Introductory text

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 571/88 of 29 February 1988 on the organisation of Community surveys on the structure of agricultural holdings^f1, and in particular Article 8(2) thereof,

Whereas:

When determining the characteristics to be surveyed, an effort should be made to limit, as far as possible, the burden on respondents to the survey. In accordance with Article 8(2) of Regulation (EEC) No 571/88, certain Member States have asked to be authorised to use, in the 2005 survey on the structure of agricultural holdings, for certain characteristics, information that is already available from sources other than statistical surveys.

The results of the Farm Structure Surveys are of great importance to the common agricultural policy. It is necessary to maintain a high quality of information, and therefore the use of data from sources other than statistical surveys can only be accepted if these data are as reliable as those from statistical surveys.

The Member States having asked to be authorised to use data from sources other than statistical surveys have provided the Commission with technical documentation as to the relevance and the accuracy of these sources. Following examination of this technical documentation, the authorisations requested by the Member States should be granted.

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee for Agricultural Statistics established by Council Decision 72/279/EEC^f2,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: