A4-0047/98

Proposal for a Council Regulation concerning Short-Term Statistics (COM(97)0313 - C4-0417/97 - 97/0171(CNS))

The proposal was approved with the following amendments:

(Amendment 1)

Article 1(1)

>Original text>

1. The objective of the Regulation is to establish a common framework for the production of short-term Community Statistics on the business cycle.

>Text following EP vote>

1.

The objective of the Regulation is to establish a common framework for the production of short-term Community Statistics on the business cycle which are comparable between Member States and enable information to be provided at regional level.

(Amendment 2)

Article 4(4a) (new)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

4a. The Commission shall ensure the comparability and harmonisation of data between Member States and shall ensure that data are produced, as far as possible, at both regional and national level.

(Amendment 3)

Article 4(4b) (new)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

4b. Where data is produced as an aggregate for Monetary Union Member States (MUMS), this will be defined to show the number of countries participating in monetary union.

(Amendment 4)

Article 9(2)

>Original text>

2. The accuracy of the variables has to be measured by each Member State according to a common methodology. This methodology will be established by the Commission after consultation of the Committee referred to in Article 17 and will be laid down in the methodology manual referred to in Article 11.

>Text following EP vote>

2.

The accuracy of the variables has to be measured by each Member State according to a common methodology. This methodology will be established by the Commission after consultation of the Committee referred to in Article 17 and will be laid down in the methodology manual referred to in Article 11. The Commission shall ensure, as far as possible, that the methodology used by each Member State will lead to harmonised and comparable data between different Member States.

(Amendment 5)

Article 11, 2nd paragraph

>Original text>

This manual will be revised at regular intervals.

>Text following EP vote>

This manual will be revised

at least annually by the Commission in cooperation with the Committee referred to in Article 17.

(Amendment 6)

Article 15(2)

>Original text>

2. These pilot studies will be carried out in order to assess the feasibility of obtaining more data, taking into account the benefits of the availability of the data in relation to the cost of collection and the burden on business.

>Text following EP vote>

2.

These pilot studies will be carried out in order to assess the feasibility of obtaining more data, taking into account the benefits of the availability of the data in relation to the cost of collection and the burden on business. This will include studying the requirements for production of data at a regional level, and assessing how much extra data will need to be collected for each variable so that the final results are statistically robust and non-disclosive at a regional level of disaggregation.The pilot studies will also be used to check the validity of data between Member States.

(Amendment 7)

Article 15(3)

>Original text>

3. The Commission will inform the Council of the results of the pilot studies and will if necessary submit to it proposals on new requirements for the modules.

>Text following EP vote>

3.

The Commission will inform the Council and the European Parliament of the results of the pilot studies and will if necessary submit to them proposals on new requirements for the modules.

(Amendment 8)

Annex D(a)(3)

>Original text>

3. The pilot studies will be carried out in order to assess the feasibility of collecting data, taking into account the benefits of the availability of the data in relation to the cost of collection and the burden on business.

>Text following EP vote>

3.

The pilot studies will be carried out in order to assess the feasibility of collecting data, taking into account the benefits of the availability of the data in relation to the cost of collection and the burden on business. This will include studying the requirements for production of data at a regional level, and assessing how much extra data will need to be collected for each variable so that the final results are statistically robust and non-disclosive at a regional level of disaggregation. The pilot studies will also be used to check the validity of data between Member States. The Commission will also determine a threshold for the number of data entries for each variable below which data will be disclosive. This threshold will be evaluated during and after the pilot studies.

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation concerning Short-Term Statistics (COM(97)0313 - C4-0417/97 - 97/0171(CNS))(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(97)0313 - 97/0171(CNS) ((OJ C 267 3.9.1997, p. 1.)),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Article 213 of the EC Treaty (C4-0417/97),

- 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 (A4-0047/98),

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.