2004/366/EC: Commission Decision of 13 April 2004 approving the first phase of the technical action plan 2004 for improving agricultural statistics (notified under document number C(2004) 1303)
Date: 2004-04-13
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: action programme, agricultural statistics

L 114/32

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

21.4.2004

approving the first phase of the technical action plan 2004 for improving agricultural statistics

COMMISSION DECISION

of 13 April 2004

(notified under document number C(2004) 1303)

(2004/366/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Decision No 96/411/EC of 25 June
1996 on improving Community agricultural statistics (1), and in
particular Article 4(1) and Article 6(2) thereof,

(5)

(6)

The enlargement which will occur during 2004 makes it
necessary to implement the 2004 action plan in two
phases. The first phase of this action plan needs to be
adopted.

The measures provided for in this Decision are in line
with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Agri-
cultural Statistics,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

In accordance with Decision No 96/411/EC,
the
Commission establishes a technical action plan for agri-
cultural statistics each year.

In order to implement the relevant Community policies,
it is essential to improve information on the physical
aspects of European agriculture, to obtain detailed infor-
mation on agri-environmental indicators, to develop the
environmental aspects of agricultural accounting and to
establish information systems on rural development.

In accordance with Decision No 96/411/EC, the Com-
munity contributes to the costs incurred by the Member
States in making adaptations to national agricultural
statistical systems or to the costs of preparatory work
for new or increasing needs which are part of a technical
action plan.

(4)

There is a need to consolidate certain actions begun
under previous action plans and to continue the work.

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The first phase of the 2004 technical action plan for improving
agricultural statistics (TAPAS 2004 — Phase 1), as set out in
the Annex to this Decision, is hereby approved.

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Article 2

Done at Brussels, 13 April 2004.

For the Commission

Pedro SOLBES MIRA

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 162, 1.7.1996, p. 14. Decision as last amended by Decision
No 1919/2002/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council
(OJ L 293, 29.10.2002, p. 5).

21.4.2004

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Official Journal of the European Union

L 114/33

ANNEX

Technical action plan 2004 — Phase 1 for improving agricultural statistics (TAPAS 2004 — Phase 1)

The measures covered by the first phase of the 2004 technical action plan for improving agricultural statistics aim to
develop or improve statistics in the following fields:

(i) the physical aspects of European agriculture;

(ii) the agri-environmental indicators, including the use of pesticides;

(iii) rural development.

The Commission will make a financial contribution to projects developed as part of these measures, which will not
exceed the amounts shown in Table A for each Member State.

The measures proposed by the Member States concern:

1. The physical aspects of European agriculture

This measure is a continuation of work undertaken in previous years. The aim is to improve the statistical data on areas,
production and use of crops, in particular fruit and vegetables; likewise on livestock populations, production and use of
animal products, particularly milk production.

2. The agri-environmental indicators and the use of pesticides

The Commission wishes to assist projects aimed at improving the agri-environmental indicators referred in the commu-
nication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council (1) entitled ‘Statistical information needed for
indicators to monitor the integration of environmental concerns into the common agricultural policy’, which are defined
as having priority. There is particular emphasis on indicators on the consumption of pesticides, pesticide residues in agri-
cultural products, the use of fertilisers, water-use intensity, energy and use and production of renewable energy sources
by agriculture.

3. Rural development

This new departure in agricultural statistics will involve a more detailed territorial breakdown of information normally
collected at national level on the one hand, but also the establishment of criteria for an operational definition of what is
meant by the rurality of an area. The statistics will cover data on a wide variety of topics, including agricultural and
non-agricultural income of farms and families, and the quantification and characterisation of activities that are comple-
mentary to agricultural activity, for example community services provided by farmers. The envisaged measures include
the search for sources to provide this type of information and the study of adjustments to existing statistical operations.

(1) COM(2001) 144.

TABLE A

TECHNICAL ACTION PLAN 2004, PHASE 1

Maximum Community contribution to costs incurred

by Member State

Country

BE

DK

DE

EL

ES

FR

IE

IT

LU

NL

AT

PT

FI

SE

UK

Total

Physical data

25,000

73,729

108,25

206,979

Agri-environmental
tors (inc. use of pesticides)

indica-

55,000

21,000

115,000

Rural development

20,000

Total

75,000

46,000

115,000

24,000

97,729

30,000

30,000

50,000

50,000

23,400

244,400

43,000

137,000

108,25

43,000

23,400

588,379

(EUR 1 000)

L

1
1
4
/
3
4

E
N

O

f
f
i
c
i
a
l

J
o
u
r
n
a
l

o
f

t
h
e

E
u
r
o
p
e
a
n
U
n
o
n

i

.

.

2
1
4
2
0
0
4

21.4.2004

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L 114/35

BUDGETARY IMPACT FORM

1. Programme/project

Phase 1 of technical action plan 2004 for improving agricultural statistics.

2. Budget line

B2-513, Restructuring of systems for agricultural surveys

3. Legal basis

Council Decision 96/411/EC of 25 June 1996 on improving Community agricultural statistics, as last amended by
Decision No 1919/2002/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council

4. Description of operations

The activities under the 2004 technical action plan for improving agricultural statistics (TAPAS) are aimed at
following up some of the activities launched under the previous action plans with a view to extending and validating
methods that have already been tested and conducting new activities in order to provide better statistics in the
following areas:

(i) data on physical aspects of European agriculture;

(ii) agri-environmental indicators and use of pesticides;

(iii) rural development.

5. Classification of expenditure

NCE (non-compulsory expenditure)

DA (differentiated appropriations)

6. Type of expenditure

Subsidy

7. Calculation method

Commitment appropriations (CAs) are calculated on the basis of proposals for activities submitted by the Member
States, up to the limit laid down in Article 6 of Decision 96/411/EC, as last amended by Decision No 1919/2002/EC.

Payment appropriations (PAs) are calculated on the basis on the right to an advance of 30 % also laid down in the
above mentioned article and the implementation forecasts based on past experience.

8. Schedule

Commitment appropriations

Payment appropriations

2004

588,4

176,5

2005

2006

(EUR 1000)

205,95

205,95