CELEX: 32005D0197
Language: en
Date: 2005-03-09 00:00:00
Title: 2005/197/EC: Commission Decision of 9 March 2005 approving the 2005 technical action plan for improving agricultural statistics (notified under document number C(2005) 531)

11.3.2005   
            
            
               EN
            
            
               Official Journal of the European Union
            
            
               L 65/30
            
         
      COMMISSION DECISION
   
   of 9 March 2005
   approving the 2005 technical action plan for improving agricultural statistics
   (notified under document number C(2005) 531)
   (2005/197/EC)
   THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
   Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
   Having regard to Council Decision 96/411/EC of 25 June 1996 on improving Community agricultural statistics (1), and in particular Article 4(1) and Article 6(2) thereof,
   Whereas:
   
               (1)
            
            
               In accordance with Decision 96/411/EC, the Commission establishes a technical action plan for agricultural statistics each year.
            
         
               (2)
            
            
               In accordance with Decision 96/411/EC, the Community contributes to the costs incurred by the Member States in making adaptations to national agricultural statistical systems or the costs of preparatory work for new or increasing needs which are part of a technical action plan.
            
         
               (3)
            
            
               It is essential to improve information on the structure of agricultural holdings for the implementation of the related Community policies.
            
         
               (4)
            
            
               There is a need to consolidate the agricultural statistical system and to continue the work supported by the previous action plans. This time the farm statistical registers, which are a prerequisite for all farm surveys and a real difficulty in most of the Member States, are the main area of the annual action plan.
            
         
               (5)
            
            
               The measures provided for in this Decision are in line with the opinion of the Standing Committee of Agricultural Statistics,
            
         HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
   Article 1
   The 2005 technical action plan for improving agricultural statistics (TAPAS 2005), as set out in the Annex, is approved.
   Article 2
   This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
   
      Done at Brussels, 9 March 2005.
      
         
            For the Commission
         
         Joaquín ALMUNIA
         
         
            Member of the Commission
         
      
   
   
      (1)  OJ L 162, 1.7.1996, p. 14. Decision as last amended by Decision No 787/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 138, 30.4.2004, p. 12).
   
      ANNEX
      2005 TECHNICAL ACTION PLAN FOR IMPROVING AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS
      (TAPAS 2005)
      The measures covered by the 2005 technical action plan for improving agricultural statistics aim to develop or improve statistics in the following areas:
      
                  (a)
               
               
                  farm statistical registers,
               
            
                  (b)
               
               
                  surveys on small farms (small units surveys).
               
            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.   Farm statistical registers
      The availability of an up to date register of agricultural holdings is a basis for a coherent and integrated system of agricultural statistics and also, if coordinated with national business registers, a tool contributing to the integration of agricultural information with that of other sectors.
      A valid register provides a basic framework for sampling. If it is complete and includes appropriate information, it may permit effective sample design with, for example, stratification by size, type of activity and location. It could even call into question the cost-effectiveness of full agricultural censuses. Registers also provide useful information for the demography of agricultural holdings.
      A harmonised register would also open the door to EU sampling and surveys providing reliable estimates at EU level and substantially reducing the burden on respondents.
      2.   Small units surveys
      ‘Small units’ are important, in terms of numbers and share in agricultural production, especially in the new Member States. In some of these countries, small units are not always adequately covered in the agricultural surveys, and this might thus lead to the exclusion of a large number of units engaged in the production of agricultural goods.
      In the framework of the TAPAS 2005 actions on small units, Eurostat expects contributions, inter alia, on the following questions:
      What should be the definition of small units?
      What should be the minimum threshold for the inclusion of such units in the Farm Statistical Registers?
      To what extent should small units included in such registers be covered (in terms of frequency, characteristics)?
      Table A
      TECHNICAL ACTION PLAN 2005
      EU-25
      Maximum financial contribution of the Community to expenditure incurred
      
                  (thousand EUR)
               
            
                  Countries
               
               
                  Farm register
               
               
                  Small units
               
               
                  Total
               
            
                  CZ
               
               
                  60 000
               
               
                   
               
               
                  60 000
               
            
                  DE
               
               
                  243 000
               
               
                   
               
               
                  243 000
               
            
                  EE
               
               
                  53 856
               
               
                   
               
               
                  53 856
               
            
                  IT
               
               
                  311 440
               
               
                   
               
               
                  311 440
               
            
                  CY
               
               
                  42 000
               
               
                   
               
               
                  42 000
               
            
                  LV
               
               
                  64 069
               
               
                  18 083
               
               
                  82 152
               
            
                  LT
               
               
                   
               
               
                  9 000
               
               
                  9 000
               
            
                  HU
               
               
                   
               
               
                  29 700
               
               
                  29 700
               
            
                  AT
               
               
                  446 639
               
               
                   
               
               
                  446 639
               
            
                  PL
               
               
                  45 000
               
               
                   
               
               
                  45 000
               
            
                  PT
               
               
                  175 844
               
               
                   
               
               
                  175 844
               
            
                  SI
               
               
                   
               
               
                  113 400
               
               
                  113 400
               
            
                  SK
               
               
                  54 000
               
               
                  45 000
               
               
                  99 000
               
            
                  UK
               
               
                  187 000
               
               
                   
               
               
                  187 000
               
            
                  Total
               
               
                  1 682 849
               
               
                  215 183
               
               
                  1 898 032