Agricultural statistics: application of aerial-survey and remote-sensing techniques for 1999-2003

PURPOSE : adoption of a Council Decision on the application of aerial-survey and remote-sensing techniques to the agricultural statistics for 1999-2003. CONTENT : as part of the implementation of Council Decision 94/753, a number of measures were undertaken to provide the Commission with estimates, before the harvest and before the first official statistics become available, of both the areas under the principal crops and their production volume. These measures will terminate at the end of 1998. The proposal reorganises and continues for the period 1999-2003 those measures using remote-sensing and aerial-survey techniques that have been successful so far and which are thus capable of meeting the Commission's information needs. By 31 July 2003, at the latest, the Commission is to present a report to the European Parliament and the Council on the implementation of these measures, including in it any proposals on how remote-sensing and aerial-survey techniques should continue to be used for agricultural statistics.�