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COM ( 83) 450 
 
 
 
Vol. 19 83/0173 
  
 
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concernant l'ouverture au public des archives historiques de la Communauté économique 
européenne et de la Communauté européenne de l'énergie atomique (JO L 43 du 15.2.1983, 
p. 1), tel que modifié par le règlement (CE, Euratom) n° 1700/2003 du 22 septembre 2003 
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In accordance with Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 354/83 of 1 February 1983 
concerning the opening to the public of the historical archives of the European Econom ic 
Communit y and the European Atom ic Energy Communit y (OJ L 43, 15.2.1983, p. 1), as 
amended by Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1700/2003 of 22 September 2003 (OJ L 243, 
27.9.2003, p. 1), t his file is open to the public. Where necessary, classified documents in this 
file have been declassified in conformity with Article 5 of the aforementioned regulation.  
In Übereinstimmung mit der Verordnung (EWG, Euratom) Nr. 354/83 des Rates vom  1. 
Februar 1983 über die Freigabe der historischen Archive der Europäischen 
Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft und der Europäischen Atomgem einschaft (ABI. L 43 vom  15.2.1983, 
S. 1), geändert durch die Verordnung (EG, Euratom) Nr. 1700/2003 vom 22. Septem ber 2003 
(ABI. L  243 vom 27.9.2003, S. 1), ist diese Datei der Öffentlichkeit zugänglich. Soweit 
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COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
COrn83> 450 final 
Brussels, 15 July 1983
Draft
COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC)
on the organization of a labour force sample survey in the
spring of 1984
(submitted to the Council by the Commission)
C0M(83) 450 final

ANNEX I
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
For the purposes of Community action programmes the series of labour force 
sample surveys is currently one of the rare statistical sources providing 
data on the structure and development of employment and unemployment com­
piled by uniform methods and based on common definitions. Its results, ,  v  · .
reflecting as they do the problems of employment and unemployment from 
different points of view, meet statistical documentation requirements for 
social, economic, regional, industrial and agricultural policies as well 
as for educational and environmental policy.
.  The programme of employment statistics, which was the subject of a communic­
ation from the Commission to the Council ^  and which the Council took note 
of on It July 1976 approving it in outline and confirming the importance of
its effective implementation, provided for these labour force sample surveys
2)to be conducted every two years. In accordance with Council Regulations ,  
the most recent surveys were carried out in 1973, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1981 and 
1983.
In a period of major structural changes in employment and continuing difficul 
on the labour market, a labour force survey every two years no longer meets 
the statistical requirements of Community policies, especially in the Social 
field. A labour force survey must therefore be organised in Spring 1984.
3. The harmonisation of national statistics is limited by national laws and 
practices. The Community labour force surveys have been able to provide a 
more viable basis for comparative analysis at Community, Member State and 
certain regional levels. Results from the Labour Force Sample Survey may als 
be used to establish consistent estimates from different sources
1) Doc. COM(75) 485 final
2) 1973: Ccuncil Regulation (EEC) 2723/72 of 19.12.1972
1975: Council Regulation (EEC) 2640/74 of 15.10.1974
1977: Ccuncil Regulation (EEC) 2877/76 of 23.11.1976
1979: Council Regulation (EEC) 327/79 of 19.2.1979
1981: Ccuncil Regulation (EEC) 195/81 of 20.1.1981
.1983: Council Regulation (EEC) 603/83 of 14.3.1983

-  2 -
4. The survey results allow analysis of:
a) the structure of the population with regard to activity such as persons in 
employment, persons with work experience, persons in initial or further 
training and persons having completed their working life.
b) the structure of employment according to its occupational and demographic 
characteristics.
c) the structure of unemployment according to its demographic characteristics, 
work experience and characteristics of job search.
Since the data are collected in respect of each member of the households 
included in the sample, the survey is also the only instrument available for 
analysing the socio-economic situation of households.
5. The content of the 1984 labour force survey remains unchanged with regard to 
1983. Provision has however been made for some simplification, the main one
«T S'being the deletion of questions concerning the situation one year before 
the survey.
6. For conducting this survey 
the Member States will receive a lump-sum contribution to the fixed cost and 
a flat-rate contribution for each household taking part in the survey on the 
basis of the total number of households laid down in Article 3 of the Council 
Regulation (650 000). The lump-sum contribution amounts to 100 000 ECU for all 
Member States except Luxembourg and to 75 000 ECU for Luxembourg the flat- 
rate contribution per household participating in the survey amounts to 3.10 ECU. 
This breakdown of the contribution is intended to better compensate the smaller 
countries for the relatively greater financial burden. On the basis of the 
above contributions, the maximum amount for Member States will be
2 990 000 ECU which is entered under Article 263 of the 1984 preliminary draft 
budget:

ANNEX II
Brussels,
Draft
COUNCIL REGULATION_(EEC)_
on the organization of a labour force sample survey 
in the spring of 1984
(submitted to the Council by the Commission)

Draft
COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC)
on the organization of a Labour force sample survey 
in the spring of 1984
(presented to the Council by the Commission)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and 
in particular Article 213 thereof.
Having regard to the draft Regulation submitted by the Commission,
Whereas, in order to carry out the tasks which are assigned to it by the
Treaty, in particular Articles 2, 92, 117, 118, 122 and 123 thereof, the Commission
must know the situation and developments in employment and unemployment;
Whereas the statistical information available in each of the Member States does 
not provide a suitable basis for comparison, particularly because of the differ­
ences between the laws, rules and administrative practices of the Member States 
on which these statistics are based;
Whereas the best method of ascertaining the level and the structure of employ­
ment and unemployment consists in carrying out harmonized and synchronized 
Community labour force sample surveys, as already carried out every year from 
1968 to 1971 and every two years from 1973 to 1983;
Whereas in a period of continuing and increasing difficulties in the labour 
market and of structural changes in employment, up-to-date information must be 
made available;
Whereas only the repetition in 1984 of the survey carried out in 1983 will 
enable this information to be obtained,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1
In the spring of 1984» the Commission shall undertake a labour force sample  
survey based on a sample of households in each of the Member States·
Article 2
The survey shall be carried out in each of the Member States in a sample  
of households residing in the territory of those States at the time of the  
survey· The information shall be collected for each member of the house­
holds included in the sample·
Article 3
The sample shall comprise between 60 000 and 100 000 households in the  
Federal Republic of Germany, France, Italy and the United Kingdom, between  
30 000 and 50 000 in Belgium, Greece, the Netherlands and Ireland, between  
30 000 and 40 000 in Denmark and about 10 000 in Luxembourg·
Article 4
The survey shall cover :
a) the individual characteristics (sex, age, nationality, marital status,  
relationship to head of household) of all members of the households  
questioned;
b) the occupational activity of these persons (status, economic activity,  
number of hours usually and actually worked, job characteristics such  
as full-time or part-time, permanent or temporary) at the time of the  
survey;
c) attempts find work, taking into account the type of employment sought,  
the circumstances, methods and length of time spent seeking work and  
the availability for work;
d) information on education or training;
e) work experience of persons of working age without work*

Article 5
The information shall he gathered, by the statistical services of the  
Member States on the basis of a list of questions drawn up by the Commission  
in cooperation with the competent services of the Member States·
The Commission shall determine, in collaboration with the statistical  
services of the Member States, the technical details of the survey including  
the starting and closing dates of the survey and the deadlines for trans­
mission of the results. The services shall ensure the representative nature of 
the sample according to the practice in the Member States and shall take the 
necessary steps to ensure that a proportion of at least 25 % of addresses  
contacted in the survey may form part of the sample for a subsequent survey.
Article 6
The statistical services of the Member States shall check the answers  
collected. They shall forward to the Commission the results of the survey  
for each person questioned in such a way that individual persons may not  
be identified.
Article 7
The individual items of information provided in the context of the survey  
may be used for statistical purposes only. They may not be used for fiscal  
or other purposes and may not be communicated to third parties.
The Member States shall endeavour to ensure that the information requested  
is furnished truthfully and in its entirety within the period specified.
The Member States and the Commission shall take appropriate measures against  
any infringement of the obligation under the first paragraph to preserve  
the confidentiality of the information gathered.

Article 8- 4 -
Member States shall receive a contribution towards the 
conduct of the survey. The amount of the contribution shall be
set off against the appropriations provided for this purpose in the budget  
of the European Communities.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable  
in all Member States.
Done atFor the Council  
The President

FINANCIAL REPORT
1 .Budget heading concerned: Article 263
2.Subject of the report: Labour force sample survey in Spring 1984
3.Legal basis: Council Regulation (EEC)
4. Purpose:  Conduct of a labour force sample survey in Member States in
Spring 1984 to determine the structure and level of employment and unemploy­
ment in Member States on a comparable and harmonized basis
Previous surveys
Year Regulation (EEC) Flat-rate contribu- Number of house-
tion per household holds surveyed
1975 2640/74 of15.,10..1974 2..50 ECU 506 925
1977 2877/76 of23..11,.1976 3.,00 ECU 512 295
1979 327/79of19..02..1979 3..33 ECU 502 901
1981 195/81of20..01..1981 2,.61 ECU(1) 577 840(2)
1983 603/83of14..03..1983 3..84 ECU(3) 591 500(4)
5. Financial implications
5.0 Expenditure :  Total Community contribution to be charged
against the EC budget 2 990 000 ECU
5.1 The Community contribution covers only part of the entire cost  
of the surveys carried out by the national statistical offices
5.2 Method of calculation:  It is proposed that each Member State receives a  
lump-sum contribution to the fixed cost and a flat-rate contribution for  
each household taking part in the survey on the basis of the total number  
of households laid down in Article 3 of the Council Regulation (650 000  
households). The lump-sum contribution amounts to 100 000 ECU for all  
Member States except Luxembourg and to 75 000 ECU for Luxembourg; the  
contribution per household participating in the survey amounts to 3.10 ECU.  
This breakdown of the contribution is intended to better compensate the  
smaller countries for their relatively greater financial burden.
6. Financing:  2 990 000 ECU are entered under Article 263 of the 1984  
preliminary draft budget
7. Control arrangements:  Control of compliance with financial Regulation,  
control at technical level of results
(1) Basic inquiry only. No complementary questionnaire was added to the basic  
inquiry.
(2) Including Greece for the first time; Luxembourg did not take part in the  
survey.
(3) The increase was due in part to additional efforts on the part of Member  
States to improve the quality and speed of the survey.
(4) Estimate