Community surveys on the structure of agricultural holdings: financial framework for the period 2007-2009 and the maximum Community contribution for Bulgaria and Romania

PURPOSE: to lay down a financial programme for conducting a survey on the structure of agricultural holdings in which the accession of Bulgaria and Romania is taken into account.

PROPOSED ACT: Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council.

CONTENT:  the purpose of this measure is to part-finance the statistical surveys needed to monitor the structure of farms in the European Union. It takes account of Romanian and Bulgarian accession to the EU expected in 2007.

Related legislative acts and initiatives:

There are two Regulations to which the proposed amendments apply:

-       Regulation 571/88/EC on the organisation of Community surveys on the structure of agricultural holdings; and

-       Regulation 2467/96/EC establishing a programme of surveys on the structure of agricultural holdings in the EU-15, 1998-2007 (for a summary of its provisions, please refer to CNS/1996/0208).

Regulation 571/88/EC obliges the Member States, in the course of 2007, to carry out a survey on the structure of agricultural holdings as part of the multiannual programme of surveys covering the period up to 2007. Typically these surveys are conducted every two to three years. In conducting these surveys, the EU is able to generate a large volume of statistics on for example: size of holdings, land use, agricultural manpower, technical and economic orientation farms, other gainful employment, type of occupancy etc.

The data gathered is stored on the Eurofarm database, which is considered the most efficient way to make harmonised and detailed information available within a very short period of time, needed for ad-hoc analysis. Further, the information gathered is necessary for the management, evaluation and design of the Common Agricultural Policy and plays a crucial role in the shaping of rural development policy. Regulation 571/88/EC makes provision for a financial reimbursement to the Member States, (EUR 20 per holding subject to a maximum amount per survey) to cover the cost of expenses incurred whilst conducting the surveys.

Proposed amendments

This proposal seeks to amend Regulation 571/88/EC in order to set out the financial framework for the remainder of the multi-annual programme (2007-2009). At the same time, the proposal establishes the maximum Community contribution for the 2007 surveys to be carried out in Bulgaria and Romania. The maximum amounts being proposed are based on the number of agricultural holdings and the surface area of the countries concerned. This approach guarantees that Romania and Bulgaria are treated in a comparable manner to that of the current Member States.

Although Regulation 2467/96/EC is not being amended under this proposal this latter Regulation is included in the proposed financial statement.

For further information concerning the financial implications of this measure, please refer to the financial statement.