A4-0081/99

Draft Council Decision establishing a Community statistical information infrastructure relating to the industry and markets of the audiovisual and related sectors (SEC(98)1325 - C4-0548/98 - 98/0269(CNS))

The draft was approved with the following amendments:

(Amendment 8)

Recital 1

>Original text>

Whereas in order to implement Community policies on the industry and markets of the audiovisual and related sectors it is necessary to establish a Community statistical information infrastructure;

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas in order to implement Community policies on the industry and markets of the audiovisual and related sectors,

it will subsequently be necessary to establish a Community statistical information infrastructure; whereas the scope of this Decision for the audiovisual sector must first be laid down;

(Amendment 1)

Recital 4a (new)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas Annex 1, Title III of the Community Statistical Programme 1998-2002 refers to the carrying out of user requirement analyses, source assessment, data collection and testing of methods by pilot studies in the audiovisual sector;

(Amendments 11 and 4)

Recital 4b (new)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas these pilot studies should be reviewed to ensure they meet user requirements; whereas this could be undertaken as part of the mid-term evaluation of the 1998-2002 Community Statistical Programme, and in any case within two and a half years; whereas the results of this review should be communicated to the Council and the European Parliament; whereas at all stages additional burdens on SMEs should be minimised; whereas, if user requirements are not commensurate with what is expected from this Decision, the Decision must be modified or rescinded;

(Amendment 2)

Recital 5

>Original text>

Whereas individual statistical actions are governed by Council Regulation (EC) No 322/97 on Community Statistics;

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas individual statistical actions are governed by Council Regulation (EC) No 322/97 on Community Statistics;

whereas this Regulation sets out the principles of impartiality, reliability, relevance, cost-effectiveness, statistical confidentiality and transparency;

(Amendment 9)

Recital 7a (new)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas the collection of statistics on the audiovisual sector by the Community must be kept separate from the statistical analysis by the European Monitoring Centre for Audiovisual Media in order to avoid duplication of effort; whereas in case of need the Community may have recourse to the Monitoring Centre's surveys;

(Amendment 6)

Article 2

>Original text>

The objective described in Article 1 shall be implemented by individual statistical actions in accordance with Council Regulation (EC) No 322/97 on Community Statistics as follows:

>Text following EP vote>

The objective described in Article 1 shall be implemented by individual statistical actions

, with data collection and the testing of methods by means of voluntary pilot studies, in accordance with Council Regulation (EC) No 322/97 on Community Statistics as follows:

>Original text>

1. by the national authorities:

(a) analysis and evaluation of the demand for statistics (firms, functions and products) on the audiovisual sector from users (Community institutions, government departments, national sectoral bodies, international organisations, economic operators);

>Text following EP vote>

1. by the national authorities:

(a) analysis and evaluation of the demand for statistics (firms, functions and products) on the audiovisual sector from users (Community institutions, government departments, national sectoral bodies, international organisations, economic operators) and the effect on businesses, especially SMEs, of the collection of statistics in the audiovisual sector;

>Original text>

(b) analysis of existing statistics (firms, functions and products) and their sources;

>Text following EP vote>

(b)

analysis of existing statistics (firms, functions and products) and their sources;

>Original text>

(c) annual forwarding to Eurostat of statistics (firms, functions and products) already on hand or available from the competent national authorities;

>Text following EP vote>

(c)

annual forwarding to Eurostat of statistics (firms, functions and products) already on hand or available from the competent national authorities;

>Original text>

(d) voluntary participation in pilot studies to test working methods in practice and promote the creation of Community statistics (firms, functions and products);

>Text following EP vote>

(d)

voluntary participation in these pilot studies to test working methods in practice and promote the creation of Community statistics (firms, functions and products);

>Original text>

2. by Eurostat:

(a) preparation of a Community institutional and functional methodological framework (firms, functions and products);

>Text following EP vote>

2. by Eurostat:

(a) preparation of a Community institutional and functional methodological framework (firms, functions and products);

>Original text>

(b) creation of a database for statistics forwarded in accordance with paragraph 1(c) and data gathered from international organisations;

>Text following EP vote>

(b)

creation of a database for statistics forwarded in accordance with paragraph 1(c) and data gathered from international organisations;

>Original text>

(c) comparison of existing statistical systems in Member States and some non-member states.

>Text following EP vote>

(c)

comparison of existing statistical systems in Member States and some non-member states, especially the pre-accession states;

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

(ca) assessment of the relevance of, and future needs for, statistics in the audiovisual sector, especially in terms of data needed for the development and follow-up of employment, training and equal opportunities policy.

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

This should include data on the development of forms of work and employment, qualification requirements and gender division of labour in this sector.

(Amendment 7)

Article 5

>Original text>

The Commission shall present a report to the European Parliament and the Council on the implementation of the measures provided for in Article 2 no later than four years after the entry into force of the present Decision.

>Text following EP vote>

The Commission shall present

an interim report and a final report to the European Parliament and the Council on the implementation of the measures provided for in Article 2. The interim report could be drawn up as part of the mid-term evaluation of the 1998-2002 Community Statistical Programme, albeit no later than two and a half years after the entry into force of the present Decision. The final report shall be presented within five years of the entry into force of the present Decision.

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

These reports shall consider, inter alia, the relevance of collecting statistics in the audiovisual sector in the light of the priorities set for the 1998-2002 Community Statistical Programme, and the resources available both at Eurostat and the national statistical offices.

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

Following these reports, the Commission may propose any changes necessary to improve the operation of this Decision.

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the draft Council Decision establishing a Community statistical information infrastructure relating to the industry and markets of the audiovisual and related sectors (SEC(98)1325 - C4-0548/98 - 98/0269(CNS))(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council, SEC(98)1325 - 98/0269(CNS),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Article 213 of the EC Treaty (C4-0548/98),

- having regard to Rule 58 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and Industrial Policy and the opinion of the Committee on Culture, Youth, Education and the Media (A4-0081/99),

1. Approves the Commission proposal, subject to Parliament's amendments;

2. Calls on the Commission to alter its proposal accordingly, pursuant to Article 189a (2) of the EC Treaty;

3. Calls on the Council to notify Parliament should it intend to depart from the text approved by Parliament;

4. Calls for the conciliation procedure to be opened should the Council intend to depart from the text approved by Parliament;

5. Asks to be consulted again should the Council intend to make substantial modifications to the Commission proposal;

6. Instructs its President to forward this opinion to the Council and Commission.