Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Regulation (EEC) No 571/88 on the organisation of Community surveys on the structure of agricultural holdings after enlargement
Date: 2003-10-15
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU programme, EU statistics, accession to the European Union, agricultural statistics, agricultural structure, economic survey, general budget (EU), inclusion in the budget

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 15.10.2003
COM(2003) 605 final

2003/0234 (COD)

Proposal for a

REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

amending
Council Regulation (EEC) No 571/88 on the organisation of Community surveys on the
structure of agricultural holdings after enlargement

(presented by the Commission)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

In  accordance  with  Council  Regulation  (EC)  No  571/88,  as  last  amended  by  Commission
Regulation (EC) No 143/2002, the Member States shall be required to conduct a survey on the
structure of agricultural holdings in 2005 and 2007, as part of the multiannual programme of
surveys covering the period to 2007. Article 14 of this Regulation provides that the Member
States shall be reimbursed "20 ECU per holding for the expenses incurred in carrying out the
surveys, subject to a maximum amount per survey".

The proposed Regulation establishes the maximum Community contribution for the 2005 and
2007  surveys  to  be  carried  out  in  Cyprus,  the  Czech  Republic,  Estonia,  Hungary,  Latvia,
Lithuania, Malta, Poland, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia. These maximum amounts have
been determined on the basis of the number of agricultural holdings and  the surface  area of
the  countries  concerned,  in  such  a  way  as  to  ensure  that  these  countries  are  treated  in  a
comparable  manner  to  the  current  Member  States.  Moreover,  as  this  is  a  multiannual
programme  which  will  be  adopted  under  the  co-decision  procedure  in  accordance  with  the
Interinstitutional Agreement of 6 May 19991, the proposed Regulation lays down the financial
framework for the remainder of the programme.

1

OJ C 172, 18.6.1999, p. 1

2

                                                
2003/0234 (COD)

Proposal for a

REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

amending
Council Regulation (EEC) No 571/88 on the organisation of Community surveys on the
structure of agricultural holdings after enlargement

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the  European  Community,  and  in  particular
Article 285(1) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal of the Commission1,

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty2,

Whereas:

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

(4) 

Council  Regulation  (EEC)  No  571/88  of  29  February  1988  on  the  organisation  of
Community  surveys  on  the  structure  of  agricultural  holdings3,  as  last  amended  by
Commission  Regulation  (EC)  No  143/20024,  provides  for  the  Member  States  to  be
reimbursed  up  to  a  maximum  amount  per  survey,  as  a  contribution  to  expenses
incurred.

In order to carry out the surveys on the structure of agricultural holdings, considerable
funding will be required from the Member States and from the Community to meet the
information requirements of the Community institutions.

In the light of the accession of Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia,
Lithuania,  Malta,  Poland,  the  Slovak  Republic  and  Slovenia,  and  with  a  view  to
conducting  surveys  on  the  structure  of  agricultural  holdings  in  these  new  Member
States  in  2005  and  2007,  it  is  appropriate  to  provide  for  a  maximum  Community
contribution per survey.

This  Regulation  establishes,  for  the  remainder  of  the  programme,  a  financial
framework which will constitute the budgetary authority's prime reference within the
meaning  of point 33 of the  Interinstitutional  Agreement  of  6  May  1999  between  the
European  Parliament,  the  Council  and  the  Commission5  on  budgetary  discipline  and
improvement of the budgetary procedure,

1

2

3

4

5

OJ C […], […], p. […].
OJ C […], […], p. […].
OJ L 56, 2.3.1988, p. 1
OJ L 13, 16.1.2002, p. 28.
OJ C 172, 18.6.1999, p. 1

3

                                                
HAVE ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Regulation (EEC) 571/88 is amended as follows:

Article 1

1. 

The  following  maximum  amounts  of  the  Community  contribution  towards  the
expenses  incurred  for  the  2005  and  2007  surveys  to  be  carried  out  in  Cyprus,  the
Czech  Republic,  Estonia,  Hungary,  Latvia,  Lithuania,  Malta,  Poland,  the  Slovak
Republic and Slovenia are inserted in Article 14(1):

"€25 000 for Malta,

€200 000 for Cyprus,

€500 000 for Estonia and Slovenia

€700 000 for the Slovak Republic

€1 100 000 for the Czech Republic, Latvia and Lithuania,

€2 000 000 for Hungary and Poland."

2. 

In Article 14, the third sub-paragraph of paragraph 1 is replaced by the following:

"The  financial  framework  for  the  implementation  of  this  programme,  including  the
appropriations necessary for the management of the Eurofarm project, shall be set at
€43.7  million  for  the  period  2004-2006,  and  at  €29.3  million  for  the  period  2007-
2009.

The amount of €29 300 000 shall be deemed to be confirmed if it is consistent with
the financial perspective for the period commencing in 2007.

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

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

Article 2

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

Done at Brussels, […]

For the European Parliament
The President

For the Council
The President

4

LEGISLATIVE FINANCIAL STATEMENT

Policy area(s): Agriculture, Statistics

Activities: Policy strategy and coordination

TITLE  OF  ACTION:  AMENDMENT  OF  COUNCIL  REGULATION  (EEC)  NO  571/88  ON  THE
ORGANISATION  OF  COMMUNITY  SURVEYS  ON  THE  STRUCTURE  OF  AGRICULTURAL
HOLDINGS

INTRODUCTORY REMARK

This  financial  statement  covers  both  the  proposal  for  a  legal  act  and  Council
Regulation  2467/96  of  17  December  1996,  which  drew  up  the  programme  of
surveys on the structure of agricultural holdings for the period 1998 to 2007.

In  accordance  with  the  Interinstitutional  Agreement  of  6  May  1999  between  the
European  Parliament,  the  Council  and  the  Commission  on  budgetary  discipline
and improvement of the budgetary procedure, the proposal for a legal act contains
a provision on the financial framework for the entire action for the remainder of
the programme.

To  make  it  possible  to  grant  the  Community  contribution,  the  total  cost  of  each
survey is spread over several years. Thus, the Community contribution for the 2007
survey is spread over the period 2006-2009.

The proposed framework covers the costs of the 2005 and 2007 surveys which will
be carried out in EU-25, and certain expenditure for the 2003 survey carried out in
EU-15.

1.

BUDGET LINE(S) + HEADINGS

50802 (ex B2-5121) : Surveys on the structure of agricultural holdings.

2.

2.1

OVERALL FIGURES

Total  allocation  for  the  action  (part  B):  €  million  for  commitment
appropriations:

€73 000 000 of which €43 700 000 for the period 2004-2006 and €29 300 000 for the
period 2007-2009.

2.2

Period of application:

2004-2009

5

2.3

a)

Overall multiannual estimate on expenditure:

Schedule  of  commitment  appropriations/payment  appropriations 
intervention) (see point 6.1.1)

(financial

€ million (to 3rd decimal place)

Year n
[2004]

n + 1
[2005]

n + 2
[2006]

n + 3
[2007]

n + 4
[2008]

Balance
of
approp-
riations
commi-
ted
before
2004

n + 5
and
subs.
years.

Total

Minus
approp-
riations
commit
-ted
before
2004

Plus
approp-
riations
commit
-ted
before
2004

Commitments

3,750

13,900

14,400

15,400

15,000

13,750

0,550

73,000

76,750

Payments

11,000

15,500

17,200

14,300

14,700

4,050

76,750

76,750

b) Technical and administrative assistance and support expenditure (see point 6.1.2)

Commitments

Payments

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Subtotal a+b

Commitments

3,750

13,900

14,400

15,400

15,000

13,750

0,550

73,000

76,750

Payments

11,000

15,500

17,200

14,300

14,700

4,050

76,750

76,750

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

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Commitments/Pay-
ments

TOTAL a+b+c

Commitments

3,750

13,900

14,400

15,400

15,000

13,750

0,550

73,000

76,750

Payments

11,000

15,500

17,200

14,300

14,700

4,050

76,750

76,750

2.4

Compatibility with the financial programming and the financial perspective

Proposal  compatible  with  the  existing  financial  programming  for  the  period

X
2004-2006.

(cid:1) This  proposal  will  entail  reprogramming  of  the  relevant  heading  in  the
financial perspective.

(cid:1) This  may  entail  application  of  the  provisions  of  the  Interinstitutional
Agreement.

6

2.5

Financial impact on revenue

No  financial  impact  (involves  the  technical  aspects  of  implementing  a

X
measure).

3.

BUDGET CHARACTERISTICS

Type of expenditure

New

EFTA
participation

Participation
applicant
countries

 Heading
Financial
Perspective

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

The surveys on the structure of agricultural  holdings play a key role  in  agricultural
statistics. At regular intervals (normally every two years), they provide a substantial
volume  of  statistical  information  on  the  main  socio-structural  characteristics  of
Community agriculture (size of holdings, type  of farming and economic  size,  other
gainful  activity, type  of  tenure,  etc.).  This  information  is  collected  through  surveys
(either censuses or representative sample surveys) of holdings, using a questionnaire
which  is  harmonised  at  Community  level.  The  information  is  useful  not  only  in
implementing  the  rural  development  policy,  but  has  many  other  uses  related  to  the
management  of  agricultural  markets  and  to  other  policies  (in  particular,  regional,
social and environmental policy). In addition, the structures survey provides the basic
files  needed  to  carry  out  other  agricultural  statistics  surveys  (livestock  surveys,
surveys of fruit trees etc.). Lastly, the structures surveys play a key role also in the
ex-post  evaluation  of 
impact  of  agricultural  and  rural
development policies, in that they make it possible to track trends over time for the
main characteristics of agricultural holdings.

the  socio-economic 

The  Community  contribution  covers  only  a  very  small  share  of  the  total  cost  of
carrying out the surveys: about 5% of the total costs of a basic survey (census) and
about  15%  of  a  sample  survey.  Nevertheless,  this  contribution  is  necessary  to
partially  offset  the  additional  costs  incurred  by  the  Member  States  in  meeting  the
specific statistical requirements of the Commission. Also, this contribution is vital to
ensure improved harmonisation of collection methods, and of survey characteristics
and survey timetables, at Community level.

7

5.2

Actions envisaged and arrangements for budget intervention

The envisaged activity targets:

– 

– 

– 

The Community institutions

The Member States

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

Council  Regulation  (EC)  No  2467/96  of  17  December  1996,  amending  Regulation
(EEC) No 571/88, concerns the surveys to be carried out for the period 1998 to 2007.
For this period one  census is  planned in 1999/2000 and  3  interim  surveys  in  2003,
2005  and  2007,  which  may  be  carried  out,  at  the  discretion  of  the  Member  States,
either  as  censuses  or  sample  surveys.  As  a  contribution  to  expenses  incurred  by
Member States in conducting these surveys, 20 ECU per holding for which complete
survey results are forwarded to the Statistical Office will be reimbursed to Member
States,  up  to  a  maximum  established  for  each  Member  State  on  the  basis  of  the
number of holdings to be covered.

The action includes the development and management of the EUROFARM project,
which  is  the  database  containing  the  results  of  the  structures  surveys.  This  is  a
database containing data on millions of individual agricultural holdings. Apart from
the dissemination of 'standard' tabular results, it makes it possible to compile 'ad-hoc'
tables  in  response  to  specific  problems.  The  Commission  reports  regularly  to  the
European Parliament and to the Council on the implementation of the EUROFARM
project. The most recent report on the functioning  of the EUROFARM project was
submitted on 31 March 20031 .

5.3

Methods of implementation

Direct management by the Commission.

1 

COM (2003) 86 final

8

                                                
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 3rd decimal place)

Breakdown

Community
contribution

Year n
[2004]

n + 1
[2005]

n + 2
[2006]

n + 3
[2007]

n + 4
[2008]

Balance
of
approp-
riations
committ
ed
before
2004

n + 5
and
subs.
years.

Total

Minus
approp-
riations
commit
ted
before
2004

Plus
approp-
riations
commit
ted
before
2004

3,750

13,900

14,400

15,400

15,000

13,750

0,550

73,000

76,750

TOTAL

3,750

13,900

14,400

15,400

15,000

13,750

0,550

73,000

76,750

6.1.2  Technical  and  administrative  assistance,  support  expenditure  and  IT  expenditure

(Commitment appropriations)

Year n

n + 1

 n + 2

n + 3

n + 4

Total

n + 5 and
subs.
years

and

Technical 

1) 
administrative assistance
a) 
offices

Technical 

assistance

b)  Other 
administrative assistance:

technical 

and

Subtotal 1

2) Support expenditure:

a) Studies

b) Meetings of experts

c) Information and
publications

Subtotal 2

TOTAL

9

6.2.

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

Breakdown

Type
of product
/outputs
(projects, files …)
1

Surveys on the structure of
agricultural holdings

Commitments in € million (to 3rd decimal place)

Number of
products/
outputs
(total for 1 year)
2

Agricultural
holdings for
which results
are transmitted

Average unit
cost

Total cost

3

4=(2X3)

€20 per holding
(Community
contribution )

(cid:1)  EUR-15

2003survey
(remainder)

2005 survey

2007 survey

(cid:1)  10 NAC

2005 survey

2007 survey

Management of the
database and of
validation,
consultation and
dissemination tools

945 000

945 000

€13, 450 million

€18,900 million

€18,900 million

€9,225 million

 €9,225 million

6 years

€0,550 million
per annum

€3,300 million

Eurofarm

TOTAL COST

€ 73,000 million

7.

IMPACT ON STAFF AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENDITURE

Description of tasks deriving from the
action

Total

0
0
0
0
0

Impact on human resources

Types of post

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

Number of
permanent posts

Number of
temporary posts

and

Officials 
temporary staff

A
B
C
Other human resources
Total

0
0
0
0
0

0
0
0
0
0

10

8.

8.1

FOLLOW-UP AND EVALUATION

Follow-up arrangements

The data to be collected are defined in a list of characteristics, adopted by a decision
of  the  Commission  after  consulting  the  Standing  Committee  on  Agricultural
Statistics.

8.2

Arrangements and schedule for the planned evaluation

The  legislation  in  force  stipulates  that  the  Member  States  must  notify  Eurostat,
according to a pre-defined timetable and procedure, of the results of the surveys and
provide it with information on the organisation and methodology of the surveys. The
Standing  Committee  on  Agricultural  Statistics  is  also  notified,  where  necessary.
Lastly, the Commission is required to  report  to the Council, at  three-year intervals,
on  the  implementation  of  this  action  and  in  particular  on  the  operation  of  the
database established on the basis of the survey results (Eurofarm).

9.

ANTI-FRAUD MEASURES

Payments  for  contracts  and  agreements  concluded  by  the  Commission  are

a)
made only on the basis of the results obtained.

b)
Statistical  information  is  considered  to  be  an  objective  instrument  for
evaluating Community action programmes and thus contributes to consolidating the
anti-fraud provisions.

11