Common agricultural policy CAP: measures to be undertaken making use of the remote-sensing applications, 2008-2013

The European Parliament adopted a resolution based on the report drawn up by Friedrich-Wilhelm GRAEFE zu BARINGDORF (Greens/ALE, DE), and amended the proposal for a Council regulation on the measures to be undertaken by the Commission in 2008-13 making use of the remote-sensing applications developed within the framework of the common agricultural policy. The resolution was adopted by 594 votes for, 23 against, and 54 abstentions.

Members felt that the remote-sensing activities should be financed by a proper budget instead of the agriculture guarantee fund. An amended clause states that the financial framework for the implementation of the programme for the period 2008 to 2013 is set at EUR 9.2 million. The annual appropriations will be authorised by the budgetary authority within the ceilings of the budget headings in the financial framework,

Parliament proposed, furthermore, the creation of an inventory of all spatial data, remote-sensing and agro-meteorological projects and consolidation of existing spatial data infrastructure and websites. It also proposed, as an objective, the improvement of the JRC Agriculture Unit website making all relevant research data freely available to the public.

A new recital underlines that only the MARS pilot project, which falls within the scope of Decision No 2066/2003/EC on the continued application of aerial-survey and remote-sensing techniques to the agricultural statistics for 2004 to 2007fell within the scope of this Regulation. More specifically, only the operational measures undertaken by the Commission which make use of remote-sensing applications within the framework of the common agricultural policy fell within the scope of the Regulation.