Agricultural statistics: production potential of plantations of fruit trees (repeal. Directive 76/625/EEC)

The committee adopted the report by Encarnación REDONDO JIMÉNEZ (EPP-ED, E) endorsing the Commission proposal subject to a couple of amendments (codecision procedure, 1st reading). Firstly, it wanted the surveys to include fruit-tree plantations of certain species of nuts (almonds, carobs, hazelnuts, walnuts and chestnuts) which played a significant social, economic and environmental role in some rural areas of the EU. The committee also felt that, for statistical purposes, it would be helpful to know the rootstock (or understock) of the plantations. Lastly, it argued that calculation of the area should be based on the total planted area, not the net area, since most fruit tree plantations were small holdings in which essential service areas (such as irrigation channels and paths) accounted for a substantial percentage of the total area and should be taken into account.�