EUROPA

SUMMARY

The network for the collection of accountancy data is essential for the development and improvement of the common agricultural policy. It provides a comprehensive overview of the business operation of agricultural holdings in the European Union (EU).

The accountancy data network contains data relating to the economic activity of agricultural holdings. The information is collected from a sample composed of up to 105 000 agricultural holdings.

Organisation of the collection of accountancy data

Member States shall be responsible for surveys on their territory. To this end, they shall designate two authorities:

• the liaison agencies, which collect the data and forward them to the Commission;
• a National Committee, which is responsible for the selection of returning holdings. Where a Member State is composed of several divisions, the National Committee may rely on regional committees.

Moreover, the data collected by the liaison agencies shall be provided by the farm accountancy offices. The accountancy offices shall compile a farm return for each agricultural holding. The accountancy offices authorised to complete such returns must be approved by the liaison agencies.

Farm return

Each agricultural holding shall therefore be the subject of a farm return containing data which allow two types of study to be carried out:

• the assessment of incomes on agricultural holdings;
• the study of the business operation of agricultural holdings.

These studies shall enable the Commission to draw up reports on the situation of agricultural holdings and simulations of the impact of policy scenarios. These reports shall be used for the development and evaluation of the common agricultural policy.

Moreover, the Commission shall be assisted by a Community Committee for the Farm Accountancy Data Network for the definition of data, selection of holdings and analysis of data.