Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the continued application of areal surveys and remote sensing techniques to the agricultural statistics for 2004-2007 and amending Decision 1445/2000/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council
Date: 2003-04-29
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU statistics, agricultural statistics, land use, remote sensing, statistical method

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 29.4.2003
COM(2003) 218 final

2003/0085 (COD)

Proposal for a

DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

on the continued application of areal surveys and remote-sensing techniques to the
agricultural statistics for 2004-2007 and
amending Decision 1445/2000/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council

(presented by the Commission)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

Decision  No 1445/2000/EC  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council1  concerns  the
application  of  areal  surveys  and  remote-sensing  techniques  to  the  agricultural  statistics  for
1999  to  2003.  In  accordance  with  Article 1(3),  the  implementation  of  this  Decision  was
confirmed  by  Commission  Decision  2002/750/EC2  on  the  continued  application  of  these
measures for 2002-2003.

Article 6  of  Decision  No 1445/2000/EC  stipulates  that  "by  31  July  2003  at  the  latest,  the
Commission  shall  present  a  report  to  the  European  Parliament  and  the  Council  on  the
implementation  of  these  measures  and  on  the  use  of  the  resources  made  available,
accompanied, where appropriate, by  any proposals  on how  areal  survey  and  remote-sensing
techniques may continue to be used for agricultural statistics."

As is clear from its report to the European Parliament and to  the Council3, the Commission
considers that these measures should be continued for a further period of four years.

This purpose of this proposal for a Decision is to continue the application of areal surveys and
remote-sensing  techniques  to  the  agricultural  statistics  for  2004-2007,  without  in  any  way
amending the content of the basic Decision.

1

2

3

OJ L 163 of 4 July 2000, p. 1
OJ L 244 of 12 September 2002, p. 38.
COM (2003) [….]

2

                                                
2003/0085 (COD)

Proposal for a

DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

on the continued application of areal surveys and remote-sensing techniques to the
agricultural statistics for 2004-2007 and
amending Decision 1445/2000/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the  European  Community,  and  in  particular
Article 285 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal by the Commission4,

In accordance with the procedure provided for in Article 251 of the Treaty5,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

4

5

6

7

8

Decision  No  1445/2000/EC  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  of
22 May 2000 on the application of areal survey and remote-sensing techniques to the
agricultural statistics for 1999 to 20036 will lapse on 31 December 2003.

The  need  to have adequate information on  land use and  on  the  condition  of  crops  is
especially felt in the context of new developments in the common agricultural policy
and with  a view to enlargement, particularly for the analysis  of  interactions  between
agriculture, the environment and rural areas.

The  Commission's  report  to  the  European  Parliament  and  the  Council  on  the
implementation  of  these  measures  over  the  period  from  1999 to 20037  shows  that  it
would be useful to continue them for a further four years.

The  procedures  for  implementing  the  measures  contained  in  Decision 1445/2000/EC
should be continued and enhanced in the light of the experience gained and the results
achieved.

The remote-sensing activities requiring further research and development in the period
2004-2007  are  covered  by  the  Sixth  Framework  Programme  in  the  field  of  research
and development8.

OJ C…….
OJ C…….
OJ L 163 of 4 July 2000, p. 1
COM (2003) [...]
OJ L 232 of 29 August 2002, p. 1

3

                                                
(6)

This  Decision  lays  down,  for  the  entire  duration  of  the  programme,  a  financial
framework  constituting,  for  the  budgetary  authority,  the  principal  point  of  reference
within  the  meaning  of  point 33  of  the  Interinstitutional  Agreement  between  the
European Parliament, the Council and the Commission of 6 May 19999 on budgetary
discipline and improvement of the budgetary procedure,

HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Decision 1445/2000/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council shall be amended as
follows:

Article 1

1.

2.

The  following  shall  be  added  at  the  end  of  Article 1(1):  "These  measures  shall  be
continued for a period of four years beginning on 1 January 2004".

Article 3 shall be replaced by the following:

"Article 3

The  financial  framework  for  the  implementation  of  this  programme  for  the  period  2004  to
2007 is hereby set at € 7.85  million.

The annual appropriations shall be authorised by the budgetary authority within the limits of
the financial perspective."

1.

2.

In Article 6, "31 July 2003" shall be replaced by "31 July 2007".

In Article 7, "31 December 2003" shall be replaced by "31 December 2007".

Article 2

This Decision shall take effect on the twentieth day following the date of its publication in the
Official Journal of the European Union.

Done at Brussels, [date]

For the European Parliament
The President

For the Council
The President

9

OJ C 172 of 18 June 1999, p. 1

4

                                                
LEGISLATIVE FINANCIAL STATEMENT

Policy area(s): Agriculture, Statistics

TITLE OF ACTIVITY:

APPLICATION  OF  AREAL  SURVEY  AND  REMOTE-SENSING  TECHNIQUES  TO  THE  AGRICULTURAL

STATISTICS FOR 2004-2007

1.

BUDGET LINE(S) + HEADING(S)

B2-513: Restructuring of agricultural survey systems

OVERALL FIGURES

Total allocation for the activity (Part B): € 7.850 million for commitment

Period of application: 2004-2007

Overall multiannual estimate of expenditure:

2.

2.1

2.2

2.3

a) Schedule of commitment  appropriations  /  payment  appropriations  (financial  intervention)
(cf. point 6.1.1)

€ million (to three decimal places)

Year n

n + 1

n + 2

n + 3

n + 4

Commitments

2.150

1.900

1.900

1.900

-

n + 5
and
subs.
-

Payments

1.500

1.900

1.900

1.900

0.650

-

Total

7.850

7.850

b) Technical and administrative assistance and support expenditure (cf. point 6.1.2)

Commitments

Payments

Sub-total a+b

Commitments

Payments

5

c)  Overall  financial  impact  of  human  resources  and  other  administrative  expenditure
(cf. points 7.2 and 7.3)

Commitments/
Payments

TOTAL a+b+c

Commitments

Payments

2.4

Compatibility with financial programming and financial perspectives

Proposal  compatible  with  existing  financial  programming  to  be  taken  into

X
account under the new financial perspectives .

(cid:1) Proposal  will  entail  reprogramming  of  the  relevant  heading  in  the  financial
perspectives,

(cid:1) including,  if  necessary,  recourse  to  the  provisions  of  the  interinstitutional
agreement.

2.5

Financial impact on revenue10

Proposal  has  no  financial  implications  (involves  technical  aspects  regarding

X
implementation of a measure).

OR

(cid:1) Financial impact - the effect on revenue is as follows:

-  Note:  All  details  and  observations  pertaining  to  the  method  of  calculating  the
effect on revenue should be included in a separate annex.

Budget line Revenue

 million (to one decimal place)

Situation after the activity

Year n

n+1

n+2

n+3

n+4

n+5

Before
the
activity
(year
n-1)

a) Revenue in absolute terms

b) Change in revenue

 (cid:1)

(Please state each budget line involved, adding the appropriate number of rows to
the table if there is an effect on more than one budget line)

10

For further details, see separate explanatory memorandum.

6

€
                                                
3.

BUDGET CHARACTERISTICS

Type of expenditure

New

EFTA
contribution

Contribution
from
candidate
countries

Heading in
financial
perspectives

Non-comp.

Diff./

NO          

NO          

NO          

No           

4.

LEGAL BASIS

Article 285 of the Treaty

5.

5.1

DESCRIPTION AND GROUNDS

Need for Community intervention

5.1.1 Objectives pursued

Activity A: LUCAS Project (Land Use/Cover Area frame statistical Survey)

The LUCAS pilot project aims to meet the need for information on land use, which is
particularly strongly felt under the new common agricultural policy and with an eye
to enlargement.

It also aims to meet the need for an analysis of the interactions between agriculture,
the environment and rural areas. The European Council regularly mentions the need
for  greater  account  to  be  taken  of  the  environment  in  the  various  Community
policies, and particular mention was made of this in the conclusions of the Göteborg
European Council.

The main aim of the LUCAS pilot project is to test the feasibility of an areal survey
for obtaining harmonised information on land use, particularly in agriculture, with a
speed and accuracy that are acceptable at EU level, and if possible at the level of the
Member States too, and for collecting territorial information on the environment.

Activity B: MARS-STAT Project (Monitoring Agriculture with Remote Sensing)

The aim of the system for agrometeorological monitoring of crops and forecasting of
yields developed by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) under the MARS project is to
provide  information  on  the  impact  of  weather  on  harvests  in  a  given  year  and  to
make yield forecasts for the main crops.

In accordance with the implementation procedures laid down in European Parliament
and  Council  Decision  1445/2000/EC,  the  aim  of  the  development  activities
conducted in recent  years has been to make the agrometeorological system  and  the
system for the processing of low-resolution NOAA and VEGETATION satellite data
operational. These satellite images are used for analysis and monitoring of field crops
in Europe and forecasting yields.

7

          
          
5.1.2 Measures taken in connection with ex ante evaluation

This proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision aims at extending the activities
decided  on  in  2000  for  a  further  four  years.  It  is  accompanied  by  a  report  to  the  European
Parliament  and  the  Council  taking  stock  of  activities  conducted  during  the  period  2000  to
2002, the results obtained and the problems encountered. Also, in accordance with the basic
Decision,  the  Commission  each  year  submits  a  report  to  the  Member  States  on  the
implementation procedures, the methods used, the use of appropriations and the evaluation of
results obtained, together with the work programme for the following year. Any adjustments
needed in the light of experience are also discussed.

5.1.3 Measures taken in connection with ex post evaluation

Regarding the LUCAS project, it should first be pointed out that, because the basic Decision
was adopted at a late stage, it has been possible to conduct only one area frame survey so far,
and experience  is therefore too limited for any final  conclusions  to  be  drawn.  Nevertheless,
several  improvements  have  been  identified  that  might  be  incorporated  into  the  surveys  in
subsequent years. These include, in particular, a new sampling scheme,  greater  involvement
of the Member States in the implementation of the survey, the use of photo-interpretation for
collecting information on less accessible points and a land use classification.

Experience with the agrometeorological system has primarily shown that it was possible, with
the technical assistance and supervision of the JRC, to contract out activities that had become
operational,  despite  the  need  to  transfer  tools  for  the  analysis  and  processing  of  relatively
complex data to an outside firm. The ex-post evaluation of the results has also demonstrated
the system's capacity for recording exceptional weather conditions in recent years and taking
account of them in the yield forecasts. The experience gained will make it possible to further
improve the performance of the system in coming years.

5.2

Activities envisaged and budgetary procedures

Activity A: LUCAS Project

LUCAS is a statistical survey conducted by means of area frame sampling (i.e. a survey based
on  visual  observation  of  a  sample  of  georeferenced  points  involving  no  contacts  with
farmers).

The LUCAS pilot survey used a two-level sampling plan comprising primary sampling units
(PSUs) consisting of the cells in a regular grid measuring 18 km on each side, and secondary
sampling  units  (SSUs)  representing  10  points  arranged  in  a  rectangle  (1 500 m  x  600 m)
within each PSU. The sample contains about 10 000 PSUs covering the entire EU territory. A
total of about 100 000 points are therefore observed for the EU as a whole. Observations are
made at the exact geographical locations of the SSUs in the sample.

The  task  of  conducting  these  surveys  is  contracted  out  to  private  firms  or  statistical  bodies
selected by means of a public invitation to tender. General supervision and quality control are
also carried out by an appropriately qualified contractor.

-  Target  population:  national  statistical  bodies,  Community  statistical  system,  Community
institutions, users of agricultural and environmental statistics;

8

- Specific objectives for the programming period: to continue the pilot phase so as to be able
to  draw  more  meaningful  conclusions  about  the  possible  integration  of  this  survey  into  the
Community statistical system and the cost-effectiveness  of  the work;  to  collect the  statistics
needed  for  analysing  the  interrelationships  between  agriculture,  the  environment  and  rural
areas; to enable agro-environmental indicators to be drawn up for evaluating the integration of
environmental concerns into the common agricultural policy;

-  Expected  effects  on  the  achievement  of  the  general  objective:  harmonisation  and
enhancement  of  land  use  statistics;  obtaining  early  information  on  agricultural  areas;
providing  users  of  agricultural  statistics  and  environmental  experts  with  a  homogeneous
database on soil erosion, the landscape, natural hazards, noise etc.

- Budgetary intervention procedures: the cost of the project covers the implementation of the
surveys  in  the  field  and  the  coordination,  supervision  and  quality-control  work.  The  rate  of
coverage  is  100%.  However,  some  Member  States  will  be  involved  in  the  project  on  a
voluntary basis, taking charge of a number of additional points with a view to improving the
accuracy of the results.

Activity B: MARS Project

The MARS system for monitoring crops and forecasting yields falls into four sections:

(cid:1)  purchase  of  meteorological  data,  processing,  calculations,  interpolations  and  storage  of

derived meteorological data;

(cid:1)  use  of  meteorological  data 

the  CGMS  (Crop  Growth  Monitoring  System)
agrometeorological model. The results take the form of a series of indicators simulating the
growth of the main crops. These indicators are stored in a georeferenced database, which
allows the production of thematic charts of meteorological statistics and indicators for the
various crops;

in 

(cid:1)  acquisition of NOAA-AVHRR and SPOT-VEGETATION satellite images and processing
of  these  data  by  the  SPACE  system.  The  indicators  for  the  state  of  the  vegetation  are
calculated by integrating the CORINE Land Cover data;

(cid:1)  establishment at the JRC of a group of experts specialising in the statistical analysis of the

data and quantitative forecasts based on previous results.

The main result of this activity is the MARS Bulletin, of which six issues were published in
1999, six in 2000, seven in 2001 and seven in 2002, and of which six issues are scheduled for
2003 (last issue to appear at the end of November 2003). The Bulletin is sent to the various
Commission departments concerned, the Member States, the statistical bodies and the various
Ministries of Agriculture.

-  Target  population:  national  statistical  bodies,  Community  statistical  system,  Community
institutions, users of agricultural statistics, the scientific community;

-  Specific  objectives  for  the  programming  period:  making  available  to  the  Commission  and
other  institutions  an  even  more  effective  tool  for  monitoring  crops  and  forecasting  yields;
extending  the  application  of  this  system  to  the  new  Member  States  and  other  neighbouring
regions;

9

- Budgetary intervention procedures: the funds earmarked cover the total estimated costs for
the various activities except for the costs of the staff working at the Commission.

5.3

Implementation methods

Direct management by the Commission with statutory or external staff. There is provision for
using external contractors, selected by means of invitations to tender, for some of the work.
The Member States will be regularly informed of the work under way and the results obtained
through direct access to the information and at the  periodic meetings of the working parties
convened by Eurostat in Luxembourg.

10

6.

6.1

FINANCIAL IMPACT

Total financial impact on Part B - (over the entire programming period)

6.1.1 Financial intervention

Commitments (in € million to three decimal places)

Breakdown

Activity A

Activity B

Year n

n + 1

 n + 2

n + 3

n+ 4

n + 5 and
subs.

1.300

0.850

1.300

0.600

1.300

0.600

1.300

0.600

TOTAL

2.150

1.900

1.900

1.900

Total

5.200

2.650

7.850

6.1.2

Technical  and  administrative  assistance,  support  expenditure  and  IT
expenditure (commitment appropriations)

Year n

n + 1

 n + 2

n + 3

n + 4

n + 5 and
subs.

Total

1) Technical and
administrative assistance :
a) 
offices

Technical 

assistance

b) Other technical and
administrative assistance:
- intra muros:
- extra muros:
of which for construction
and maintenance of
computerised management
systems

Subtotal 1

2) Support expenditure:

a) Studies

b) Meetings of experts

c) Information and
publications

Subtotal 2

TOTAL

11

6.2.

Calculation  of  costs  by  measure  envisaged  in  Part  B  (over  the  entire
programming period)

Breakdown

Commitment appropriations in € million (to three decimal places)

Type
of output
(projects, files
etc.)
1

Number of
outputs
(total for years
1…n)
2

Average unit
price

Total costs
(for years 1…n)

3

4 = (2X3)

Activity A
- 
Coordination, 
quality control (2 surveys)
- Conducting 2 area frame surveys

supervision,

2 surveys

0.300

0.600

100.000 points

2 surveys

23 Euro/point

4.600

data 

Activity B
-  Meteorological 
processing
-  Agrometeorological  data  and
processing
- Satellite data and processing

and

- Bulletin publications (volumes)

- Coordination

TOTAL COST

and

and

Database 
maps
Database 
maps
Database 
maps
Yearly  volumes
of crop forecasts
Documents

and

4

4

4

4

4

0.180

0.135

0.290

0.023

0.035

0.720

0.540

1.160

0.090

0.140
7.850

7.

IMPACT ON STAFF AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENDITURE

7.1.

Impact on human resources

Types of post

Staff to be assigned to management of the
activity using existing and/or additional
resources

Number of
permanent posts

Number of
temporary posts

Total

Officials or
temporary staff

A
B
C

Other human resources
Total

2
1
1

4

1

1

3
1
1

5

Description of tasks deriving from the
activity

(If necessary, a more complete
description of the tasks may be
appended.)

7.2

Overall financial impact of human resources

Type of human resource

Amount (€)

Method of calculation *

Officials
Temporary staff

Other human resources

432.000
108.000

4*108.000

(give budget line )

Total

540.000

The amounts are total expenditure for twelve months.

12

7.3

Other administrative expenditure deriving from the activity

Budget line
(number and heading)

Overall allocation (Title A7)
A0701 – Missions
A07030 – Meetings
A07031 – Compulsory committees(1)
A07032 – Non-Compulsory committees(1)
A07040 – Conferences
A0705 – Studies and consultations
Other expenditure (please specify)

Information systems (A-707)

Other expenditure - Part A (please specify)

Amount (€)

Method of calculation

3*12.500

35.000
37.500

250.000

50.000

Total

372.500

The amounts are total expenditure for twelve months.

I.
II.
III.

8.

8.1

Annual total (7.2 + 7.3)
Duration of activity
Total cost of activity (I x II)

€ 912.500
4 years
€ 3.650.000

FOLLOW-UP AND EVALUATION

Follow-up arrangements

A  work  programme  for  the  following  year  will  be  drawn  up  for  each  activity  following
consultation of the competent committee and working parties at Eurostat. Monitoring of the
activity  will  be  implemented  on  the  basis  of  the  information  and  reports  received  from  the
contractors  in  the  course  of  the  year,  or  at  the  periodic  meetings  with  the  experts  and
representatives  of  the  Member  States  organised  by  the  Commission  departments.  The
implementation  of  the  agrometeorological  system  will  also  be  constantly  monitored  on  the
basis of information obtained by the Commission when drawing up the forecasts for the main
crops.

8.2

Arrangements and schedule for the planned evaluation

At the technical meetings mentioned in 8.1, an interim evaluation will be made of the results
obtained and the problems encountered, so that experience gained can be turned to advantage
in the subsequent work.

9.

ANTI-FRAUD MEASURES

Since  the  Commission  will  be  the  recipient  of  the  information  and  the  supply  of  this
information  is  the  subject  of  the  contracts,  the  activities  will  be  directly  monitored.  The
Commission will also be responsible for the implementation of the activities, either directly or
in cooperation with the Community and national bodies responsible for producing agricultural
statistics.

13