1. AEI where DG AGRI is in the lead
Thierry Vard
Directorate General for Agriculture and Rural Development
Eurostat Working Group AEI Statistics

2. List of indicators 1. Agri-environmental commitments
12. Intensification / Extensification
14. Risk of land abandonment
23. High nature value farmland
24. Production of renewable energy

3. AEI 1: UAA under AE commitments
Areas under agri-environment commitments is an output indicator being part of the Common Monitoring and Evaluation Framework of the Rural Development policy
This indicator is submitted by the MSs on an annual basis at programme level (88 programmes for the current programming period)
Some programmes are national (19 MSs), others are regional: FR(6), DE(14), ES(17), IT(21), FI(2), UK(4), BE(2), PT(3)
In the previous programming period , data in some countries shows double counting problem (more than 100% of the UAA is reported as committed in those MSs)

4. AEI 1: UAA under AE commitments
EEA initiative: compilation of AE scheme data from EU MS
The EEA has compiled AE scheme data for the period directly from EU Member States
This was carried out with the help of consultancy support and addressed relevant national authorities
Data need to be compared with those held by DG AGRI and validated with help of MS themselves
Validated data to be used in updating the IRENA fact sheet for the period

5. AEI 1: UAA under AE commitments
In the period, two indicators are collected to deal with the double counting issues :
Total area committed which double counts areas overlapping several AE commitments
Physical area under AE commitments which is the net area committed in AE without any double counting
The 2007 data is under analysis but the implementation has been weak during this starting year due to the late approval of the programmes
However, many AE commitments taken under previous regulation are still running in 2007.

6. AE 12: intensification / extensification
Base = IRENA indicator N°15: Intensity at regional level based on the use of input per ha UAA
Inputs considered : (purchased) fertilisers, pesticides, animal feed
Source: FADN
Estimate IRENA: situation in 2000 and development 1990 – 2000
Update =
situation in 2005 and development
Methodology : attempt to evaluate the development of inputs use in volume rather than in current values

7. IRENA 15

8. AE 12: intensification / extensification
First results:
Need to cross-check the calculation made in IRENA : was it covering all inputs or was it limited to crops inputs (fertilisers and pesticides) as another sub-indicator (livestock density) covers livestock sector.

9. AEI 12: crops inputs – at current prices

10. AE 12: intensification / extensification
First results:
It seems that the assessment in IRENA was actually limited to fertilisers and pesticides.
Incorporating feed cots per ha gives a slightly different pictures

11. AEI 12: all inputs – at current prices

12. AE 12: intensification / extensification
First results:
It seems that the assessment in IRENA was actually limited to fertilisers and pesticides
Incorporating feed cots per ha gives a slightly different pictures
Change in volume is done by dividing the current series by prices index development from Eurostat prices series.
Prices index have been deflated by the GDP price index (whereas deflated series of Eurostat use the Harmonised Consumer Price Index to produce monthly series).

13. AEI 12: crops inputs – in volume

14. AEI 12: all inputs – in volume

15. AEI 14: Risk of land abandonment
Need of conceptual and technical development
Modelling approach combining socio-economic data with an assessment of the risk of land abandonment
JRC has made a first study – to be assessed
No precise timetable / action plan

16. AEI 23. HNV farmland
Guidance document to the MS on the application of the CMEF impact indicator on HNV: state of play
Developed as part of DG AGRI guidance documents to the MS for the evaluation of RD measures/programmes
Based on a study committed by DG AGRI in 2006:
Finalised in November 2008 in consultation with DG ENV, JRC, EEA
To be presented to the MS on 15/12/2008
Expected to be published by the end of the year on:

17. AEI 23. HNV farmland
Overall objectives of the CMEF impact indicator on HNV:
To fully cover the extent of HNV areas (farmland and forestry), including HNV features
To permit the assessment of changes in HNV farmland and forestry areas as well as the assessment of the Nature Value (quality) of these areas on regular basis
To support the assessment of the changes in farmland and forestry HNV induced by RD measures through changes in farming and forestry management practices

18. AEI 23. HNV farmland
Proposed approach for the establishment and application of the CMEF impact indicator on HNV:
Relates to HNV farming (to include features) and forestry
HNV farming identified through an integrated approach including land cover, farming characteristics and species data.
Four methodological steps:
Identification of main types of HNV farming and forestry
Assessment of the extent of HNV farming and forestry through appropriate indicators
Monitoring changes in the extent (through indicators under 2) and condition (through sample surveys of farming practices and biodiversity) of HNV farming and forestry
Applying the CMEF indicator in the context of the RD programme

19. AEI 23. HNV farmland Development of the AEI HNV farmland indicator:
In the short term: the updating of the indicator will follow the updating of the indicator data sets developed by the JRC/EEA (including the integration of agronomic farm level data based on FADN)
In the medium/long term: given its policy relevance, DG AGRI is in favor of developing this indicator in view of reflecting the approach followed for the establishment of the impact indicator (including features and condition/quality issues). This would imply further conceptual work, as well as the refinement of data collection mechanisms (e.g. in the context of the farm structure surveys)

20. Input data: CORINE2000 Stratified rules per Country and Environmental
Zone + expert rules

21. Selected sites from EU wide biodiversity databases
Prime
Butterfly
Areas
Input data:
Selected sites from EU wide biodiversity databases
Natura2000
Important
Bird
Areas

22. Input data: national inventories
Estonia
Semi-natural
plant communities
England
Habitat
inventories
Sweden
semi-natural
meadows
and pastures

23. AEI 24. Production of renewable energy
Not yet mature – problem with data sources
Sources = Eurostat : energy statistics and FSS / DG AGRI : administrative sources and modelling / Various professional sources (EU Observ’ER, EBB, EBIO, etc)
Main indicator: Primary energy from crops & by-products, as a share of total energy production
Sub-indicators:
Area of energy crops (bio-diesel crops, ethanol crops and short rotation forestry)
Supported areas for renewable energy

24. AEI 24. Production of renewable energy
Expected developments: to define a methodology taking into account changes:
in policy (no more support for energy crops regime and for non-food production),
in technology (second generation biofuels)
in information availability (EU Observ’ER for production, new Directive on Renewable Energy)