10. 1. 97 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 6/45 COMMISSION DECISION of 16 December 1996 approving the technical action plan 1996/97 for the improvement of agricultural statistics (Text with EEA relevance) (97/19/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Decision 96/411/EC of 25 June 1996 on improving Community agricultural statistics (') and, in particular Article 4 (1) thereof, Whereas, according to Article 4 (1), the Commission shall establish each year, according to the procedure provided for in Article 10, a technical action plan for agricultural statistics; Whereas, in order to ensure as from the end of 1996 the implementation of Council Decision 96/411/EC, it is advisable to break up in three parts the technical action plan for 1996/97, the first two parts of which can be decided without delay; Whereas the 1996/97 technical action plan (first and second parts) has been drawn up on the basis of the prior- ities of the Commission as regards statistical needs, as well as of the proposals submitted by the Member States; Whereas the actions envisaged in this plan are among the statistical fields where there are new or increasing needs appearing in Annex II to Council Decision 96/411/EG; Whereas, in accordance with Article 6 of Council De- cision 96/411/EC, the Community contributes financially () OJ No L 162, 1. 7. 1996, p. 14. to the expenditure incurred by each Member State for the adaptations of the national systems or for preparatory work connected with new or increasing needs carried out under a technical action plan; Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Agricultural Statistics, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 The 1996/97 technical action plan for the improvement of agricultural statistics is approved. Article 2 This Decision is addressed to the Member States. Done at Brussels, 16 December 1996. For the Commission Franz FISCHLER Member of the Commission