Introductory text

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 285(1) thereof,

Having regard to the Treaty concerning the accession of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia to the European Union, and in particular Article 2(3) thereof,

Having regard to the Act of Accession of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia, and in particular Article 57(2) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty^f1,

Whereas:

Regulation (EEC) No 571/88^f2 provides for the Member States to be reimbursed up to a maximum amount per survey, as a contribution to expenses incurred.

In order to carry out the surveys on the structure of agricultural holdings, considerable funding will be required from the Member States and from the Community to meet the information requirements of the Community institutions.

In the light of the accession of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia, and with a view to conducting surveys on the structure of agricultural holdings in these new Member States in 2005 and 2007, it is appropriate to provide for a maximum Community contribution per survey; this adaptation is needed by reason of accession and has not been provided for in the Act of Accession.

This Regulation lays down, for the remainder of the programme, a financial framework constituting the prime reference within the meaning of point 33 of 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^f3, for the budgetary authority during the annual budgetary procedure,

HAVE ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: