COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
COMC94) 168 final 
Brussels, 31.05.1994 
REPORT OF THE 
STATISTICAL PROGRAMME COMMITTEE 
1991 -1993 
(presented by the Commission) 
REPORT OF THE 
STATISTICAL PROGRAMME COMMITTEE 
1991-1993 
ROLE OK THE SATISTICAL PROGRAMME COMMITTEE P. I -
H REPORT OF THE STATISTICAL PROGRAMME COMMITTEE MEETINGS P. 4 - 27 
IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 3 OF ITS LEGAL BASIS 
(COUNCIL DECISION 89/382/EEC, EURATOM) 
1991 - 1993 
III REPORT OF THE STATISTICAL PROGRAMME COMMITTEE MEETINGS P. 28 - 32 
IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 4 OF ITS LEGAL BASIS 
(COUNCIL DECISION 89/382/EEC, EURATOM) 
1991 - 1993 
*\OL 
According to Article 5 of the Council Decision of 19 June 1989 establishing a Committee on the 
Statistical Programmes of the European Communities1 (SPC), the Committee hereby submits its 
second annual report covering the years 1991, 1992 and 1993. It contains a brief introduction to the 
various functions of the SPC as well as a review of the statistical work for which it was responsible. 
I ROLE OF THE SPC 
1. Legal basis of the SPC 
The SPC's function varies according to whether the matter submitted for examination falls under 
Articles 2 and 3 or Article 4 of the Council Decision of 19 June 1989. 
Where Articles 2 and 3 apply, the Committee's role is to assist the Commission in the 
development and implementation of the multi-annual statistical programmes and ensure close 
co-operation between national and Community departments. 
Where Article 4 applies, i.e. whenever the Council confers implementing powers on the 
Commission in the context of specific statistical actions, the SPC operates in accordance with 
the procedures laid down by the Council, in line with Council Decision 87/373/EEC2. 
So far the Council has adopted five legal acts relating to Article 4: 
Competences in line with Council 
Legal act of the Council Decision 87/373/EEC 
Council Regulation (EEC) No. 3037/90 of 9 October 
1990 on the statistical classification of economic Management Committee 
activities in the European Community3 (NACE) 
Council Regulation (EEC) No. 3924/91 of 19 
December 1991 on the establishment of a Community Management Committee 
survey of industrial production4 (PRODCOM) 
Council Regulation (EEC) No. 696/93 of 15 March 
1993 on the statistical units for the observation and Management Committee 
analysis of the production system in the Community5 
Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2186/93 of 22 July 1993 
on Community co-ordination in drawing up business Management Committee 
registers for statistical purposes6. 
Council Decision of 22 July 1993 on the framework 
programme for priority actions in the field of statistical Regulatory Committee 
1 information 1993 to 1997 (93/464/EEC)7 | I 
The SPC has not yet been convened to discuss topics following the legal acts of 1993 
O.I No. 1.181,2X06.1989 p. 47 
O.I No 1.197, 18.07.19X7 p. 33 
•'OJNo. 1.293, 24.10.1990 p. 2 
4OJNo. 1.374,31.12.1991 p. 3 
5 OJ No. 1.76, 30.03.1993 p. 2 
6 OJ No. 1.196, 05.0X1993 p. 3 
7O.INo. 1.219, 28.08.1993 p. 1 
Jr 
2. Statistical co-operation within the European Economic Area 
Statistical co-operation between the EC and EFTA used to be based on the so-called 
Luxembourg process. Two forums were created under this umbrella: a meeting between the 
Directors General of all EFTA Statistical Institutes and the Director General of Eurostat, and 
the EC/EFTA DGINS Conference, which comprised the same persons plus the Directors 
General from all the EC Member States and was held for the first time in November 1989. 
In order to avoid duplication of discussions on the same issues in several forums, it was decided 
to abolish the distinction between the EC DGINS and the EC/EFTA DGINS. The two DGINS 
meetings were combined to form one EC/EFTA DGINS Conference, which first met in 1992. 
A legal basis for such a conference can be found in Article 1 of Protocol 30 of the European 
Economic Area (EEA) Agreement8. Article 2 of Protocol 30 provides for the EFTA EEA 
countries to participate in the SPC in so far as the subjects dealt with are covered by the 
Agreement. However, this fully applies only when the SPC is consulted by the Commission on 
issues relating to the multi-annual programme as such or to specific parts of that programme 
(Articles 2 and 3 of Council Decision 89/382/EEC). Article 4 of Council Decision 89/382/EEC, 
in reference to Council Decision 87/373/EEC, sets up the SPC as a committee that assists the 
Commission in implementing tasks specified in a Council act. The scope for combining these 
competences with any legal basis outside EC law is limited as in some cases the committee is 
acting by the majority laid down in Article 148 (2) of the Treaty establishing the European 
Community. Thus participation of EFTA EEA countries is restricted where formal voting 
procedures are applied. 
With the EEA Agreement about to enter into force, the EFTA EEA countries joined the SPC as 
observers in 1993. At the same time the Eurostat/EFTA forum under the Luxembourg process 
was dropped, as in the past it had often served to discuss issues that, had been submitted on the 
part of the EC to the SPC. Its last meeting was held on the 24 November 1992. 
For reasons of practicability and effectiveness and in line with its decision on the reorganisation 
of the SPC/DGINS meetings (see below) the SPC decided at its meeting on 24, 25 May 1993 
that, as from the entry into force of the EEA Agreement, the SPC meetings based on Article 3 
of Council Decision 89/382/EEC would be called SPC/EEA meetings and would cover the 
EC/EFTA DGINS Conference mentioned in Protocol 30. Items only EC-relevant would be 
marked on the agenda. In these cases EFTA EEA participants would have observer status. 
Meetings based on Article 4 of Council Decision 89/382/EEC would continue to be held under 
the unchanged name of "Statistical Programme Committee" (SPC) indicating that participants 
from EFTA EEA countries do not have the right to vote. 
8,v Council of the EC, Commission of the EC: Agreement on the European Economic Area as signed in Porto on 2 May 1992 
3. Reorganisation of the SPC/DGINS meetings as from 1993 
Since its creation in 1989 the SPC had met twice yearly in conjunction with the three day 
Conference of the Directors General of the National Statistical Institutes (DGINS Conference). 
The topics for discussion by the SPC were identified on a separate agenda. 
The developments within the Community Statistical System and the closer relations with the 
EFTA countries led to the consideration of ways to intensify co-operation within the SPC and 
shift competences from the DGINS meeting to the SPC. 
Thus, in November 1992 it was decided that from 1993 onwards the SPC should meet twice a 
year, with the possibility of another one or two meetings if necessary. The EFTA Directors 
General attending the meetings would take part solely in discussions on items falling under the 
EEA Agreement. In 1993 two meetings, in March and September, were held in addition to the 
traditional May and November meetings. 
Three days meetings would continue to be held every May in each member country in turn. 
While the first day and a half would be the SPC meeting, the subsequent day would take the 
form of a seminar organised by the host country with the participation of eminent figures from 
outside the field of statistics. 
In May 1993 the DGINS seminar took place in Dublin where the various statistical systems of 
Member States which had recently been reformed were presented. 
II REPORT ON THE SPC MEETINGS IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 3 OF ITS 
LEGAL BASIS 
1991 -1993 
4TH Meeting of the Statistical Programme Committee 
Luxembourg, 21 May 1991 
1. Follow-up to the opinions given by the SPC in November 1990 
Eurostat informed the SPC about the progress of the following projects: "Regulation on the 
labour force survey", "Programme for training European statisticians", "Framework Decision on 
services" and "PRODCOM Regulation" on which the SPC had given an opinion at the 
November 1990 meeting. 
2. Report of the SPC to the Council (Art. S of the Decision 89/382/EEC) 
The SPC discussed the first report of the Statistical Programme Committee which covered its 
first three meetings from 1989 - 1990, and agreed that it be sent to the Council in accordance 
with Article 5 of Council Decision 89/382/EEC, under which the Committee had been set up. 
3. Role of the SPC 
According to its legal basis (89/382/EEC), the SPC exercises two functions, which would 
ordinarily involve separate groups of people. While the Directors General would give general 
judgements on the broad lines of the statistical programme and its elements (Article 3), it would 
usually be technical specialists from the sector concerned that would decide, according to the 
"comitology" procedures, on matters relating to functions which the Council had attributed to 
the SPC in the field of statistics (Article 4). • 
Eurostat suggested that the Directors General be given a more formal role in the general 
steering of the statistical programme, while the SPC's competences according to Article 4 should 
be exercised by 'sectional' SPCs. 
The Member States expressed their concerns with regard to the consistency of the SPC 
opinions, which might not reflect overall priority needs and asked Eurostat to prepare a further 
document on how the procedure for decision-making would work in practice. 
4. Proposal for a Council Regulation on production statistics of crops other than cereal 
Eurostat explained the reasons for proposing a legal act on production statistics of non-cereal 
crops and announced that the Member States would be asked for an opinion on the draft by 
written procedure in the next few months. 
5. Draft Council Regulation on the submission of nominal catch statistics by Member States 
fishing in the Northwest and Northeast Atlantic 
The draft regulation would provide a legal basis for the supply of the STATLANT files to the 
international fisheries organisations. 
The proposal had received the approval of the "Fishery Statistics" Working Group of the 
Agricultural Statistics Committee. 
The SPC accepted the proposal, provided that Eurostat would take into account the comments 
made with respect to strengthening the competences of the proposed committee to a revision of 
the annex and to the data transmission procedures. 
6. Eurostat 2000 
Evolution of the European Statistical System and the role of Eurostat 
Based on contributions of the Vice-President of the Commission and the Director General of the 
French Statistical Institute, the prospects for the Community statistical system and the role of 
Eurostat were discussed. Special emphasis was laid on the political background, as well as 
organisational and budgetary aspects. 
7. OECD 
The representative for the general secretariat of the OECD announced organisational changes to 
the OECD regarding its statistical work, which were aimed at improving both internal co­
ordination and co-operation with other bodies. 
The SPC welcomed the broad lines of the concept, while a detailed explanation was being 
circulated to OECD Member governments and would be submitted to the OECD Council. 
5TH Meeting of the Statistical Programme Committee 
Luxembourg, 4-5 December 1991 
1. The European Statistical Programme 1993 -1997 
General document and Financing 
Eurostat presented a preliminary draft of the priorities of Community statistics covering the 
years 1993 - 1997. It was intended to give this document legal backing in the form of a Council 
Framework Decision, which would be followed by specific legal acts for new projects. 
The SPC approved the general lines of the draft programme. It commented on both its structure 
and content pointing out that particular attention should be given to the production of reliable 
and harmonised statistics, Eurostat's role in co-ordinating them and an assessment of the 
cost-effectiveness of the programme. 
The Member States would send written comments to Eurostat that would be taken into account 
when preparing a revised document for the next SPC meeting. 
Eurostat proposed a set of principles which should serve as guidelines for calculating the costs 
associated with the multi-annual programme for the Commission and the Member States. The 
SPC agreed that the financial aspects should be examined in the context of the financial planning 
missions to each Member State at the beginning of 1992. 
2. Decision on the new nomenclature 
"International Standard Classification of Occupations" 
ISCO-88 (COM) is an adaptation for Community purposes of the International Standard 
Classification of Occupations and was proposed for the reporting to Eurostat by Member States 
of occupational data, particularly those derived from the Community labour force sample 
surveys in 1992 and later years, and the 1990/1991 round of population censuses. 
The SPC welcomed the proposal. Eurostat confirmed that it would assist Member States in 
drawing up conversion tables which would relate national occupational headings to ISCO-88 
(COM). 
3. Decision on the Programme "Training of European Statisticians" TES 1992/1993 
In accordance with the agreement of the SPC in November 1989, Eurostat continued its 
preparatory work on a programme for the training of European statisticians by presenting the 
second annual programme for 1992 - 1993. It was based on a preliminary evaluation of the first 
TES programme for 1991 - 1992, which was still being implemented The programme was 
aimed at public service statisticians, at both national and regional level, from the EC and EFTA 
Member States and a limited number of participants from Central and Eastern European 
countries. It was also open to private sector statisticians. 
(2) 
The SPC approved the programme for 1992 - 1993. 
4. Decision on R&D Statistics 
Following the initiative of the Scientific and Technical Research Committee (CREST) to 
improve methodology and data collection in the fields of R&D and innovation statistics and on 
the basis of the DGINS' approval of a work programme in November 1990, Eurostat prepared a 
proposal for a Council Decision drawing up a multi-annual programme to develop these 
statistics. 
The SPC agreed to send the proposal to the Council after having clarified the question of its 
financing. A reference to close co-ordination with the existing extensive work programme of 
the OECD in this area would be added. 
5. Regulation on statistical units 
In order to establish a common statistical language for certain units, Eurostat presented a 
proposal for a Council Regulation on the statistical units for the observation and analysis of the 
production system in the European Community. It resulted from two meetings of an ad hoc 
working party set up in the wake of the DGINS' opinion of November 1990, after consultation 
with a number of working parties. 
The proposed definitions for units were consistent with the relevant international 
recommendations and might be regarded as complementary to the NACE Rev. 1 Regulation. 
The SPC called for further discussion of the text within the ad hoc working party, which should 
focus on the list of the statistical units and their definitions annexed to the Regulation. 
Moreover, it was proposed that the competences laid down for the SPC should be of a 
management nature. A revised text would be submitted to a postal vote by the Member States. 
6. Regulation on Business Registers 
Business registers were drawn up in all Member States, although there might be substantial 
differences as regards coverage, scope or the quality of the information they contained. 
Harmonised registers would appear to constitute a basic element for an information system on 
businesses, providing a sample base for statistical surveys, possibilities of extrapolation and 
means of monitoring the replies from businesses. 
The draft Council Regulation on Community co-ordination in drawing up business registers for 
statistical purposes aimed to create a methodological framework enabling the Member States to 
develop or improve a harmonised register for statistical purposes. 
The text was referred back to the combined meeting of the Working parties on statistical units 
and business registers after several points for discussion had been identified, including the 
wording regarding the transmission of information to Eurostat and the access to the 
administrative and legal registers. A revised text would be submitted to a postal vote by the 
Member States. 
7. Regulation on the classification of products by activities 
From January 1991 the Commission and the Member States had been working on a central 
product classification structured by activity which would supplement the UN classification 
structured according to the nature of products and had been based on the NACE Rev. 1 
Regulation. 
The draft Council Regulation on the Statistical classifications of products by activity in the 
European Community (CPA), proposed to the SPC, had been discussed by the NACE Working 
Group. 
Several points were raised for discussion including the relationship between the CPA and 
national classification. It was proposed that the SPC should have management competences. 
The SPC agreed that Eurostat would submit the draft Regulation to the ad hoc working party 
set up in the wake of the DGINS' opinion of November 1990 for examination. A revised text 
would be submitted to a postal vote by the Member States. 
8. Decision concerning the Transport Variable in the Single Administrative Document 
(SAD) 
The SPC took account of a document on developments in the field of transport statistics in the 
light of the elimination of the Community's internal frontiers after 1992. It was aimed at 
strengthening co-ordination between transport statisticians and foreign-trade statisticians as well 
as with the Committee on customs legislation. 
9. Other Business 
A. PRODCOM 
The SPC supported the Commission's proposal regarding the coverage requirement for the 
Community survey of industrial production, although some Member States expressed fears 
about increasing the burden on their administrations. 
B. The European Advisory Committee on Economic and Social Statistical Information 
The SPC was invited to comment on the nomination of the 24 members of the European 
Advisory Committee on Economic and Social Statistical Information, which would meet in 
February 1992 for the first time. 
C. Future Structure of S PC/D GINS/EFT A meetings 
Eurostat announced that it would circulate proposals to rationalise the Directors General 
meeting with a view to the signing of the European Economic Area Agreement. 
6TH Meeting of the Statistical Programme Committee 
Athens, 20 May 1992 
1. The 1993 - 1997 Community Statistical Programme 
Draft Council Decision and Content of the Programme 
The draft Community Statistical Programme covering the five years 1993 - 1997 comprised two 
parts. A draft Council Decision specified the rules of procedure for implementing the statistical 
programme. In particular the role of the annual statistical programmes was defined with respect 
to the multi-annual priority sectional programmes These were set out in a second document, 
annexed to the legal act. 
Eurostat submitted both draft documents to the SPC, which decided that the Member States 
should propose their corrections to the texts in writing. Several points regarding more general 
aspects were discussed, including the legal character of the programme, which should not be of 
a binding nature for the Member States, its financing and cost effectiveness, as well as co­
operation between Eurostat and the National Statistical Institutes with respect to the 
implementation of the Programme. Moreover, the Member States called for the SPC to play a 
much greater part in the development of the Statistical Programme. 
The SPC decided that a revised text should be drawn up by the Commission taking into account 
the comments of the Member States. Agreement was reached on the title of the document 
(Framework Programme for Priority Actions in the field of Statistical Information), which would 
be sent to the Council for decision after the European Parliament had given its opinion. 
2. Draft Regulation on the European Statistical System 
In almost all the Member States of the Community the statistical systems were based on a legal 
act defining and regulating the tasks and structures of the system. These included, for example, 
organisation and co-ordination between the central and the peripheral bodies as well as with 
other public bodies which collect and compile statistical data, responsibilities towards the public 
in respecting basic rights and rights of initiative in carrying out surveys. 
In order to fill the gap that exists at Community level regarding a statistical law, Eurostat 
proposed an outline for a Community statistical law and a time frame for its discussion with the 
various parties concerned. As a result, the draft Regulation defining the composition, form and 
operation of the Community statistical system should be sent to the Council in the second half of 
1993. A complementary legal act of the Commission should regulate the tasks, autonomy and 
organisation of Eurostat. 
The SPC strongly endorsed the need for legislation on the Community statistical system and 
decided to set up a task force to address the important questions still pending, including all legal 
aspects. Special attention should be paid to how the principle of subsidiarity would work in 
practice. 
3. Draft Regulation on non-cereal crops 
While statistics on cereal production were covered by the Council Regulation of 26 March 1990, 
the transmission of data on non-cereal crops was based on informal agreements with the 
Member States. 
Eurostat proposed a draft Regulation on statistics of crops other than cereals, which should 
harmonise and improve existing data flows. While the corresponding working group had 
already dealt with the technical details, a final discussion was planned for the forthcoming 
meeting of the Standing Agricultural Statistics Committee. 
The SPC agreed to the draft regulation on non-cereal crops being forwarded to the Council. 
4. Results of written procedures on legal acts 
(a) Classification of Products by Activity (CPA) 
(b)Community register of enterprises 
(c) Statistical units 
In accordance with the opinions expressed by the SPC at its meeting in December 1991, the 
revised draft versions of all three legal acts were submitted to a postal vote by the Member 
States. 
Eurostat presented the results of a vote which were supplemented by the missing replies of some 
Member States. 
While the SPC agreed that all legal acts should be sent to the Council, it decided that its 
comments and proposals would be submitted to the corresponding Council working groups. In 
order to overcome reservations expressed by the Member States relating to both legal aspects 
and the contents of the draft Regulation on the Community register of enterprises, Eurostat 
undertook to pursue bilateral contacts. With respect to the committee provided for in the three 
draft regulations, the SPC requested that it be a management committee. 
5. The Training of European Statisticians (TES) programme 1993 - 1994: 
decision of the SPC 
In November 1989, the SPC agreed to the preparation of a Community programme for the 
training of European statisticians. After approval by the SPC in December 1991, the second 
annual programme for 1992 - 1993 was being implemented. 
Eurostat presented a comprehensive assessment of the 1991 - 1992 TES programme and 
proposed the programme for 1993 - 1994. Its design was based on the results of a survey on 
the training needs and capabilities of the countries conducted in 1992 as well as on registrations 
received for the previous year's programme. 
The SPC approved the TES programme for 1993 - 1994. 
6. Statistical requirements arising from the revision of the EEC Regulations on the 
implementation of the structural funds 
In view of the growing importance of the regional dimensions of Community policies, Eurostat 
outlined the implications for the development of regional statistics. In particular the 
forthcoming revision of the EEC Regulations on the structural funds meant that the Member 
States would have to provide regional data, especially on unemployment at NUTS 3 level. 
Although the SPC approved Eurostat's request for information, some Member States pointed 
out that they would have difficulties in supplying the data listed. It was decided to hold, at some 
future date, an in-depth discussion about the quality of regional data currently available. 
7. INTRASTAT project : the final framework 
- the new COM EDI project -
Within a period of almost seven years, new rules for the collection of data relating to intra-
community trading had been discussed. The basic Regulation, which was adopted in November 
1991, had been supplemented by several Regulations on specific subjects. 
In order to promote the implementation of the INTRASTAT system in the Member States, 
Eurostat presented the COMEDI project9, which was designed to establish an infrastructure at 
European level for the collection and processing of statistical data. Moreover, it raised several 
points for discussion related to the needs of individual Member States. 
The SPC decided that a final decision on the remaining implementing provisions be taken at the 
June 1992 meeting of the Committee on external trade statistics. 
8. Other Business 
National Statistical System of Greece 
The National Statistical Service of Greece outlined the situation concerning official statistics, 
particularly with regard to several problems of staffing and equipment. 
To further the Commission's support for the restructuring of the statistical system, the SPC was 
asked to do all it could to help Greece achieve the goal of the statistical programme. 
Commerce : Electronic Data Interchange (now: HOICOM) 
II 
7TH Meeting of the Statistical Programme Committee 
Luxembourg, 25 November 1992 
1. Organisation of the work of the SPC within the Community Statistical System 
Since its creation in 1989, the SPC had met twice a year in conjunction with the three day 
DGINS Conference. The topics for discussion by the SPC were identified on a separate agenda. 
In order to intensify co-operation within the SPC and find a more efficient working method for 
the statistical programme for the European Economic Area, Eurostat presented the conclusions 
of the DGINS Steering Group, which met in Brussels on 15 July 1992. These proposed more 
frequent SPC meetings, which should last only one day. Moreover, the meetings should be 
arranged in conjunction with other events assessed by the Directors General if possible. The 
two day DGINS Conference in May should take the form of a seminar organised by the host 
country, which could also invite participants from outside the field of statistics. 
The SPC welcomed the proposals and agreed to increase the number of meetings to a maximum 
of four per year if necessary, starting from 1993. Eurostat should provide interpretation in all 
the necessary languages. 
2. Legal acts in implementation of the Community Statistical Programme 
Following the 77th DGINS Conference, the DGINS Steering Group met on 15 July 1992 to 
discuss the possible forms of legislation for the implementation of the Community statistical 
programme on the basis of the Treaty on European Union. 
Eurostat summarised the conclusions by proposing the form of a Council Decision for 
framework statistical programmes and sectional programmes. It would also propose the 
appropriate legal form (regulation or directive) for those annual work programmes which could 
not be executed by gentlemen's agreement between the National Statistical Institutions and 
Eurostat, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity. 
The Member States asked for further clarification of the document concerning, in particular, the 
non-binding nature of the framework statistical programme. The discussion was to be continued 
within the appropriate bodies. 
3. Work Programme of the Community Statistical System for 1993 
Eurostat presented the first annual work programme (1993) drawn up in connection with the 
1993 - 1997 framework statistical programme, which was still before the Council. Following 
the structure of the framework programme the document contained the objectives for 1993 that 
Eurostat regarded as having priority. An annex listed the resulting new statistical projects and 
contained proposals for their legal basis. 
In view of the very short time available for commenting on the annual statistical programme, the 
SPC considered it as a working basis. In general the importance of co-ordination with other 
international organisations was stressed. While the SPC agreed that comments on individual 
12 
projects would be submitted within the next few weeks in written form, the Member States 
called for clarification of several projects. 
Eurostat agreed to present a preliminary draft programme for the following year in May, for 
final approval in November. This way the projects could in the meantime be discussed by the 
working parties and be included in the budgetary decisions of the Member States. 
4. Statistical requirements of International Organisations 
In the field of agriculture, forestry and fishery statistics, Eurostat reported some difficulties on 
issues related to co-ordination with international organisations. 
The SPC felt that the problems were rather specific but pointed out that co-ordination with the 
international organisations and Eurostat or the Member States should be consolidated at 
secretarial level as well as, where necessary, on an informal level. 
5. Revision of three Directives on livestock statistics 
Having been in force for nearly twenty years, the current Directives on livestock statistics had 
been amended several times. 
Eurostat proposed revised Directives for statistics on cattle, pigs, sheep and goats in order to 
provide a more uniform legal basis. 
The Member States identified several points as debatable, including the general question of the 
competences of the Standing Committee for Agricultural Statistics, which in their opinion 
should have the continued status of a management committee instead of the proposed form of an 
advisory committee. The SPC proposed to defer the submission of the proposal to the 
Commission and the Council to allow an adequate consultation of the Standing Committee for 
Agricultural Statistics. 
6. Change of the base year 
Referring to former DGINS meetings, Eurostat called upon the Member States to make the 
necessary provisions for using the years "1990" and "1995" as base years for presenting indices 
and indicators. 
Basically the SPC agreed to the proposal. The discussion on technical problems would be 
continued within the appropriate bodies taking cost aspects into account. 
7. Other Business 
A. Developments in the Field of Monetary Statistics 
The SPC was informed by the President of the Committee for Monetary, Financial and Balance 
of Payments Statistics (CMFB) on its future composition, role and method of work in the light 
of the changes after 'Maastricht'. The SPC pointed out that it was desirable that the revision of 
13 
the Treaties in 1996 gave rise to a recognition of the role of Eurostat and the National Statistical 
Institutes in a way that would correspond to the statistical role of the Central Banks in the 
Treaty of Maastricht. 
B. The Commission's requirements as regards estimates of industrial variables 
In order to cover the Commission's requirements for up-to-date information on industry, 
Eurostat had been engaged in a project aimed at receiving corresponding estimations from the 
EEIGl0-DEBAn. 
On the basis of the negative attitude of the DGiNS towards this project in May 1992, three 
Member States urged Eurostat to put this item on the SPC's agenda, expressing their views in 
writing to the Director General. 
Eurostat provided a document illustrating the background of the project and confirmed that it 
did not intend to create a system of short-term trend indicators which would compete with those 
in place in Member States However, the Member States repeated their concerns regarding 
various problems which are highly probable to arise as the results are not provided by the 
National Statistical Institutes: 
The SPC expressed its opinion that high priority should begtven to improving the data supply of 
the Member States, starting with the acceleration of the work within the Working Party 
"Estimates". If this produced adequate results^ Eurostat would stop supporting. EEIG - DEB A. 
Kuropcan economic Interest Group 
Data fur Kuropean Business Analysis 
14 
13) 
8TH Meeting of the Statistical Programme Committee 
Brussels, 25 March 1993 
1. Legislation in the field of business statistics 
On the basis of both the Council Decision on a biannual programme for the development of 
service statistics (92/326/EEC) and various approaches within the last three years to a revision 
of industry statistics, a draft Directive combining the sectors' structural statistics was presented 
to the SPC. 
While they supported the general idea of a joint legal act covering manufacturing and service 
industries, the Member States considered its structure as problematic. Rather than delegating 
the competences for determining all details of the surveys to the Commission, it was felt that the 
text should offer more information on the cost and resource implications for the National 
Statistical Institutes and enterprises. Moreover, the Member States wanted the role of the SPC 
in supporting the Commission strengthened by chosing at least the procedure of.a management 
committee. 
With regard to further actions, it was agreed that Eurostat would present a revised draft legal 
act in a form of a Regulation taking into account the points discussed. 
2. Principles and procedures for Programming Missions 
For approximately four years bilateral Programming Missions had served as an institutionalised 
forum where problems between Eurostat and a single Member State could be discussed in-depth 
at Directors' level. 
Eurostat presented a note on improving their effectiveness. The SPC was in favour of the 
proposals which should serve as a guideline for further meetings. 
3. Draft Council Regulation amending Council Regulation (EEC) No. 1382/91 on the 
submission of data on the landings of fishery products 
The draft legal act was designed to extend the statistics on the landings of fishery products to 
the EFTA countries as from January 1994. 
The item was discussed under item 4. 
4. Draft Council Regulation on the submission of nominal catch statistics by Member States 
fishing in the Northwest Atlantic 
The draft regulation provides a legal basis for the supply of the STATLANT files to the 
Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation. 
Both proposals had been discussed and approved by the "Fishery Statistics" Working Group of 
the Agricultural Statistics Committee. 
15 
The SPC accepted the two proposals while Eurostat would take several specific comments into 
account, including the strengthening of the competences of the committee proposed in the draft 
Council Regulation on catch statistics. As far as the transmission of confidential data to 
Eurostat was concerned, reference would be made to Council Regulation 1588/90/EEC. 
5. Council approval of the 1993 - 1997 Statistical Programme 
The multi-annual Statistical Programme included a basic outline of the priority sectional pro­
grammes for the forthcoming five years as well as the rules of procedure for implementing the 
corresponding specific statistical projects. In order to stress its importance it would be passed 
as a Council Decision for the first time. 
Eurostat informed the SPC about the progress of the Council's discussion on this Programme. 
The discussion is to be continued at the next meeting of the Council Working Party on 22 April 
1993. The European Parliament committees have already delivered a basically favourable 
opinion. 
6. Other Business 
A. Preparation and implementation of the new ESA 
On the basis of the approval of the revised SNA by the United Nations Statistical Commission, 
Eurostat presented proposals on a timetable for the implementation of the new ESA and stressed 
the importance of giving the ESA a legal basis. With respect to the problem of the allocation of 
bank services Eurostat proposed to ask two experts from the National Statistical Institutions to 
join forces with a Eurostat expert in working on a corresponding project. 
The SPC felt that priority should be given to the implementation of the new ESA. The Member 
States pointed out that the first results could not be forwarded to Eurostat before 1998. 
B. Protection of personal data 
The members of the SPC were invited to pay special attention to the statistical aspects of the 
Directive on the protection of personal data, which was currently being discussed at a meeting 
between members of the Confidentiality Committee and the Council Working Party on 
Statistical Data Protection. 
C. Transmission of documents 
Eurostat reported on the CADDIA project, which was designed to speed up the transmission of 
documents for SPC meetings. 
9TH Meetiag of the Statistical Programme Committee 
Dublin, 24 - 25 May 1993 
1. 1994 Annual Work Programme : preliminary draft 
Eurostat presented the second annual work programme drawn up in connection with the 1993 -
1997 statistical programme. It contained forms giving a description of the projects and a 
proposal for its legal basis which Eurostat considered to be new and which should have priority 
in 1994. A final version would be presented at the November 1993 SPC meeting. 
In light of the current budgetary difficulties which Eurostat and most National Statistical 
Institutes were experiencing, it was pointed out that Member States could not be expected to 
implement new projects without making cutbacks to existing work. Some projects were 
identified that could be delayed. 
The SPC decided to set up a task force of Eurostat and some Member States in order to 
improve annual planning and establish links between broad priorities and sectional and specific 
actions. It would meet in July 1993 for the first time. 
2. Council Directive on measuring excessive deficits 
(Article 104C and relevant protocol of the Maastricht Treaty) 
According to the Treaty on European Union, before 1 January 1994, the Council, acting on a 
qualified majority on a proposal from the Commission and after consulting the European 
Parliament, had to lay down detailed rules and definitions for the application of the provisions of 
the protocol on the excessive deficits procedure annexed to the Treaty. 
Eurostat presented a draft of possible secondary legislation concerning the statistical aspects, 
which included definitions of the government sector and the procedure and timetable for the 
reporting of data. 
The SPC agreed to send the draft to the Council after Eurostat had reconsidered the data 
transmission deadlines. With respect to the setting up of a Committee, its competences were 
discussed as well as he need for National Accounts experts to be involved. 
3. European statistical law : draft Council Regulation and Decision on the Community 
Statistical System 
In accordance with the SPC's instruction in May 1992 to continue preparation of a legal act on 
the organisation of the Community statistical system, Eurostat presented a draft regulation 
reflecting the work of the Task Force and Working Parties as well as the outcome of Council 
discussions on the 1993 - 1997 statistical programme. Eurostat had also made progress in 
preparing the Commission's legal text on the independence of the statistical service, its role and 
responsibilities. After being discussed in the Working Party, it would be submitted to the 
Commission for approval when the Council had decided upon the Community statistical system 
Regulation. 
17 
The Member States expressed their need for further clarification of the wording in some 
instances, including the division of costs. Moreover, the choice of Article 213 as the legal basis, 
the list of principles and the chapter on statistical confidentiality were considered questionable. 
The SPC decided that the Member States should send their written comments by 15 June, so 
that the amended text could be submitted to the Commission for agreement before the summer. 
It was agreed that the proposed regulation should serve as a basis for the long term aim to 
create, with the next amendment to the Treaties of Rome, a constitutional basis for the 
Community statistical system in the Treaties. 
4. Combining the SPC and the EC/EEA Conference 
In line with Protocol 30 of the European Economic Area (EEA) Agreement, EC - EFTA co­
operation in the field of statistics encompassed both a joint EC/EFTA DGINS Conference and 
the participation of six EFTA countries at those SPC meetings which dealt with subjects covered 
by the Agreement. 
In order to rationalise the meetings taking place at Directors General level, Eurostat proposed 
that any meeting of the SPC in its role as a consultant for the Commission on issues relating to 
the multi-annual programme (Article 3 of Council Decision 89/382/EEC) be designated as an 
SPC/EEA Conference. Items not relevant to the EEA would be marked as such on the agenda. 
The SPC agreed to follow the proposal from the entry into force of the EEA Agreement 
onwards. Where items on the agenda were not EEA-relevant, the participants of the EFTA 
would be solely observers. 
5. Draft Council Decision implementing a multi-annual programme for the consolidation of 
transport statistics 
The establishment of a European Common Market called for a uniform concept for the 
development of harmonised and detailed statistics on transport in the Member States. 
Eurostat introduced a comprehensive framework covering the years 1994 - 1997, which should 
encompass the assessment of the information needed, preparation of appropriate methods for all 
modes of transport, collection of the available data, pilot surveys in fields not covered and the 
promotion of the use of automated transmission and electronic transmission procedures. The 
drafting of three legal acts covering transport by road, sea and air would make it possible to 
obtain the statistical data base needed. 
The SPC agreed that this draft Decision should be sent to the Council. Several Member States 
considered it over-ambitious and demanded that the Committee proposed should have 
management competences. It was decided that reference to the co-operation with international 
organisations and information on the contents of the data base should be added to the draft by 
Eurostat. 
6. Work on the exhaustiveness of GNP 
In order to remedy the non-uniform coverage of the underground economy Eurostat had put 
forward a work programme aimed at validating and, where necessary, improving the coverage 
of productive activity in Member States' GNP. 
The content of the programme had been approved by the GNP Committee at its meeting in 
October 1992. 
The SPC recognised that, in light of the decision for GNP to gradually replace the VAT - based 
third resource as the Community's main source of finance, work on the exhaustiveness of GNP 
had to be given priority. However, most of the Member States foresaw tremendous difficulties 
in achieving the time frame set by Eurostat. 
This item should be further discussed within the GNP Committee. 
7. 1992 Progress report 
The SPC took note of the fourth annual progress report on the implementation of the 1989 -
1992 Statistical Programme of the European Communities, covering 1992. It was organised by 
subject and included some statistics on Eurostat's personnel and budgetary situation as well as 
information on the objectives of the 1993 work programme. 
8. Eurostat / BLS Seminar on statistical information systems in a market economy for the 
Republics of the former Soviet Union (FSU) 
Eurostat informed the SPC about a seminar designed for the Presidents of the Statistical Offices 
of the Republics of the Former Soviet Union, that had been jointly organised by Eurostat and the 
US Bureau of Labour Statistics within the framework of the Community TAGS12 Programme. 
The objective of the seminar was twofold: to give information about the challenges of official 
statistics and to receive information about the present situation in the newly independent states. 
Areas for further co-operation and co-ordination of international assistance were also discussed. 
Following the seminar, participants had the opportunity to visit four National Statistical 
Institutes. 
9. Other Business 
A. Directive on the protection of personal data 
The SPC was informed about the initiative of several National Statistical Institutes to outline a 
joint position on the draft Directive on the protection of personal data currently before the 
Council. Provided that it received a broad measure of support it should be sent to the Council 
Working Group. The Commission would be informed via a letter from Mr. Christopherson to 
Mr. Bangemann. 
12, l"echnica! Assistance Tor the Community of Indépendant Slates 
B. Deadlines for transmitting data to Eurostat 
Eurostat presented a country-by-country update of data transmitted to Eurostat and asked those 
countries which were behind with transmissions to speed them up. 
C. INTRASTAT / EDICOM project 
Statistical information on intra-Community trade in goods had been collected directly from the 
enterprises since 1 January 1993. Eurostat delivered a progress report summarising the situation 
in the different Member States. The EDICOM project which had been designed to promote the 
use of modern communication technologies was also discussed, particularly with respect to the 
quality of the software delivered by Eurostat. 
D. Miscellaneous 
The SPC took note of two documents concerning the regional reliability of the sampling plans 
for the 1992 Labour Force Survey and a joint ECE - Eurostat Work Session on Demographic 
Projections. 
20 
10TH Meeting of the Statistical Programme Committee 
Brussels, 24 September 1993 
1. Restructuring EC agricultural statistics 
On the basis of an extensive review of Community agricultural statistics Eurostat outlined a 
formal framework for an integrated and more efficient structure of these statistics, capable of 
continuing adaptation to meet changing information requirements. 
While the Member States welcomed the general idea, they stressed the need for the proposal to 
be compatible with the Council Decision on the 1993 - 1997 Statistical Programme, the 
forthcoming "statistical law" and the division of tasks determined for the Standing Committee on 
Agricultural Statistics and the SPC. In addition, several points for further clarification were 
identified, including the competences of the Commission, the provisions for ensuring statistical 
confidentiality and the financing of the programme. 
Eurostat agreed to revise the proposal in accordance with the discussion. 
2. TES Programme 1994/95 
In November 1989, the SPC agreed to the preparation of a Community programme for the 
training of European statisticians. After approval by the SPC in May 1992, the third annual 
programme for 1993 - 1994 was being implemented. 
Eurostat presented a brief report of the 1992/1993 TES programme, which would be thoroughly 
evaluated by the TES Evaluation Committee, and proposed the programme for 1994 - 1995. It 
was to be regarded as a consolidation programme in which stress would be laid on the proposed 
improvements. Moreover, additional programmes would be offered for the countries of Central 
and Eastern Europe. 
The SPC discussed and approved the TES programme for 1994 - 1995 provided that Eurostat 
would take the comments into account. 
3. Management of the statistical programme 
3.1 The role of the SPC in the management of the statistical programme 
Both the increasing role of the SPC with respect to the management of the statistical programme 
as set out in recent Council Legislation and the enlargement of tasks associated with the entry 
into force of the European Economic Area Agreement gave rise to considerations on redefining 
the SPC's interna! procedures. 
The Member States agreed to a proposal by Eurostat to reserve the relevant horizontal tasks and 
the sectoral decisions in line with Article 4 of its legal basis to meetings at Director General 
level. 
Eurostat would prepare an amended version of the SPC internal rules. 
21 
3.2 First conclusions of the Task Force "Annual Statistical Programme" 
In May 1993 the SPC agreed to set up a Task Force to explore the kinds of information which 
would be useful for the SPC when drawing conclusions on the annual statistical programme and 
to consider the timetable and procedures for presenting this information to the SPC. 
Following its meeting on 7-8 July, the Task Force presented preliminary conclusions with 
respect to the format of information on projects within the Annual Programme, the methodology 
for assessing costs and the procedures for the examination of information by the SPC. 
The SPC was in favour of the results achieved by the Task Force, which would meet again on 
15 October. 
4. Proposals on the options for harmonization of the CPI 
In view of future European Monetary Arrangements a Working Party had been set up to draft 
guidelines for a Regulation on the production of harmonized national consumer price indices, 
which should serve as the basis'for a Community wide index. Eight Task Forces had been 
established to address single aspects of the work programme. The results of the Working Party's 
first meeting on June 1993 and its draft terms of reference were presented to the SPC. 
The SPC expressed its support for the work and agreed to the participation of CEIES members 
in the preparatory work of the Working Party. 
It suggested some changes to the mandate of the Working Party, which would submit a revised 
version to the SPC for final approval in November. 
5. External trade statistics after 1992 
Eurostat raised the question of delays on the part of some Member States in transmitting 
external trade data. 
The Member States explained that their problems were caused mainly by difficulties in the 
application of the goods classification and their inadequate electronic and telematic 
infrastructure. 
The SPC acknowledged that high priority needed to be given to standardizing the collection of 
data on intra- and extra-Community trade and pointed out that an exchange of experience in this 
area would be essential. 
6. Draft Directive on the protection of personal data 
Further to the announcement made at the meeting of the SPC in May 1993, several National 
Statistical Institutes had prepared a joint position on the draft Directive on the protection of 
personal data and pointed out that strong support by the representatives of the Member States at 
Council would be essential for the comments to be regarded. 
22 
7. Framework Regulation on business statistics 
Following the discussion of the legislation in the field of business statistics proposed to the SPC 
in March 1993, Eurostat presented a revised draft Regulation on business statistics covering 
industrial and service activities. 
While the general idea of a comprehensive approach was welcomed, Member States expressed 
their strong reservations regarding, in particular, the field of application, the variables to be used 
and the periodicity. 
A revised text would be prepared by the corresponding working group and submitted to the 
SPC at its next meeting. 
8. Proposal for a Directive on statistical returns in respect of carriage of goods and 
passengers by sea 
In order to fill current gaps in maritime statistics and in accordance with the Community 
objective of developing a coherent system of information on the different modes of transport, 
Eurostat presented a draft legal act on the transport of goods and passengers by sea. It provided 
for the SPC to advise the Commission in implementing the legal act. 
While some Member States expressed their reservations regarding in particular the provisions on 
recording and collection of data, the relevance of the data required and the costs involved, the 
majority of the Member States were in favour of this project and advocated a Directive as a 
legal basis. 
Eurostat would submit the revised draft Directive to the Council. 
9. Evaluation of the Community Statistical Programme 1989-1992 
In line with Council Resolution 89/C161/01 of 19 June 1989 Eurostat provided a final report on 
the implementation of the Statistical Programme 1989-1992 for submission to the Parliament 
and Council. 
The SPC welcomed the report, which presented the results and problems encountered in the 
implementation of the statistical programmes in connection with Community policies. 
10. Other Business 
A. The "statistical law" 
With reference to the SPC's discussion of a draft legal act on the organization of the Community 
Statistical System at its meeting in May 1993, Eurostat presented a new version of the 
"statistical law" which was at the decision-making stage at the Commission and was expected to 
be submitted to the Council before the end of the month. The Commission Decision on the 
status of Eurostat should be ready for adoption immediately after the Council's vote on the 
Regulation. 
23 
B. State of affairs on GDP 
At its meeting in May 1993, the SPC had referred a work programme on the exhaustiveness of 
GNP back to the GNP Committee as most Member States had foreseen difficulties in achieving 
the time-frame. 
Eurostat reported on the new proposal submitted to the GNP Committee, which contained a 
delayed deadline. 
C. Budgetary situation of Eurostat 
Eurostat informed the SPC about its improved budgetary situation as the Commission had 
proposed that Eurostat should benefit from a redistribution of the budget in accordance with the 
'Notenboom' procedure. 
24 
11TH Meeting of the Statistical Programme Committee 
Brussels, 26 November 1993 
1. Work programme 1994 
1.1 Final report of the Task Force on Annual Programming 
Following its meeting on 15 October 1993, the Task Force on Statistical Programme Planning, 
which was set up on behalf of the SPC on its meeting on May 1993, presented its final 
conclusions with respect to the co-operation of Eurostat with the NSIs on annual programming. 
A permanent Working Group would be created to work with Eurostat on programme planning 
and to explore costs/benefit aspects, that might be prepared by a sub-working group. 
Eurostat agreed to enlarge the time frame for the NSIs to respond to the new annual programme 
by making sure that the relevant document was provided four weeks before the May SPC 
meeting. To facilitate Member States' planning procedures, estimates for the planning year t+2 
would be added to the draft programme for the year t+1. 
1.2 EC work programme 1994 
Eurostat presented the second annual work programme (1994) drawn up in connection with the 
1993-1997 framework statistical programme. 
As the document was considered too vague to allow a formal approval, the Member States 
called for the Commission's priorities to be identified more clearly. The improvement of the 
planning process would allow for progress with respect to the evaluation of the work 
programme. 
2. Draft Directive on Tourism 
As a follow-up to the actions undertaken within the framework of the Council Decision of 17 
December 1990 on this subject, Eurostat presented a draft Directive on tourism statistics. 
There was general support for the need for such a Directive although some delegations felt that 
it was not quite ready to be sent to Council. 
The text would be re-examined, especially in the light of information on costs to be provided by 
Member States, and the revised version would be submitted for approval by the SPC by written 
procedure in early 1994. 
3. Household panel: pilot survey evaluation report 
Eurostat submitted to the SPC the evaluation report of the pilot survey of the European 
Community Household Panel (ECHP), which had been launched in 1992 following the DGINS 
decision of May 1990. 
25 
The SPC agreed to proceed to the full ECHP in either April or May 1994, which had been 
planned for at least 3 years. Some Member States stressed the need for a financial contribution 
by the Community and called for a revision of the management structure in selected areas. 
4. Harmonisation of consumer price indices: mandate for Working Party 
The SPC was informed about the progress made by the Working Party on harmonization of 
consumer price indices. 
It approved of the terms of reference for the Working Party, that had been revised on the basis 
of the comments made by the SPC at its last meeting in September 1993. 
5. Population figures to be used for the purposes of financing the European Monetary 
Institute 
According to Article 16 of the Protocol on the Statute of the European Monetary Institute 
(EMI) and Article 29(1) of the Protocol on the Statute of the European System of Central 
Banks and of the European Central Bank, the key for the financial resources of the EMI should 
be based on the share of the Member States of the population and the share in the gross 
domestic product at market prices of the European Community. In case of population data, the 
Council expert group "Economic and Monetary Union" agreed at its meetings on 8 and 23 
September 1993 to use these figures provided in accordance with the ESA definitions and 
defined the requirements the data would have to meet. 
As population data provided by the NSIs had not been based on a legal act the SPC validated 
them on the basis of a room document containing the updated figures. 
6. Forestry Statistics 
While in the past, forestry statistics had played a minor role within the Community Statistical 
Programme, its importance increased at the end of the eighties with an increase in political 
attention being paid to rural and regional development, the restructuring of agriculture and 
environmental aspects of forests. The secondment of an EFTA Member States' forestry expert in 
1994 would further enhance the development of Community forestry statistics. 
The Portuguese delegation emphasized the importance of this sector and called for a substantial 
improvement in Community forestry statistics, which should be based on a legal instrument. 
Regarding the future work in this area, the need for Eurostat to be present in Community 
activities of a statistical nature on forestry and the need for co-ordination of work within the 
international context were stressed. 
7. Revision of ESA: progress of work 
Eurostat reported on the progress made regarding the revision of the European System of 
National Accounts (ESA). Eurostat was working in close co-operation with other international 
26 
organisations, particularly OECD, and was receiving valuable help from staff seconded from 
NSIs. 
8. Time-limits and infringements 
Eurostat addressed problems with respect to Member States' delays in the transmission of some 
agricultural data, Labor Force Survey data and Intrastat and extra-Community trade data, and 
announced bilateral contacts to discuss the possibility of having the transmission accelerated. 
Ultimately, however, formal notices of complaint were not to be ruled out. 
For one of the subsequent SPC meetings Eurostat would prepare a summary of delays on the 
part of the Member States in the transmission of data. 
9. EEA statistical programme 1994-1997 
The EEA Statistical Programme 1994-1997 was presented, which was based on the 1993-1997 
framework programme for the EC would be incorporated in an amendment to Protocol 30 of 
the Treaty to be passed by the EEA Joint Committee in January 1994. 
While the substantial progress in EEA co-operation in the field of statistics was acknowledged, 
the EFTA countries expressed some concern that their data were not automatically appearing in 
Eurostat publications. 
Eurostat agreed that, in principle, where EFTA countries could produce the data, and in 
EEA-relevant domains, EFTA data would be included. 
27 
Ill REPORT OF THE SPC MEETINGS IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 4 OF ITS 
LEGAL BASIS 
1991 -1993 
1. SPC in connection with the NACE Regulation 
On the basis of Article 7 of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 3037/90 of 9 October 1990 on the 
statistical classification of economic activities in the European Community, the SPC had met ten 
times since 1991 to deal with the following main topics : 
Meeting on 18 - 23 February 1991 
1. Introduction to NACE Rev. 1 including the statistical units 
2. Outstanding problems 
3. NACE-PRODUCTS classification 
4. Explanatory notes 
Meeting on 10 -14 June 1991 
1. Introduction to NACE Rev. 1 including the statistical units 
2. CPA 
3. Explanatory notes NACE Rev. 1 
4. Case law (NACE Rev. 1) 
Meeting on 23 - 27 September 1991 
1. CPA 
2. CPA Regulation 
3. Introduction to NACE Rev. 1 
4. Case law (NACE Rev. 1) 
5. NACE correspondence table 
6. Other: - "Serveur" 
- Example of use of CPA 
Meeting on 11 - 15 November 1991 
1. Interpretation of NACE Rev. 1 
"Case law" 
Empty classes 
Holdings 
2. CPA 
Regulation 
CPA version 0.4 
3. Other 
28 
Meeting on 3 - 7 February 1992 
1. NACE Rev. 1 
Revision and changes of headings 
Explanatory notes 
Case law (incl. recycling and textiles) 
Introduction (incl. statistical units and value added) 
2. CPA 
Version 0.6 
Regulation 
3. Other 
Meeting on 11-15 May 1992 
1. NACE Rev. 1 
Revised version 
Explanatory notes 
Case law 
Introduction 
2. CPA 
Formal adoption of version 1.0 
Draft outline of introduction to CPA 
3. Other 
Meeting on 30 November - 4 December 1992 
1. Formal vote on adoption of NACE 
Rev. 1 revised 
2. Adoption of explanatory notes to NACE Rev 
3. Case law 
Meeting on 22 - 26 March 1993 
1. Interpretation of NACE Rev. 1 : Case law 
2. Recycling 
3. NACE explanatory notes 
4. Internal rules for development of NACE and CPA 
5. Conversion key 
6. NACE Introduction 
Meeting on 20 - 24 September 1993 
1. Interpretation of NACE Rev. 1 : Case law 
2. NACE Introduction 
3. NACE Explanatory notes 
4. Guidelines for SPC (NACE/CPA) 
5. Conversion key 
29 
Meeting on 6-10 December 1993 
1. Interpretation of NACE Rev. I : Case law 
2. NACE Publication 
3. Guidelines for SPC (NACE/CPA) 
Because of the rather technical nature of the items discussed, this report has been confined to 
covering only the main subjects of the meetings, which can be summarized as follows: 
The SPC assisted the Commission in updating NACE Rev. I. The Commission, in 
accordance with the opinion of the SPC, adopted Regulation (EEC) No. 761/93 of 24 
March 199313) amending Council Regulation (EEC) No. 3037/90 on the statistical 
classification of economic activities in the European Community. 
The SPC discussed the proposal for a central product classification which basically followed 
NACE Rev. I for the European Community. 
Decisions with respect to the application of NACE Rev. 1 made up another major part of the 
work of the SPC in this area. In order to ensure uniform interpretation in all Member Slates 
these "case law" decisions were collected to serve as a point of reference. 
Aspects related to the co-ordination with other classifications as well as derived 
classifications were discussed at the SPC meetings to ensure harmonisation of all the 
classifications applied. 
The SPC discussed a working document outlining its internal procedures for updating , 
interpreting and harmonising the central classifications (NACE Rev. 1 and the CPA) which 
would be adopted before the end of 1994. 
A comprehensive document was prepared by the SPC, including an introduction and 
explanatory notes to NACE Rev. 1, the classification itself and a conversion key to the 
former version NACE 70. A final draft of the document was discussed at the December 
1993 meeting of the SPC. 
The SPC discussed a corresponding document for the CPA. 
* O.I No. I.X.I, 03.04.1993 p. I 
30 
2. SPC in connection with the PRODCOM Regulation 
On the basis of Article 9 of the Council Regulation (EEC) No. 3924/91 of 19 December 1991 
on the establishment of a Community survey of industrial production, the SPC had met four 
times since 1991 to deal with the following main topics : 
Meeting on 1 - 5 June 1992 
1. Adoption of the minutes of the PRODCOM Working Party meeting 
of October 1991. 
2. Introduction to juridical aspects of the PRODCOM Committee. 
3. Introduction to the 92.2 PRODCOM list and to the draft for 1993. 
4. Methodology 
5. Working program 
6. Data Transmission Methodology 
7. Agenda for the November meeting 
8. Miscellaneous 
Meeting on 16 - 19 November 1992 
1. Adoption of the agenda. 
2. Adoption of the minutes of the PRODCOM meeting of 1 - 5 June 
1992. 
3. Results of the postal vote on Article 2 paragraphs 4 A and 4B. 
4. Presentation of the final version of the PRODCOM list 1993. 
5. Publication of the PRODCOM list. 
6. Implementation of PRODCOM in the Member States. 
7. Countries demands on basis of the 1% threshold. 
8. Confidentiality. 
9. Sub-contracting. 
10. PRODCOM and automatization. 
11. Working plan for 1993. 
12. Miscellaneous. 
Meeting on 28 - 29 June 1993 
1. Adoption of the agenda. 
2. Adoption of the minutes of the PRODCOM meeting of 16 - 19 
November 1992. 
3. First quarterly survey : oral presentation of the current situation in the 
Member States. 
4. Confidentiality. 
5. PRODCOM database and data transmission. 
6. Statistics on biotechnology. 
7. PRODCOM and the Multi-Fibre-Arrangement (MFA). 
8. PRODCOM list 94.0. 
9. Units of volume 
10. Subcontracting 
11. Miscellaneous 
Meeting on 15 - 16 November 1993 
1. Adoption of the agenda. 
2. Adoption of the minutes of the meeting of 28 - 29 June 1993 
3. Confidentiality. 
4. Publication PRODCOM list 1994.0. 
5. Biotechnology 
6. Dairy products. 
7. Methodological notes. 
8. State of affairs in Member States. 
9. PRODCOM and MFA. 
10. Data base and data transmission. 
11. PRODCOM and CN. 
12. Any other business 
Because of the rather technical nature of the items discussed, this report has been confined to 
covering only very general aspects of the meetings. 
Since its first meeting, in accordance with the PRODCOM legal act in 1992, the SPC dealt with 
the following main subjects: 
- In line with Article 3 (2) and (3) of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 3924/91, the SPC 
discussed the application of â 90% threshold for national production per NACE Rev. 1 class. 
The SPC approved the request of some Member States for an exemption from data 
collection for certain NACE classes in accordance with Article 3 (4) of the Council 
Regulation. 
In line with Article 4 of the Council Regulation, the SPC decided to compile quarterly 
statistics for certain NACE classes. 
Another main aspect of the SPC's work was the updating and correcting of the PRODCOM 
list. In November 1992 the PRODCOM 1993 list was published, which incorporated the 
amendments of the SPC to the PRODCOM 1992.2 list. 
In addition, the SPC dealt with questions related to confidentiality, informatics and 
methodological issues. 
The SPC took account of the progress reports of the Member States with respect to the 
implementation of PRODCOM, which were delivered on a regular basis. 
ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(94) 168 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 17 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-94-182-EN-C 
ISBN 92-77-68067-9 
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 
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