The second Planning Group on Economic Issues met in Berlin, from March 31 to April 4, 2014. The terms of reference for the meeting are given in section 2 (p.3). 21 representatives from 15 Member States and one expert, from each of the bodies: JRC, Eurostat and DG Mare, attended the meeting. PGECON is an operative meeting with a general aim to compare different approaches and to share different experiences. Participation is open to national experts involved in the implementation of the economic modules of the Data Collection Framework (DCF). PGECON aims to provide useful inputs to improve MS sampling schemes. Recent developments in the discussion on the DCMAP legislation were presented by a DG Mare representative. A greater focus on small scale fisheries was suggested. Moreover, end users‟ needs are intended to be better taken into account. The outcome of three workshops with relation to DCF economic data was presented and discussed. At the Nantes workshop transversal data for small scale fisheries were evaluated. PGECON supported the conclusions of the workshop, amongst others the need for a more precise definition of end users‟ needs and a reduction of variables to be collected. In the case that very detailed information is required a specific regional data collection might be considered using automatic IT geo-positioning tools. At the Gothenburg workshop the determination of the value of vessels and of fishing rights was analysed. Input from a ship broker showed that market prices for vessels grossly depend on aspects which are different from the physical properties of the vessel. Often the major part of the value comes from the quota which is attached to the vessel. These conditions may vary by region and by fishery. PGECON supported the view that the Perpetual Inventory Method (PIM) might not always address the estimation of vessel values properly. Thus other approaches should be allowed to be pursued. For the valuation of fishing rights two approaches were presented at the workshop, both mainly addressing the value of future catches. PGECON supports the approach and suggests a study on the estimation of intangible assets. At the Helsinki workshop on statistical issues and thresholds, the distinction between active and less active vessels was discussed. It turned out that in all MS‟s, a considerable number of vessels land significantly less fish than that necessary to constitute a livelihood. The fishing activities of those vessels cannot be regarded as professional and as they have a different cost structure, they can cause a gross bias to economic figures when merged with figures from vessels of professional fishermen. Thus a distinction between those two groups of vessels was suggested. PGECON supports that approach and suggests a workshop on that topic. Reporting of data quality was a major issue in Helsinki. Sampling design and data evaluation were the topic of a lecture. It was regarded as extremely helpful to have the issue presented in the form of a handbook. This view is strongly supported by PGECON. 2 The issue of harmonisation between DCF and Eurostat has been discussed for the data collection on aquaculture. The presentation by Eurostat highlighted the differences and the difficulties. PGECON concluded that the space for further harmonisation appears rather limited as both types of data collection serve different purposes. The issue of end user needs with respect to the resolution of fleet economic data was discussed. PGECON reiterated the urgent need of launching a study on methodologies and standards for disaggregation using additional data. Along with the studies mentioned before, PGECON repeats the need for several studies which have been strongly recommended, some of them for several years: - Origin and Sources of Raw Material in the European Seafood Industry - Study to disaggregate economic variables by activity and area - Handbook on sampling design and estimation methods for fleet economic data collection - Harmonise quality reporting and propose methodology in the case of non-probability sample survey - Pilot study on social indicators - Study to propose methodologies for estimation of intangible assets in EU fisheries PGECON 2014 suggested three workshops for 2014: - Aquaculture data collection - Thresholds for activity levels - Linking economic and biological effort data /call design