Brussels, 10/09/2003 (Agence Europe) - Following the favourable opinion of the Member States' experts on the Special Agriculture Committee on Monday, the EU Council of Ministers will shortly be approving a decision to extend for four years (2004-2007) two scientific projects looking at farming statistics, namely MARS (Monitoring Agriculture with Remote Sensing), using weather satellite images to analyse farming in the EU; and LUCAS (Land Use Cover Area Frame Statistical Survey) using visual assessment of sample points. At the SAC meeting Germany said it would be abstaining from the vote on the decision since it does not want any new statistical projects approved from now until 2005.