[pic] | COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES |

Brussels, 23.2.2007

COM(2007) 69 final

2007/0032 (COD)

Proposal for a

REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

on population and housing censuses

(presented by the Commission)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL

110 | Grounds for and objectives of the proposal International, European and national institutions need to be in possession of sufficiently reliable information on the population and on housing in the European Union. In almost every policy area in which the EU is active, be it economic, social or environmental, high quality population data are required to help formulate operational objectives and to evaluate progress. Census data make valid comparisons between EU Member States possible. The data might be used directly (e.g. How many persons are affected by a certain problem/measure?) or as a 'per head' denominator to achieve comparability. Moreover, census data that are comparable at the European level are the backbone of annual population estimates, sample surveys, and regional analysis. Finally, this proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council sets the basis for the collection of data on housing that are comparable at the European level. 1) The data to be provided every decade on the basis of this proposal are meant to cover an appropriate range of variables. The major objective is to give a sufficiently detailed picture of the structure and characteristics of the population that would allow the in-depth analysis needed for planning, administration and monitoring in many policy areas. Many such policies have a European component, and the institutions of the European Union as well as Member States demand reliable comparisons in the European context. 2) The data provided according to this proposal help to maintain a high quality of annual population estimates. Annual population estimates are usually based either on registers or other demographic counts that are updated on the basis of administrative acts. It is widely acknowledged that these need periodic, census-based verification/ adjustment for statistical and technical errors. The interval between two rounds of census-based verification/adjustment of annual population estimates should not exceed about ten years. The data collection process according to this proposal shall have a positive effect on the annual estimation of the population. The quality requirements for population data are very high, as the following examples demonstrate: - The democratic process within the European Union calls for annual population estimates of the highest possible quality. Article 11 (5) of the Rules of Procedure of the Council of the European Union defines the process for qualified majority voting within the Council. One criterion is that a qualified majority shall represent Member States comprising at least 62 % of the population of the Union. - The European Union supports the development of its less prosperous regions. The "Convergence" objective of the Structural Funds is the main priority of the EU's cohesion policy. The areas lagging behind in their development are identified as those whose Gross Domestic Product per head is less than 75 % of the Community (EU-25) average. To establish which regions are eligible, high quality regional level population data are needed. The quality of regional population estimates depends on a sufficiently detailed regional breakdown of the source on which these estimates are based. The current legislative framework laying down the general provisions for the Structural Funds is the Council Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006 of 11 July 2006. - Population data might indirectly affect the National Accounts. 3) The European Union has competency in the area of regional cohesion which is regularly one of the largest budgetary items. The data collection according to this regulation provides, on a regional level, the spectrum of population data needed to evaluate the progress of regional cohesion. 4) Many important sample surveys which are harmonized within the EU require statistical data on the structure of the population at a regional level to draw their samples and to extrapolate results (e.g. the Labour Force Surveys). The statistical frame has to be harmonized at the European level to ensure the comparability of the survey results. The data collection according to this proposal provides this statistical framework. 5) The proposal sets the basis for the collection of high quality and comparable data on housing. The housing situation of the population has substantial implications. - Access to decent housing is a major concern of social policy. At the 2001 Laeken European Council, Member State Governments stressed the need to develop common indicators on social inclusion, explicitly referring to housing, as well as the need to reinforce the statistical machinery in that sense. However, there is still a lack of indicators on housing at a European as well as national level. The ministers responsible for housing from the Member States have repeatedly confirmed the need for comparable data on housing. - Buildings that house private households are important consumers of energy, water, and other supplies and services that have an environmental component. - Housing has important economic significance (offer and demand for housing, finance, construction, refurbishment). |

120 | General context A failure to meet the objectives of this legislative proposal will entail serious negative consequences for many parts of the European Statistical System, as well as for the fulfilment of legal obligations (e.g. Majority voting, Structural funds) and the quality of analysis and policy evaluation based on the respective statistics. The last Population and Housing Census in the European Union was conducted for the reporting year 2001. It was not based on any European legislation, but instead on a "Gentlemen's agreement". It has clearly been shown that a Gentlemen's agreement does not sufficiently guarantee the quality needed for the purposes the data are supposed to serve in the future. - The wide variation in reference dates seriously reduced comparability: The reference dates spread over a period of 39 months, stretching from March 1999 (France) to May 2002 (Poland); the data for Malta even refer to November 1995. - Punctuality was not ensured: Although the Gentlemen's agreement proposed that all data should be transmitted to Eurostat by 30 June 2003, the last data were received in mid 2005, leading to a publication in September 2005, i.e. 44 months after the end of the reference year. - The data initially provided were often incomplete, not fully validated or inconsistent. Numerous requests to recheck the data greatly delayed the production process. Given the important uses that are to be made of the census data, higher metadata and quality assurance standards are required. |

139 | Existing provisions in the area of the proposal There are no existing provisions in the area of the proposal. |

140 | Consistency with other policies and objectives of the Union European law requires Eurostat to provide population data of the highest possible quality (e.g. Majority voting, Structural funds; see above point 2) of "Grounds for and objectives for the proposal"). Moreover, many policy areas in which the EU is active require population and/or housing data to help formulate operational objectives and evaluate progress. The data have to be fully comparable at the European level, and are often requested at a level of regional detail, variable breakdown and in a quality that can only be guaranteed by European legislation on Population and Housing Censuses. |

CONSULTATION OF INTERESTED PARTIES AND IMPACT ASSESSMENT |

Consultation of interested parties |

211 | Consultation methods, main sectors targeted and general profile of respondents A draft Regulation on Population and Housing Censuses in the European Union has been presented to the "Directors of Social Statistics" (from the national institutions that are responsible for Census activities) on 28 September 2005, as well as to the Statistical Programme Committee on 30 November 2005. There has been an intensive consultation within the UN ECE and the EU concerning the topics to be covered by a population and housing census in this region. This consultation involved numerous experts from European countries. Moreover, Eurostat has conducted a feasibility study about the topics to be covered and their level of regional detail. The study involved an enquiry at the National Statistical Institutes. |

212 | Summary of responses and how they have been taken into account The Statistical Programme Committee expressed broad support for the legislative project and its approach. On the request of some EU Member States a comprehensive list of the topics to be covered has been added as an annex to the regulation. |

Collection and use of expertise |

221 | Scientific/expertise domains concerned Census methodology and technology; topics and characteristics of censuses. |

222 | Methodology used Within the European Statistical System, it is good practice to take maximum account of the Conference of European Statisticians Recommendations for the Censuses of Population and Housing (CES Recommendations), which reflect the main national and international, as well as Community requirements for population and housing data. The CES Recommendations lay out the methodology and technology of census taking as well as the topics to be reported on. According to this proposal, the list of topics for censuses in the European Union is consistent with the one of the CES Recommendations. These have been identified as essential following years of in-depth work and user consultations. The Member States recognized the data according to the CES Recommendations to be relevant for their national purposes. The proposal refers explicitly to the CES Recommendations to make certain that decisions will be based on appropriate consultation and review. The CES Recommendations are prepared by a great number of experts from the bodies responsible for Census taking and analysis. The CES Recommendations result from detailed discussion and exchanges of views via conferences, meetings, working groups, task forces and written consultation. |

223 | Main organisations/experts consulted Statistics Division of the United Nations (UN SD), United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN ECE), National Statistical Offices. |

2249 | Summary of advice received and used The absence of high quality census data on the EU population might create potentially serious risks with irreversible consequences for policy formulation and evaluation, administration and financial management. |

225 | The advice of the consultation is reflected in the CES Recommendations themselves, as well as in the results of the feasibility study within the Member States. |

226 | Means used to make the expert advice publicly available The current version of the CES Recommendations can be found under http://www.unece.org/stats/documents/ece/ces/ge.41/2006/zip.1.e.pdf |

230 | Analysis of consequences The following options were considered: A) No harmonization of Population and Housing Censuses in the EU: In the medium term, this would mean that comprehensive and comparable population and housing data were not available in the EU. This would have serious negative consequences legally (e.g. Majority voting, Structural funds) as well as politically (e.g. policy formulation and evaluation). B) A "Gentlemen's Agreement" on a Population and Housing Censuses in the EU: This would result in low quality population and housing data in the EU. Comparability could not be guaranteed. This, too, would have major negative consequences legally and politically. C) A directive on population and housing censuses in the EU. There is a significant risk of deviations and biases when technical requirements are translated into national law, potentially leading to a substantial loss in comparability and hence major negative consequences legally and politically. D) European legislation on Population and Housing Censuses in the EU (Regulation of the European Parliament and the Council + implementing Commission Regulation). The legislation shall be output oriented, not input oriented. It shall clarify responsibilities and roles, as well as common requirements concerning the quality and transparency of results and methods. This would guarantee the disponibility of comparable, high quality population data in the EU. Legal and political obligations could be met. E) European legislation on Population and Housing Censuses in the EU (Regulation of the European Parliament and the Council + implementing Commission Regulation). The legislation shall be input oriented. It shall specify in detail what data sources the Member States have to use (questionnaires, registers, etc), and how the required data have to be derived from these sources. The burden linked to this approach is potentially huge. Member States have to adapt all registers used in the census, particularly all person and housing registers. Many resident persons might have to fill in questionnaires which might involve extensive fieldwork by census offices and interviewers. The financial implications of an EU intervention would be significant in the context of national budgets. The preferred option is option D. It can guarantee census results that are reliable, transparent and sufficiently comparable. The legislation shall be output oriented, not input oriented, leaving Member States the choice on what data sources to use and how to derive the results. Even though Member States are free to choose the way they think is best to conduct censuses in their country, the quality, particularly comparability, would be sufficiently guaranteed because the legislation would oblige Member States to respect key standards and specific quality requirements. The methodology and technology used will have to be clearly described in order to render transparent the processes and results of the censuses held in the Member States. Option D minimises the additional burden resulting from the intervention at the EU level. The burden is limited to what is necessary to report on the agreed topics and meet the common quality requirements, as well as a certain burden on the statistical institutes (writing quality reports and providing metadata and other explanatory documents). |

LEGAL ELEMENTS OF THE PROPOSAL |

305 | Summary of the proposed action The proposal clarifies the responsibilities and roles in the decennial provision of comprehensive data on the population and on housing, as well as common requirements concerning quality and transparency of results and methods. It leaves Member States free to produce the necessary data in the way they think is the best in their respective countries. This includes the choice of the source from which Member States wish to derive the data. At the same time, the proposal guarantees the quality of the data, notably comparability at the European level. In essence, the approach is not input oriented, but output oriented. |

310 | Legal basis Article 285 of the Treaty establishing the European Community provides the legal basis for Community statistics. The Council, acting in accordance with the codecision procedure, shall adopt measures for the production of statistics where necessary for the performance of the activities of the Community. This Article sets out requirements relating to the production of Community statistics and requires conformity to standards of impartiality, reliability, objectivity, scientific independence, cost-effectiveness, and statistical confidentiality. |

320 | Subsidiarity principle The subsidiarity principle applies insofar as the proposal does not fall under the exclusive competence of the Community. |

The objectives of the proposal cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States for the following reasons: |

331 | A central quality concern of any statistical data is comparability. Given that population and housing data are used to help to fulfil European legislation, to evaluate European policies and/or to compare the results of national policies on a European level, it is clearly essential that the underlying data are comparable at a European level. The Member States can not achieve this to the necessary extent without a clear European framework, i.e. European legislation fixing common statistical features and quality requirements. Moreover, the transparency of the census methodology and technology used in the different countries is a condition to achieve comparability. Transparency in turn requires European legislation and structured collaboration, based on this legislation, between the responsible statistical bodies on the national and the European level. Past experience clearly shows that an informal understanding without an agreed, clear and supervised framework does not result in statistical output of the quality needed in the future. |

332 | Community action will better achieve the objectives of the proposal for the following reasons: |

The proposed EU legislation is needed to guarantee quality, notably comparability. The regulation identifies common requirements to ensure this as well as transparency about the methodology and technology used in the Member States: - The Member States are obliged to ensure the quality of the data and metadata transmitted, and that the chosen data sources and methodology meet, to the highest possible extent, the essential features of population and housing censuses, in particular individual enumeration, simultaneity, universality within a defined territory, availability of small-area data and defined periodicity. - The Member States have to report on the data sources used to fulfil the obligations, to explain why these sources were selected and how the choice of data source might impact on the results they present. They shall report on the extent to which the chosen data sources and methodology meet the essential features of population and housing censuses. - For all countries, the core topics to be covered will be identical. - For all countries, the date to which their data refer must fall in the same calendar year. - The data shall be transmitted within 24 months after the end of the reference year, in the technical format requested by the Commission (Eurostat). - The population shall cover all persons who have their usual residence in the country. The regulation defines this concept. - The regulation defines the concepts of "national" and "regional". - The regulation limits itself to fixing common requirements and leaves it to the Member States to meet these requirements in the way they think is best in their country. |

BUDGETARY IMPLICATION |

409 | The proposal has no implication for the Community budget. |

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION |

510 | Simplification |

511 | The proposal provides for simplification of administrative procedures for public authorities (EU or national). |

513 | The common requirements set out in the draft regulation have been recognized to represent feasible solutions and to provide clear orientation to the national bodies conducting the census. The absence of any ex-post harmonization of the statistical output concerning definitions and concepts simplifies the administrative procedures within the Statistical Offices. |

European Economic Area The proposed act concerns an EEA matter and should therefore extend to the European Economic Area. |

ROAD MAP |

511 | It is difficult to propose a detailed road map for the adoption of the regulation and its implementing measures today, as future activities depend on the outcome of the ongoing negotiations within the European Commission, in the Council and in the European Parliament and on how fast the regulation is formally adopted. However, a tentative schedule could be as follows (this could be modified depending on the date of entry into force of the regulation): Second half of 2006 The draft regulation has been subject to an Inter-Service Consultation within the European Commission. Translation of official legislative proposal of the European Commission into all official languages of the EU. First half of 2007 Presentation of a draft proposal to the College for formal adoption. Presentation of official legislative proposal of the European Commission to the Council of the EU for a first reading. Second half of 2006 / all of 2007 Task force meetings on the technical issues related to the regulation. Specifications adding to the UN ECE/Eurostat Recommendations for Censuses. Preparation of an implementing Commission Regulation. |

- 2007/0032 (COD)

Proposal for a

REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

on population and housing censuses (Text with EEA relevance)

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 285 (1) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission[1],

After consulting the Statistical Programme Committee (SPC) established by Council Decision 89/382/EEC, Euratom[2],

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty[3],

Whereas:

1. The Commission needs to be in possession of sufficiently reliable, detailed and comparable data on the population and on households, in order to fulfil the tasks assigned to it, notably by Articles 2 and 3 of the Treaty. Sufficient comparability must be ensured at Community level as regards methodology, definitions and the programme of the statistical data and metadata;

2. Periodic statistical data on the population and on the main family, social, economic and housing characteristics of individuals are necessary for the study and definition of regional and social policies affecting particular sectors of the community;

3. In order for the most judicious use possible to be made of the data in drawing comparisons between Member States, such data should refer to a given year to be defined;

4. In accordance with Council Regulation (EC) No 322/97 of 17 February 1997 on Community Statistics[4] which constitutes the reference framework for the provisions of this regulation, it is necessary that the collection of statistics conforms to standards of impartiality, reliability, objectivity, scientific independence, cost-effectiveness, and statistical confidentiality;

5. In the production and dissemination of Community statistics under this regulation, the national and Community statistical authorities should take account of the principles set out in the European Statistics Code of Practice adopted by the Statistical Programme Committee on 24 February 2005 and attached to the Recommendation of the Commission on the independence, integrity and accountability of the national and Community statistical authorities[5];

6. Since the objectives of the action to be taken, namely the collection and compilation of comparable and comprehensive community statistics on population and housing, cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States, due the absence of common statistical features and quality requirements as well as a lack of methodological transparency, and can therefore, by reason of a common statistical framework, be better achieved at Community level, the Community may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty. In accordance with the principle of proportionality, as set out in that Article, this regulation on Population and Housing Censuses does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve those objectives;

7. The measures necessary for the implementation of this regulation should be adopted in accordance with Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission[6];

8. In particular, power should be conferred on the Commission to establish the conditions for the adaptation of definitions, the establishment of the further reference years and the adoption of the programme of the statistical data and metadata. Since those measures are of general scope and are designed to amend non-essential elements of this regulation they should be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny provided for in Article 5a of Decision 1999/468/EC.

HAVE ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Subject matter

This regulation establishes common rules for the decennial provision of comprehensive data on the population and on housing.

Article 2

Definitions

1. For the purpose of this regulation, the following definitions shall apply:

(a) “population” means the national and regional population at its usual residence at the reference date referred to in Article 5 (2);

(b) “housing” means housing units and buildings as well as the relationship between the population and living quarters at the national and regional levels at the reference date. “Buildings” means those buildings that actually or potentially contain housing units;

(c) “usual residence” means the place at which a person normally spends the daily period of rest, regardless of temporary absences for purposes of recreation, holiday, visits to friends and relatives, business, medical treatment or religious pilgrimage; or, if not available, the place of legal or registered residence;

(d) the “reference date” is the date to which the data of the respective Member State refer, in compliance with Article 5 (2) of this regulation;

(e) “national” means on the territory of the Member States;

(f) “regional” means at NUTS level 1, NUTS level 2 and NUTS level 3, as defined in the classification of territorial units for statistics (NUTS), established by Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council[7] in its version valid at the reference date, as well as the level 2 of Local Administrative Units (LAU level 2);

(g) “essential features of population and housing censuses” means individual enumeration, simultaneity, universality within a defined territory, availability of small-area data and defined periodicity;

(h) “anonymised microdata” means individual statistical records which have been modified in order to minimise, in accordance with current best practice, the risk of identification of the statistical units to which they relate.

2. Where necessary, the Commission may adapt the definitions referred to in paragraph 1, in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 7 (3).

Article 3

Submission of data

Member States shall submit to the Commission (Eurostat) data on the population and on housing covering determined demographic, social, economic and housing characteristics of individuals, families, households, housing units and buildings at the national and regional levels as set out in the Annex.

Article 4

Data sources and quality

1. Member States can base the statistics on different data sources, in particular on:

(a) conventional census;

(b) register-based census;

(c) combination of conventional census and sample survey;

(d) combination of register-based census and sample survey;

(e) combination of register-based census and conventional census;

(f) appropriate survey with rotating samples (rolling census).

2. Member States shall ensure that the data sources and the methodology used to comply with the requirements of this regulation meet the essential features of population and housing censuses as defined in Article 2 (1) to the highest possible extent.

3. Member States shall take all measures necessary to ensure the quality of the data and metadata transmitted. The Commission (Eurostat), in cooperation with the competent authorities of the Member States and international organizations, shall provide methodological recommendations and requirements designed to ensure the quality of the data and metadata produced, in particular the Conference of European Statisticians Recommendations for the Censuses of Population and Housing.

4. Member States shall report to the Commission (Eurostat) on the data sources used, the reasons for the selection of these sources and the effects of the selected data sources on the quality of the statistics (quality report). In this context, Member States shall report on the extent to which the chosen data sources and methodology meet the essential features of population and housing censuses as defined in Article 2 (1).

5. Member States shall inform the Commission (Eurostat) without delay of revisions and corrections to the statistics supplied under this regulation, and of any changes in the methods and data sources used.

6. The Commission shall define the contents of the quality report as well as quality criteria for the production and dissemination of the data in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 7 (3).

Article 5

Transmission of data

1. Member States shall provide the Commission (Eurostat) with validated data and metadata as specified in this regulation, principally at the beginning of every decade.

2. Each Member State shall determine a date to which its data refer (reference date). This reference date has to fall in a year specified on the basis of this regulation (reference year). The first reference year shall be the year 2011. The Commission shall establish subsequent reference years in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 7 (3).

3. The data shall be supplied within 24 months after the end of the reference year.

4. The Commission shall adopt a programme of the statistical data and metadata to be transmitted to fulfil the requirements of the data collection, in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 7 (3). The topics to be covered under this regulation for a specific geographical level cannot exceed those listed in the Annex for that geographical level.

5. The programme of the statistical data may comprise, in addition to aggregated data (in the form of a table programme), a sample of anonymised micro data.

6. Member States shall transmit to the Commission (Eurostat) the validated data and metadata in electronic form. The Commission shall adopt the appropriate technical format to be used for the transmission of the required data, in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 7 (2).

7. In cases of revisions or corrections according to Article 4 (5) of this regulation, the Member States shall transmit the modified data without delay to the Commission (Eurostat).

Article 6

Implementing measures

1. The following measures necessary for the implementation of this regulation shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 7 (2):

(a) the adoption of the appropriate technical format as provided for in Article 5 (6).

2. The following measures necessary for the implementation of this regulation shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 7 (3):

(a) the adaptation of the definitions as provided for in Article 2 (2);

(b) the definition of the content of the quality report as provided for in Article 4 (6);

(c) the definition of the quality criteria as provided for in Article 4 (6);

(d) the reference years, as provided for in Article 5 (2);

(e) the adoption of the programme of the statistical data and metadata, as provided for in Article 5 (4).

3. Consideration is to be given to the principle that the benefits of updating must outweigh its costs, and to the principle that additional costs and burden remain within a reasonable limit.

Article 7

Committee

1. The Commission shall be assisted by the Statistical Programme Committee, established by Decision 89/382/EEC, Euratom.

2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 5 and 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the provisions of Article 8 thereof. The period laid down in Article 5 (6) of Decision 1999/468/EC shall be set at three months.

3. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Article 5a (1) to (4) and Article 7 of Council Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the provisions of Article 8 thereof.

4. The Committee shall adopt its rules of procedure.

Article 8

Entry into force

This regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union .

This regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels,

For the European Parliament For the Council

The President The President

ANNEX

Topics to be covered in the Population and Housing Census

1 Population topics

1.1 Obligatory topics for the geographical levels: NUTS 3, LAU 2

1.1.1 Not derived topics

- Place of usual residence

- Sex

- Age

- Legal marital status

- Country/place of birth

- Country of citizenship

- Previous place of usual residence and date of arrival in the current place or Place of usual residence one year prior to the census

- Relationships between household members

1.1.2 Derived Topics

- Total population

- Locality

- Household status

- Family status

- Type of family nucleus

- Size of family nucleus

- Type of private household

- Size of private household

1.2 Obligatory topics for the geographical levels: National level, NUTS 1, NUTS 2

1.2.1 Not derived topics

- Place of usual residence

- Location of place of work

- Sex

- Age

- Legal marital status

- Current activity status

- Occupation

- Industry (branch of economic activity)

- Status in employment

- Educational attainment

- Country/place of birth

- Country of citizenship

- Ever resided abroad and year of arrival in the country

- Previous place of usual residence and date of arrival in the current place or Place of usual residence one year prior to the census

- Relationships between household members

- Tenure status of households

1.2.2 Derived Topics

- Total population

- Locality

- Household status

- Family status

- Type of family nucleus

- Size of family nucleus

- Type of private household

- Size of private household

1.3 Recommended topics for the geographical levels:

National level, NUTS 1, NUTS 2, NUTS 3, LAU 2

1.3.1 The Member States are recommended to report on all topics that are obligatory for the regional level NUTS 2 also on all deeper regional levels, down to the deepest regional level available.

1.3.2 Not derived topics

- Location of school, college or university

- Mode of transport to work

- Mode of transport to school, college or university

- Distance travelled to work and time taken

- Distance travelled to school, college or university and time taken

- De facto marital status

- Total number of children born alive

- Date(s) of legal marriage(s) of ever married women: (i) first marriage and (ii) current marriage

- Date(s) of the beginning of the consensual union(s) of women having ever been in consensual union: (i) first consensual union and (ii) current consensual union

- Usual activity status

- Providers of unpaid services, volunteers

- Type of sector (institutional unit)

- Informal employment

- Type of place of work

- Time usually worked

- Time related underemployment

- Duration of unemployment

- Number of persons working in the local unit of the establishment

- Main source of livelihood

- Income

- Educational qualifications

- Field of study

- School attendance

- Literacy

- Computer literacy

- Country of previous usual residence abroad

- Total duration of residence in the country

- Place of usual residence five years prior to the census

- Reason for migration

- Country of birth of parents

- Citizenship acquisition

- Ethnicity

- Language

- Religion

- Disability status

- Single or shared occupancy

- Rent

- Durable consumer goods possessed by the household

- Number of cars available for the use of the household

- Availability of car parking

- Telephone and internet connection

- Own-account agricultural production (household level)

- Characteristics of all agricultural jobs during the last year (individual level)

1.3.3 Derived Topics

- Urban and rural areas

- Socio economic groups

- Persons with foreign/national background

- Population groups relevant to international migration

- Population with refugee background

- Internally Displaced Persons

- Same-sex partnerships

- Extended family status

- Type of reconstituted family

- Type of extended family

- Generational composition of private households

2 Housing variables

2.1 Obligatory topics for the geographical levels: NUTS 3, LAU 2

2.1.1 Not derived topics

- Type of living quarters

- Location of living quarters

- Occupancy status of conventional dwellings

- Number of occupants

- Useful floor space and/or Number of rooms of housing units

- Dwellings by type of building

- Dwellings by period of construction

2.1.2 Derived Topics

- Density standard

2.2 Obligatory topics for the geographical levels: National level, NUTS 1, NUTS 2

2.2.1 Not derived topics

- Housing arrangements

- Type of living quarters

- Location of living quarters

- Occupancy status of conventional dwellings

- Type of ownership

- Number of occupants

- Useful floor space and/or Number of rooms of housing units

- Water supply system

- Toilet facilities

- Bathing facilities

- Type of heating

- Dwellings by type of building

- Dwellings by period of construction

2.2.2 Derived Topics

- Density standard

2.3 Recommended topics for the geographical levels:

National level, NUTS 1, NUTS 2, NUTS 3, LAU 2

2.3.1 The Member States are recommended to report on all topics that are obligatory for the regional level NUTS 2 also on all deeper regional levels, down to the deepest regional level available.

2.3.2 Not derived topics

- Availability and characteristics of secondary, seasonal and vacant dwellings

- Occupancy by number of private households

- Type of rooms

- Hot water

- Sanitary water heating

- Type of sewage disposal system

- Kitchen

- Cooking facilities

- Energy sources used for heating

- Thermal insulation of dwelling

- Availability of electricity

- Production of electricity

- Piped gas

- Air-conditioning

- Ventilation

- Position of dwelling in the building

- Accessibility to dwelling

- Lift

- Dwellings by number of floors in the building

- Dwellings by materials of which specified parts of the building containing the dwelling are constructed

- Dwellings by state of repair of the buildings

- Separation of waste in the household

[1] OJ C , , p. .

[2] OJ L 181, 28.6.1989, p. 47.

[3] OJ C , , p. .

[4] OJ L 52, 22.2.1997 p. 1. Regulation amended by Regulation (EC) 1882/2003 of the European

Parliament and the Council (OJ L 284, 31.10.2003, p.1).

[5] COM (2005) 217 final.

[6] OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23. Decision as amended by Decision2006/512/EC

(OJ L 200, 22.7.2006, p. 11).

[7] OJ L 154, 21.6.2003, p. 1.