L13/28 Official Journal of the European Communities 16.1.2002 COMMISSION DECISION of 8 January 2002 approving the technical action plan 2002 for improving agricultural statistics (notified under document number C(2001) 4973) (2002/30/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 (*), as last amended by European Parliament and Council Decision No 2298/2000/EC (3) of 28 september 2001, and particularly Article 4(1) and Article 6(2) thereof, Whereas: (1)  In accordance with Decision 96/411/EC, the Commis- sion establishes a technical action plan for agricultural statistics each year. (2)  Certain activities launched under previous action plans need to be consolidated and the efforts made by the Member States, particularly as regards balances and the use of pesticides, need to be followed up. (3)  Data on the physical aspects of European agriculture need to be improved, detailed agri-environmental indica- tors need to be obtained, the environmental aspects of agricultural accounting need to be developed and infor- mation systems on rural development need to be estab- lished for the implementation of the relevant Community policies. () O] L 162, 1.7.1996, p. 14. () O] L 263, 18.10.2000, p. 1. (4 In accordance with Decision 96/411/EC, the Community shall contribute to the costs realised by each Member State in making adaptations to national agricultural stat- istical systems or to such costs for preparatory work relating to new or increasing needs which are part of a technical action plan. (5)  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 2002 technical action plan for improving agricultural statistics, is annexed to the present Decision. Article 2 This Decision is addressed to the Member States. Done at Brussels, 8 January 2002. For the Commission Pedro SOLBES MIRA Member of the Commission