5.12. 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 355/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 3508/92 of 27 November 1992 establishing an integrated administration and control system for certain Community aid schemes THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 43 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ('), Having regard to the opinion of the European Parlia- ment (%), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (%), Whereas, pursuant to Article 8 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 729/70 of 21 April 1970 on the financing of the common agricultural policy (), Member States must take the measures necessary to satisfy themselves that transactions financed by the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) are actually carried out and are executed correctly, and prevent and deal with irregularities ; whereas Article 23 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 4253/88 of 19 December 1988 laying down provisions for implementing Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88 as regards coordination of the activities of the different structural Funds between themselves and with the operations of the European Investment Bank and the other existing financial instruments () provides for the same obligation with regard to the agricultural structures policy ; Whereas up to now the various aid schemes have been administered and controlled by the Member States under separate rules for each scheme, as a result of their hetero- geneous structure ; whereas, however, in realigning the existing market measures a part of the reform of the common agricultural policy, the Community is opting, to (") OJ No C 9, 15. 1. 1992, p. () Opinion delivered on 17 November 1992 (not yet published in the Official Journal). () OJ No C 98, 21. 4. 1992, p. 29. () OJ No L 94, 28. 4. 1970, p. 13. (Last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 2048/88). () OJ No L 374, 31. 12. 1988, p. 1. a large extent, in both the crop and livestock sectors, for direct aid to producers; Whereas, in order to adapt the administration and control mechanisms to the new situation and improve their effec- tiveness and usefulness, it is necessary to set up a new integrated administration and control system covering the aid schemes for arable crops, beef and veal, sheepmeat and goatmeat, as well as specific measures for farming in mountain, hill and certain less-favoured areas; whereas provision should be made for the possibility of including, at a later date, other aid schemes linked to the cultivated area; Whereas, the various components of the integrated system will potentially result in more effective administration and control in the case of Community schemes not covered by this Regulation ; whereas the Member States should therefore be authorized to avail themselves of the system on condition they do not in any way act in opposition to the provisions concerned ; Whereas, given the complexity of such a system and the large number of aid applications to be processed, it is essential to use the appropriate technical resources and administration and control methods ; whereas as a result, the integrated system should comprise, in each Member State, a computerized data base, an alphanumeric identifi- cation system for agricultural parcels, aid applications from farmers, a harmonized control system and, in the livestock sector, a system for the identification and re- cording of animals; Whereas the administration of the data collected and its use for the verification of aid applications make it neces- sary to set up high-performance computerized data bases allowing cross-checks in particular to be made; Whereas the identification of agricultural parcels is a key element in the correct application of schemes linked to surface area; whereas experience has shown that the existing methods have certain deficiencies; whereas, therefore, provision should be made for an alphanumeric identification system set up initially, where necessary, with the aid of remote sensing;