COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 161/2000

of 24 January 2000

fixing the standard fee per farm return for the 2000 accounting year of the farm accountancy data network

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Regulation No 79/65/EEC of the Council of 15 June 1965 setting up a network for the collection of accountancy data on the incomes and business operation of agricultural holdings in the European Economic Community(1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1256/97(2), and in particular Article 9(2) thereof,

Having regard to Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1915/83 of 13 July 1983 on certain detailed implementing rules concerning the keeping of accounts for the purpose of determing the incomes of agricultural holdings(3), and in particular Article 5(3) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Article 5 of Regulation (EEC) No 1915/83 provides that a standard fee shall be fixed to be paid by the Commission to the Member States for each duly completed farm return and forwarded to it within the period prescribed of Article 3 of Regulation (EEC) No 1915/83;

(2) Commission Regulation (EC) No 37/1999(4) fixes the standard fee for the 1999 accounting year at EUR 126 per farm return;

(3) The trend in costs and its effects on the cost of completing the farm return justify a revision of the fee;

(4) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Community Committee of the Farm Accountancy Data Network,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

The standard fee provided for in Article 5(1) of Regulation (EEC) No 1915/83 is fixed at EUR 129.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

It shall apply for the 2000 accounting year.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 24 January 2000.

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ 109, 23.6.1965, p. 1859/65.

(2) OJ L 174, 2.7.1997, p. 7.

(3) OJ L 190, 14.7.1983, p. 25.

(4) OJ L 5, 9.1.1999, p. 61.