measures  are  not  in  accordance  with  the 

opinion  of the Committee, or  in the absence  of an opinion,  the 

Commission  shall  present  the  Council  without  delay  with  a 

proposal  on the measures to be taken. The Council  shall  decide 

on the proposal by qualified  majority. 

If the Council has failed to adopt the measures within a period of three months 

of  being  asked  to  do  so, the  Commission  shall  adopt  the  proposed  measures 

and implement them immediately." 

(4) 

Article 4 is replaced by the following: 

"Article 4 

4  OJ L 165, 15.6.1989, p. 14. 

49 

The reference  amount for  implementing the  System  is ECU  3 900 000 for  the 

period  1989-2002. 

The  annual  appropriations  shall  be  authorised  by  the  budgetary  authority 

within the limits of the available budget." 

(5) 

Article 5 is replaced by the  following: 

"Article 5 

The  Commission  shall  report  to  the  Council,  before  1 January  2003,  on  the 

implementation  of  the  System  and  the  results  obtained.  In  the  light  of  that 

report  it  shall,  where  necessary,  make proposals  to  the  Council  on  the  future 

organisation and operation of the System." 

Article 2 

This  Regulation  shall enter into force  on the third day following  its publication  in the 

Official Journal of the European Communities. 

It shall  apply from  1  January 1998. 

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

States. 

Done at 

, 

For the Council 

The President 

-&0 

FINANCIAL  STATEMENT 

1. 

'TITLE  OF  OPERATION 

Extension  of  the  Community  measure  establishing  a  European  Forestry  Information 
and Communication  System (Efics). 

2. 

BUDGET  HEADING  INVOLVED 

B2-5150 

Forests 

3. 

LEGAL  BASIS 

Article 213 of the Treaty. 

Council  Regulation  (EEC)  No  1615/89  of  29  May  1989  establishing  a  European 
forestry  Information  and  Communication  System  (Efics)1,  as  amended  by  Council 
Regulation (EC) No 400/94 of 21 February  19942, expiring on 31 December  1997. 

The purpose  of  the proposal  is  to  extend  the  Regulation  by five  years.  The period 
covered by the Regulation would then be 1989-2002. 

4. 

DESCRIPTION  OF  OPERATION 

4.1 

General  objective 

Regulation  (EEC)  No  1615/89  was  adopted  as  part  of  the  implementation  of  the 
"Forestry  action  programme"  launched  by  the  Commission  in  1988.  The  system 
introduced  by  the  Regulation  was  regarded  as  a  tool  indispensable  to  the  optimum 
implementation  of  the  forestry  policy  measures  which  the  programme  proposed  to 
implement throughout the Community. 

The  objective  of  the  system  is  to  collect,  coordinate,  standardise,  process  and 
disseminate data concerning the forestry  sector and its development, in order to collect 
objective,  reliable  and  pertinent  information  on  the  structure  and  operation  of  the 
forestry  sector in the Union, and thus: 

improve  consideration  of  the  interests  of  the  forestry  sector  in  international 
forums,  such  as the  Convention  on  biodiversity,  or  in  forums  related  to  forest 
protection and climate change; 

facilitate  the  implementation  of measures  in favour  of the  forestry  sector  under 
existing  Community  policies  (CAP  accompanying  measures,  the  Structural 
Funds, environment, industry); 

().)  L  165. 15.6.1989, p. 12. 
O.I L 54,25.2.1994, p. 5. 

facilitate  implementation of Member States' forestry  policies; 

allow more public access to information  on European  forests. 

To  achieve  those  objectives,  the  Commission  proposes  to  undertake  the  following 
measures over the next few years: 

the  creation,  maintenance  and  feeding  of  a  database  (feasibility  study,  design 
and inputting of data already available); 

studies  to  develop  common  noemclatures  for  forestry  resources  (timber,  goods 
and services other than timber production); 

studies on the conversion of national data on forestry  resources (timber); 

study on the inputting of new data into the database (geo-referenced  information 
and/or maps, results of specific analyses); 

specific  studies (statistics on trade in roundwood  and forestry  industry products, 
operation  of the timber market and specific  analyses linked to sectoral needs). 

In addition to those measures, which are entirely the responsibility  of the Community, 
it  is  planned  that  the  Commission  will  contribute  to  the  financing  of  projects  in  the 
Member  States  to  aid  the  conversion  of  national  data  on  forestry  resources  (timber) 
and  collection  by  Member  States of supplementary  information  on forestry  resources, 
forest  ownership and measures in favour of forests taken as part of the Structural  Fund 
regional  programmes. 

Lastly,  it  is planned  to make a financial contribution  to work  the objectives  of  which 
are compatible  with  those of Efics  and  which  other  international  institutions  active  in 
the field  of forestry  statistics will be implementing. 

4.2 

Period covered and arrangements for renewal or extension 

First  period of 4 years (Regulation (EC) No  1615/89): 

1.1.1989-31.12.1992 

Second period of 5 years (Regulation (EC) No 400/94): 

1.1.1993-31.12.1997 

Proposed extension by 5 years: 

1.1.1998-31.12.2002 

5. 

CLASSIFICATION  OF EXPENDITURE 

5.1 

Non-compulsory  expenditure 

5.2 

Differentiated  appropriations 

6. 

TYPE OF EXPENDITURE 

See point 7. 

-it2-

7. 

FINANCIAL IMPACT 

7.1  Method of calculating total cost of operation 

For actions in Member  States part-financed  by the Commission  (support for  the 
conversion  of  data  and  the  collection  of  supplementary  data)  a  part-financing 
rate up to a maximum of 50% of the total cost is planned. 

The  rate  of  Community  part-financing  for  projects  presented  by  other 
international  institutions will be studied on a case-by-case basis. 

The  financing  of  other  measures  will  be  100%  for  the  account  of  the 
Community. 

7.2 

Itemised breakdown of cost 

Measure 

1998 

1999 

2000 

2001 

2002 

2003 
et  seq. 

T O T AL 

Studies  and  services 
Contributions  to 
Member  State  expenses 
Contribution  to 
international 
organisations'  expenses 
TOTAL 

0.2 
0.2 

0.1 

0.3 
0.2 

0.1 

0.3 
0.4 

0.1 

0.3 
0.4 

0.1 

0.2 
0.3 

0.1 

0.5 

0.6 

0.8 

0.8 

0.6 

1.3 
1.5 

0.5 

3.3 

N.B.:  Expenditure  already  incurred  during  the first two  periods  of  application  of  the 
Regulation  (1989-92  and  1993-97)  was  of  the  order  of  ECU 600 000,  so  the  total 
amount  of expenditure  planned  for the period  1989-2002 will be, as mentioned  in the 
Regulation, ECU 3 900 000. 

7.3 

Indicative schedule of appropriations 

commitment  appropriations  in million  ecus 

1998 
0.5 

1999 
0.6 

2000 
0.8 

2001 
0.8 

2002 
0.6 

2003 et  seq. 

TOTAL 
3.3 

0.3 
0.2 

0.4 
0.1 
0.1 

0.5 

0.6 

0.5 
0.2 
0.1 

0.8 

0.5 
0.2 
0.1 
0.8 

0.4 
0.2 
0.6 

0.3 
0.6 
0.6 
0.8 
0.7 
0.3 
3.3 

Commitment 
appropriations 
Payment 
appropriations 
1998 
1999 
2000 
2001 
2002 
2003 et  seq. 
TOTAL 

8. 

FRAUD  PREVENTION  MEASURES 

On-the-spot  checks  will  be  carried  out  to  verify  the  execution  in  Member  States  of 
projects  part-financed  by the Commission and to verify  the financial  aspects. 

9. 

ELEMENTS OF COST-EFFECTIVENESS  ANALYSIS 

9.1 

Specific  and quantified  objectives; target population 

To  attain  the  objectives  set  out  in the  Regulation  it  is proposed  to  concentrate  in  the 
next  few  years  on  the  acquisition  of  data  and  improving  their  comparability  and 
reliability  in each of the following areas: 

forestry  resources, 
forest  ownership structure, 

- 
- 
-  non-commercial  values of forests; 
-  Community  forestry  measures, 
- 

forest  products  (wood  as  a  structural  material  ("mechanical")  and  other  forest 
products). 

Special horizontal measures will be undertaken to: 

-  define the nomenclatures and common definitions  in each of the fields, 
improve Community-wide comparability of national data collected, 
- 
-  determine  the  technical  solutions  to  be  adopted  for  the  collection,  storage  and 
dissemination  of the information  taking account of the principle of subsidiarity. 

The Commission  intends to use Efics to undertake consistent measures for the  forestry 
sector  in the Community  and to implement them in the best possible way. It may  also 
prove  useful  in the  formulation  and  implementation  of more  general  policies  such  as 
environmental  or  industrial  policies  or  for  employment  initiatives.  It  is  also 
anticipated that the system, by providing reliable information  on the European  forestry 
sector,  its  sustainable  development  and  its  environment,  will  more  broadly  benefit 
various public and private bodies in the Member States. 

9.2 

Grounds for the operation 

9.2.1  Need for Community financial  aid 

It is necessary  for  the Community to participate  in the measures needed to  implement 
Efics  and  improve  the  quality  of  its  data.  If  the  initiative  were  left  to  the  Member 
States  the  consequence  of  inactivity  on  the  part  of  the  Community  would  be  the 
continued  lack  of reliable  data on the  European  forestry  sector  or,  in  some  cases, the 
lack  of any data at all. That situation  would not be satisfactory  since both the Member 
States  and  the  Community  institutions  acknowledge  that  such  data  are  an  invaluable 
aid  both  internationally  and throughout  Europe for  sustainable development  (the post-
Rio and  -Helsinki  process)  and  within  the Community  to  support  measures  in  favour 
of forestry  and to prepare future  forestry  strategy. 

-SU 

Implementing  forestry  measures  as  part  of  Community  policies  (the  CAP,  industry, 
the  environment,  etc)  requires  a  suitable  information  system  possessing  reliable  and 
comparable-data  at  European  level.  In  addition,  any  national  or regional  measure  must 
have  access  to  such  data  to  form  its  basic  indicators  (environment,  socio-economic 
conditions,  etc)  which  will  later  permit  a  quantitative  evaluation  of  the  impact  of  the 
measure  on  the  territory  in  question.  The  specific  characteristics  and  great  variety  of 
ecological  and  socio-economic  conditions  in  Europe's  forests  must  be  reflected  in 
such  an  information  system.  Consideration  of  local  and  regional  features  in  European 
forests  will  permit  an  integrated  and decentralised approach  at regional  level. 

Responsibility  for  the  measure  is  shared  between  the  Community  and  its  Member 
States.  Although  it  is  the  Community's  duty  to  collect,  process  and  disseminate  the 
comparable  and  objective  data on the  European  forestry  sector,  it cannot  do  this  unless 
the  Member  States  are  willing  to take  action  to  improve  national  data.  Such  work  will 
require  coordination  and  consultations  at  Community 
level  and  exchanges  of 
information  and  experience  will  help Member  States to profit  from  their  work. 

The  development  of  common  European  definitions  and  nomeclatures  could  not  be 
undertaken  by 
field 
the  Member  States  alone.  Community  activities 
coordinated  with  those  of other  international  bodies  will  supply  a definite  added  value 
to  Member  States'  work. 

that 

in 

The  need  for  Community  action  has  been  repeatedly  stressed  by  the  SFC,  which  has 
always  been  unanimously  in  favour  of  implementing  the  System.  That  need  has  been 
confirmed  by other  institutions,  viz.: 

- 

the  European  Parliament,  in  its  report  of  18 December  1996  on  the  European 
Union's  forestry  strategy, 

the  Economic  and  Social  Committee,  in  its own-initiative  opinion  of 24 April  1997 
on  the  situation  and  problems  of  forestry  in  the  European  Union  and  the  potential 
lor developing  forestry  policies, 

- 

the  Committee  of  the  Regions,  in  its  draft  opinion  on  the  management,  use  and 
protection  of forests  in the European  Union. 

9.2.2  Choice  of  ways  and  means 

The  ways  and  means  chosen  by  the  Community  and  based  around  the  measures 
described  in  point  9.1  are  the  result  of  discussions  with  the  Member  States  within  the 
SFC.  During  their  course  all  the  scenarios  were  studied  which  were  proposed  in  a 
study  on  forestry  inventory  systems  in  Europe  conducted  by  the  European  Forestry 
Institute  (EFI)  for  the  Commission  and  completed  in  1997. For  example,  the  option  of 
conducting  a  Europe-wide  independent  Efics  inventory  was judged  unrealistic  at  the 
current  slage  in  view  of  its  expense  and  the  problems  which  would  be  encountered  by 
Member  States. 

The  amount  allocated  is considered  relatively  modest  given  the  objectives  pursued  and 
the  cost  of  collecting  and  processing  forestry  information  in  the  Member  States.  In 

* 5-

addition  to  the  creation  of  the  information  system,  Community  assistance  will  be 
concentrated  on  supporting  Member  States  in  their  work  on  creating  appropriate 
processes  for  improving  the  comparability,  reliability  and  comprehensiveness  of  the 
data on a European scale. 

9.3  Monitoring and evaluation of the operation 

The  operation  will  be  monitored  and  evaluated  in  close  collaboration  between  DCs 
III,  VI.  XI  and  XII,  Eurostat  and  the  Member  States  represented  in  the  SFC's  Efics 
working  party  and  the  Agricultural  Statistics  Committee's  "forestry  statistics" 
working  party.  Close  cooperation  is  also  guaranteed  with  international  organisations 
such  as  UN-ECE  in Geneva which are already  involved on a more worldwide  level in 
collection,  processing  and  supply  of data on the  forestry  sector.  In the context  of that 
cooperation  the  Commission  participates  in  the  work  of  an  inter-secretariat  working 
group  comprising  representatives  of  DG  VI,  Eurostat,  the  FAO,  the  UN-ECE,  the 
OECD and the International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO). 

The  presence  and  cooperation  of  those  different  bodies  guarantees  the  best  possible 
implementation  of the operation. 

10.  ADMINISTRATIVE  EXPENDITURE (PART A  OF THE BUDGET) 

Implementation  of 
the  Regulation  will  not  require  additional  administrative 
expenditure.  Administration  will  be  by  staff  already  allocated  to  this  task,  viz.  one 
part-time A official  and one full-time  B  official. 

Expenditure  connected  with the organisation  of meetings, with missions and possibly 
with  certain  publications  will  be  charged  to  the  general  budget  headings  created  for 
that  purpose  in  Part  A  of  the  budget.  Other  expenditure  (studies,  development  of 
special  information  systems, etc) will be committed in heading B2-5150. 

- &-

ISSN 0254-1475 

COM(98)  173 final 

DOCUMENTS 

EN 

03  15  16  17 

Catalogue number  :  CB-CO-98-170-EN-C 

ISBN 92-78-32132-X 

Office  for Official  Publications of the European  Communities 

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âOr