Community agricultural statistics: improvement and information

The Commission regards certain drafting changes proposed by the Council as not substantially changing its original proposal. It is therefore in a position to accept them. With regard to the more substantial changes proposed by the Council, the Commission accepts: -the inclusion of a new article stipulating that the Commission is to continue the studies in progress on the technical feasibility of creating an EAGGF-Guarantee payments database, and on the resources required for its operation. The Commission is to submit a report before 31 December 2001. Without prejudging the findings of the feasibility studies underway, the Commission is agreeable to the new article which is designed to meet the wishes of the European Parliament. -the change in committee procedure. The Commission agrees that, agricultural studies being closely linked to the CAP and the management procedure being the procedure for the application of that policy, it is logical that the same approach be linked to agricultural statistics. -the financial allocation for the application of the Decision during 2000-2002 should be indicated in the text. The Commission sees this as in line 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 Commission states its agreement to the Council's common position.�