EUROPEISKA GEMENSKAPERNAS KOMMISSION 
Bryssel den 27 06.1995 
KOM(95) 287 sluilig 
95/0171(CNS) 
Utkast till 
RÅDETS FÖRORDNING (EG) 
om statistik över inkomsters struktur och fördelning 
(Föreslaget av Kommissionen\ 

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 
1. In order to carry out its tasks in the field of economic and social affairs, 
particularly with regard to employment and working conditions, the Commission 
needs to have at its disposal comparable data on the distribution and structure of 
earnings jn the European Union. This is why, pursuant to Council Regulations, 
four Community surveys directly relating to this matter were carried out between 
1966 and 1978 in the areas of industry, commerce, banking and insurance. The 
results of these surveys, which were published by Eurostat, were very much 
appreciated by the departments within the Commission, the national governments, 
the economic and social sectors and researchers, and served as a basis for labour-
market analyses. 
2. Despite the fact that various factors - the main one being the considerable burden 
on the national statistical offices - meant that these surveys were discontinued at 
Community level, some Member States nevertheless continued to carry out 
surveys of this kind. There is still a current need for such data. Various 
departments in the Commission have pointed out to Eurostat the need to have 
information available on the structure and distribution of earnings at European 
level. In response to the proposal made by Eurostat, all Member States gave their 
backing to a survey on the structure of earnings based on accounting data for 
1995. 
3. In line with the decisions taken at the Essen summit, the Member States of the 
European Union have taken measures to put in place various action programmes 
concerning in particular, labour-market flexibility, job-creation and fighting 
unemployment. In order to set out more clearly the context in which these policies 
are being implemented and to provide the means for a follow-up to the national 
employment programmes, the departments of the Commission will in the coming 
years need to have statistical information available on the various aspects of 
earnings. 
4. In keeping with the principle of subsidiarity, responsibility for the overall planning 
of a survey on the structure of earnings at EU level is shared between the 
Commission and the Member States. The aim is to achieve harmonization of 
concepts and classifications in the data collected, and to identify the information 
required by the principal users, i.e. Community institutions, national governments, 
regional and local authorities, international organizations, employers' associations, 
trade unions and research bodies. The actual collection of data and the methods 
used to do this are the responsibility of the Member States. 
5. It is not intended that all businesses be covered as part öf an exhaustive survey, 
but rather that a representative sample be taken. Accordingly, in countries, with 
sufficient sources of statistical data, especially data gathered by public authorities, 
it will acceptable for such data to be used (or possibly set out in a simplified form 
on questionnaires), provided that this approach is compatible with the definitions 
and methodology being used and meets all requirements concerning variables. 
6. The legal basis for the survey ensures that a common set of variables will be 
available which have been collected and processed using harmonized classification 
systems and methodology. Legislation in this field has proved necessary becauSe 
the proposed survey extends beyond the scope of existing national surveys. 
Legislation at EU level is thus necessary both for carrying out the survey and for 
the required adjustments to be made to national laws. 
7. The basic aim of statistics on the structure of earnings is to bring out the 
relationship, in statistical terms, between earnings and certain characteristics of 
wage-earners (sex, level of education, professional qualifications, age, type of 
employment contract, length of service, etc.) and of the business or kind-of-
activity unit employing them (economic activity, size, region, etc.). In addition, 
these statistics provide information on the distribution of individual earnings and 
on differences in earnings between the various categories of wage-earner; they also 
help to establish the extent to which differences in earnings levels between 
different economic activities and different countries are attributable to differences 
in the structure of the workforce. Finally, these statistics play a key role in 
Eurostat's system of statistics in that they provide a means of assessing the degree 
of comparability of harmonized earnings data and serve as a basis for the possible 
use of weightings in other surveys. 
8. The main aim of compiling statistics on the structure of earnings is to provide 
comparable good-quality information on all EU Member States. There is currently 
a lack of such data, even though they are indispensable for defining and assessing 
the effect of social policies and measures on the labour market at both national and 
EU level. For example, the lack of comparable data on the structure of earnings 
makes it difficult to assess employment policies aimed at various categories of 
employee in the EU, such as young people. 
9. The Commission has been behind a number of initiatives aimed at combatting 
discrimination as regards earnings, in particular the Directive on equal treatment 
between »men and women and the Commission Opinion on an equitable wage, 
which was presented in September 1993. In this Opinion, the Commission 
considered that appropriate measures had to be taken to improve the quality of 
information available at Community level with respect to the structure of earnings. 
As regards the matter of equal pay for men and women, it was important to carry 
out comparisons in terms of the individual characteristics of the individuals 
concerned (e.g. profession, similar areas of activity and lengths of service). 
10. Following the adoption by the Member States of a Community Charter of 
Fundamental Social Rights of Workers, the Commission presented a number of 
initiatives, some of which related to employment contracts and measures to 
combat distortion of competition. The reasons for these measures and the follow-
up work on the impact of this legislation make it necessary to have better 
monitoring of developments as regards earnings, particularly in relation to the 
nature of employment contracts and hours worked. 
11. The initial surveys which were carried out looked only at industry; subsequent 
surveys also covered wholesale and retail trade, banking and insurance. However, 
the increase in jobs in the services sector means that it too must be better covered 
by statistical surveys. The attention which the White Paper gives to the services 
and tourism sectors as sources of new jobs also serves to confirm this. This is why 
Eurostat proposed that the scope of the survey be extended to cover all economic 
activity. Such blanket coverage has, however, proved extremely difficult for some 
Member States. Therefore, the following sections of NACE Rev. 1, which are 
referred to in the draft Regulation, have been declared priority areas for those 
countries unable to carry out surveys covering the entire economy: C to E (all 
industries), F (construction), G (commerce), H (hotels and restaurants), I 
(transport and telecommunications), J (finance) and K (real estate, letting and 
leasing and business services). This choice of areas takes account of the 
Commission's current priorities as regards the compilation of statistics on the 
services sector. While covering the traditional aspects of earnings in the same way 
as in the past, the new survey which is proposed will also cover some aspects for 
the first time, such as type of employment contract, level of education, existence of 
collective agreements, etc. 
12. The "Earnings Statistics" working party has urged that a decision giving the go-
ahead for this statistical information to be gathered be taken as quickly as possible 
in order to allow the businesses and local units to be included in the sample to 
make the necessary arrangements enabling them to respond to the questionnaires 
from 1995 onwards. The Statistical Programme Committee, which met on 1 and 2 
December 1994 in Luxembourg, gave a favourable opinion on this draft 
Regulation. 
13. To this end, the Commission submits the attached draft Regulation for the 
approval of the Council. 
UTKAST TILL RÅDETS FÖRORDNING (EG) 
om statistik över inkomsters struktur och fördelning 
EUROPEISKA UNIONENS RÅD HAR ANTAGIT DENNA FÖRORDNING 
med beaktande av Fördraget om upprättandet av Europeiska gemenskapen, särskilt artikel 213 
i detta, 
med beaktande av kommissionens utkast till förordning, och 
med beaktande av följande: 
För att kommissionen skall kunna utföra sina uppgifter måste den ha information om 
inkomstsituationen och inkomsternas utveckling i Europeiska gemenskapens medlemsstater 
med avseen4e på å ena sidan hur inkomsterna varierar med arbetskraftens struktur och å andra 
sidan ^ur arbetskraften fördelas efter inkomstnivå. 
Europeiska gemenskapens utveckling och den inre marknadens funktion ökar behovet av 
jämförbara uppgifter om inkomsternas struktur, i synnerhet för att kunna analysera 
utvecklingen mot ekonomisk och social sammanhållning och genomföra tillförlitliga 
jämförelser mellan Europeiska gemenskapens olika medlemsstater och regioner. 
Den bästa metoden för att granska inkomstemas struktur och fördelning är att genomföra 
undersökningar på gemenskapsnivå av inkomstemas struktur med användning av 
harmoniserade metoder och definitioner, som det gjordes 1966, 1972, 1974 och 1978 enligt 
rådets förordningar (EEG) nr 188/64, 2395/71, 178/74 och 495/78'. 
Mot bakgrund av de förändringar som skett med avseende på arbetskraftens struktur och 
inkomstemas fördelning, i synnerhet vad gäller ekonomisk verksamhet, är resultaten av de 
tidigare undersökningarna inte längre aktuella och omfattar ej heller alla medlemsstater i 
Europeiska gemenskapen. 
De uppgifter som för närvarande finns i medlemsstaterna som helhet visar endast ett 
genomsnitt och ger därför förmodligen inte någon information om förhållandet mellan 
inkomster och lönearbetarens individuella egenskaper (särskilt ålder, kön, yrkestillhörighet, 
tjänstgöringstid) eller om inkomstemas spridning. 
Statistisk information inom detta område finns endast i vissa medlemsstater och följaktligen 
kan giltiga jämförelser inte göras, vilket medför att undersökningarna av inkomstemas struktur 
måste genomföras på grundval av gemensamma definitioner och harmoniserade metoder. 
I enlighet med subsidiaritetsprincipen är inrättandet av gemensamma statistiska standarder som 
möjliggör att harmoniserad information kan tas fram en åtgärd som effektivt endast kan 
genomföras på gemenskapsnivå, och denna åtgärd kommer att genomföras i varje medlemsstat 
på ansvar av de organ och institutioner som utsetts för att sammanställa officiell statistik. 
Förordning nr 188/64/EEG, EGT nr 214, 24.12.1964, s. 3634/64. 
Förordning (EEG) nr 2395/71, EGT nr L 249, 10.11.1971, s. 52. 
Förordning (EEG) nr 178/74, EGT nr L 21, 25.1.1974, s. 2. 
Förordning (EEG) nr 495/78, EGT nr L 68, 10.3.1978, s. 3. 
Genomförandet av en undersökning av inkomstemas struktur på gemenskapsnivå är en av de 
prioriterade åtgärderna enligt det statistiska programmet för perioden 1993-19972. 
Det kan godtas att de stater som har administrativa källor eller annat lämpligt statistiskt 
material får använda sig av dessa uppgifter eller kanske sammankoppla dem med ett förenklat 
frågeformulär, om denna metod är förenlig med godkända definitioner och metoder och 
omfattar alla de variabler som krävs. 
Den kommitté för ett statistiskt program som inrättats genom rådets beslut 89/382/EEG, 
Euratom3 har kommit fram till en slutsats som är förenlig med kommissionens förslag. 
HÄRIGENOM FÖRESKRIVS FÖLJANDE. 
2 Rådets beslut nr 93/464/EEG, EGT nr L 219, 28.8.1993, s. 1. 
3 EGT nr L 181,28.6.1989, s. 47. 
*s 
Artikel 1 
Allmänna bestämmelser 
Medlemsstaterna skall genomföra statistiska gemenskapsundersökningar över strukturen hos 
och fördelningen av inkomsterna för de anställda som är sysselsatta i sådan ekonomisk 
verksamhet som definieras i artikel 3. 
Artikel 2 
Referensperiod 
Undersökningen skall genomföras på grundval av statistiska uppgifter för budgetåret 1995 och 
en representativ månad i samma budgetår. 
Artikel 3 
Undersökningens omfattning 
Undersökningen skall omfatta alla verksamheter som omfattas av sektionerna C, D, E, F, G, 
H, I, J och K enligt den klassificering av näringsgrenar i Europeiska gemenskapen, nedan 
kallad "NACE Rev. 1", som inrättats genom rådets förordning (EEG) nr 3037/90 av den 9 
oktober 19904 och ändrats genom kommissionens förordning (EEG) nr 761/93 av den 24 mars 
19935. 
Artikel 4 
Undersökningsenheter 
Insamling av uppgifter och sammanställning av statistik över inkomsters struktur och 
fördelning skall baseras på ett stickprov som tas på vilken som helst av de statistiska enheter 
som definieras i rådets förordning (EEG) nr 696/936 och som ger information om ett stickprov 
av anställda i lokala enheter med minst 10 anställda, varvid enheterna klassificerats enligt 
storlek och huvudsaklig verksamhet. 
EGT nr L 293, 24.10.1990, s. 1. 
EGT nr L 83, 3.4.1993, s. 1. 
EGT nr L 76, 30.3.1993, s. 1. 
U 
Artikel 5 
De insamlade uppgifternas karaktär 
Uppgifter skall samlas in om följande: 
1. För den lokala enhet där de som omfattas av stickprovet är anställda: 
Den region där arbetsplatsen är belägen, arbetsplatsens storlek, typ av ekonomisk 
verksamhet enligt NACE Rev 1, arten av finansiell och ekonomisk kontroll enligt 
betydelsen i kommissionens direktiv 80/723/EEG samt arten av gällande kollektivt 
löneavtal. 
2. För varje anställd i stickprovet: 
a) Bruttoinkomster för en komplett löneperiod för referensmånaden, inklusive de olika 
extraersättningar som betalas regelbundet, ytterligare ersättningar för övertid, 
skiftarbete, nattarbete, helgarbete och provisioner. Likaså tas med ersättningar för 
perioder av frånvaro (ledighet eller sjukdom) som i sin helhet betalas av arbetsgivaren 
samt familjebidrag och andra förmåner som fastställts i kollektivavtal eller frivilligt 
inom den lokala enheten. Följande skall anges separat: 1) Totala inkomster avseende 
övertid; 2) Särskilda ersättningar för skiftarbete, nattarbete eller helgarbete. 
b) Årliga bruttoinkomster för det relevanta budgetåret, dvs. bruttoinkomster som de 
definieras i punkt 2 a för ett helt år, plus tillfälliga extraersättningar (som t.ex. 
semesterbonus, en extra månadslön och vinstdelning). Beloppet för de tillfälliga 
extraersättningarna skall anges separat. 
c) Antalet timmar för vilka ersättning utgår eller antalet timmar i en normal arbetsvecka 
eller arbetsmånad för vilken ersättning utgår, antalet betalda övertidstimmar under 
löneperioden och antalet semesterdagar, exklusive allmänna helgdagar per år. 
d) Kön, ålder och yrke enligt internationella standarden för klassificering av yrken, nedan 
kallad ISCO-88 (COM), utbildningsnivå, tjänstgöringstid i företaget, arbetsvillkor, dvs. 
heltid eller deltid och typ av anställningskontrakt. 
Artikel 6 
Insamling av uppgifter 
1. Undersökningen skall genomföras via medlemsstatemas behöriga statistikorgan, vilka 
skall utarbeta lämpliga metoder för insamling av uppgifterna. 
2. För vissa uppgifter som t.ex. utbildningsnivå och typ av anställningskontrakt får 
medlemsstaterna genomföra efterföljande undersökningar av en del av det stickprov 
som tagits för den huvudsakliga undersökningen. 
%7 
3. De personer som uppmanas ge information skall besvara frågorna sanningsenligt, 
fullständigt och inom de föreskrivna tidsfristerna. Medlemsstaterna skall vidta lämpliga 
åtgärder för att förhindra överträdelser av skyldigheten att ge de uppgifter som avses i 
artikel 5. 
4. Undersökningen behöver inte genomföras om medlemsstaterna har information från 
andra lämpliga källor som är åtminstone likvärdig vad gäller noggrannhet, kvalitet och 
den tid som undersökningen skall omfatta. 
5. På begäran skall medlemsstaterna till kommissionen (Eurostat) översända alla 
uppgifter, särskilt vad gäller metoder, som behövs för att den^a-föwfäning skall kunna 
tillämpas. ^*- ***" 
Artikel 7 
Representativitet 
Tillförlitlighet och jämförbarhet på en hög kvalitetsnivå skall uppnås genom att man använder 
stickprov av en omfattning som innebär att det relativa standardfelet för den rörliga 
genomsnittliga bruttotimlönen för en sektion eller undersektion, om en sådan finns, av NACE 
Rev 1 på NUTS-1-nivå inte överskrider 3 %. 
Artikel 8 
Bearbetning av resultaten 
Medlemsstatemas statistikorgan skall bearbeta svaren till frågeformulären (artikel 6.3) eller 
uppgifterna från andra källor (artikel 6.4) så att jämförbara resultat uppnås. 
Artikel 9 
Överföring av resultaten 
Resultaten skall meddelas senast 18 månader från utgången av referensperiodens kalenderår, 
inklusive de uppgifter som medlemsstaterna förklarat som sekretessbelagda enligt inhemsk 
lagstiftning eller praxis rörande sekretessbeläggning av statistiska uppgifter, i enlighet med 
bestämmelserna i rådets förordning (EEG, Euratom) nr 1588/90 av den 11 juni 19907 om 
överföring av uppgifter som är föremål för statistisk sekretess till Europeiska gemenskapemas 
statistikkontor. 
EGT nr L 151, 15.6.1990, s. 1. 
Artikel 10 
Kommitté 
Tillämpningsföreskrifterna för denna förordning, särskilt vad gäller 
e definitioner som skall användas, 
oggrannhet och kvalitetsregler, 
ivåema på den uppdelning som skall göras av variablerna, 
en form i vilken uppgifterna skall överföras, och 
en lista på tabeller som skall spridas, 
skall fastställas av kommissionen efter samråd med den kommitté för ett statistiskt program 
som inrättats genom rådets beslut 89/382/EEG, Euratom8 i enlighet med det förfarande som 
föreskrivs i artikel 11. 
Artikel 11 
Förfarande 
1. Kommissionens företrädare skall förelägga kommittén ett förslag till åtgärder. 
Kommittén skall yttra sig över förslaget inom den tid som ordföranden bestämmer med 
hänsyn till hur brådskande frågan är. Den skall fatta sitt beslut med den majoritet som 
enligt artikel 148.2 i fördraget skall tillämpas vid beslut som rådet skall fatta på förslag 
av kommissionen, varvid medlemsstaternas röster skall vägas enligt fördragets artikel 
148.2. Ordföranden får inte rösta. 
2. Kommissionen skall besluta med omedelbar verkan. Om beslutet inte är förenligt med 
kommitténs yttrande skall kommissionen emellertid genast underrätta rådet. I sådana 
fall får kommissionen uppskjuta verkställandet av de beslutade åtgärderna under en tid 
som inte överstiger en månad från dagen då rådet underrättats. 
Rådet får med kvalificerad majoritet fatta ett annat beslut inom den tid som anges i föregående 
stycke. 
Artikel 12 
Ikraftträdande 
Denna förordning träder i kraft den tjugonde dagen efter det att den har offentliggjorts i 
Europeiska gemenskapernas officiella tidning. 
Denna förordning är till alla delar bindande och direkt tillämplig i alla medlemsstater. 
8 EGT nr L 181,28.6.1989, s. 47. 
n 
BILAGA 
SÄRSKILDA BESTÄMMELSER 
I. Undantag från bestämmelserna om undersökningens omfattning 
1. För Tyskland: sektionerna H, I, avdelning 67 i J-sektionen och K. 
2. För Grekland: sektionerna F och K. 
3. För Irland: sektionerna I, J och K. 
II. Undantag från bestämmelserna om referensperiod 
1. För Frankrike: budgetåret 1994 och en representativ månad i samma budgetår. 
2. För Österrike: budgetåret 1996 och en representativ månad i samma budgetår. 
DI. Utförligare uppgifter 
Medlemsstaterna får föreskriva att det skall ges in utförligare uppgifter, t.ex. att 
undersökningen skall omfatta andra sektioner i NACE Rev. 1 eller att den skall omfatta 
enheter med mindre än 10 anställda. 
I AX> 
IMPACT ASSESSMENT FORM 
THE IMPACT OF THE PROPOSAL ON BUSINESS, WIT11 SPECIAL 
REFERENCE TO SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES 
TITLE OF PROPOSAL: DRAFT COUNCIL REGULATION ON STATISTICS ON THE 
STRUCTURE AND DISTRIBUTION OF EARNINGS 
THE PROPOSAL: 
Taking account of the principle of subsidiarity, why is Community 
legislation necessary in this area and what are its main aims? 
In order to carry out its tasks in the field of economic and social affairs, 
particularly with regard to employment and working conditions, the Commission 
needs to have at its disposal comparable information on the structure and 
distribution of earnings in the Member States of the EU. This need has become 
more pressing because of the new policies set out in the White Paper on Growth, 
Competitiveness and Employment. 
The main aim of this survey is to respond to the political needs which existing 
Community statistics are unable to meet. The Commission has identified a 
number of areas in which statistics on the structure of earnings are necessary: 
the functioning of labour markets in the Community; 
the problem of adjustment of workforces in sectors exposed to 
increased competition; 
the development of indicators enabling regional policies to be 
implemented; 
policy on equal pay for men and women, equitable wages and low 
wages; 
wage differentials by profession; 
wage negotiations. 
There is currently a lack of such data, even though they are indispensable for 
defining and assessing the effect of social policies and measures on the labour 
market at both national and Community level. 
The statistical information available in each of the Member States does not allow 
proper comparisons to be made, one particular reason for this being the 
differences in the nature of the surveys and the existing sources of data. In order 
to ensure that data are comparable, the surveys must be carried out and evaluated 
on the basis of standard definitions and a shared methodology, but without at the 
*H 
same time attempting to harmonize the Member States' existing arrangements for 
the collection of data. In ths^agygjway, existing administrative sources must be 
adapted to requirements and draH||^^ising a methodology set out beforehand. 
Legislation at Community level is tnë~only way of ensuring that the required 
variables will be taken into account and processed in accordance with a common 
set of definitions and methods aimed at guaranteeing the comparability of results. 
THE IMPACT ON BUSINESS: 
2 Who will be affected by the proposal? 
- which sectors of business 
The survey will cover businesses engaging in activities defined in sections C, D, 
E, F, G, H, I, J and K of the Classification of Economic Activities in the 
European Community (NACE Rev. 1). It is intended that some countries' surveys 
should also cover sections L, M, N and O of NACE Rev. 1. 
- which sizes of business (what is the concentration of small and medium-sized 
firms) 
The statistical unit to be used in the survey is individuals in local units with 10 or 
more people in paid employment. 
It is intended that results be obtained for various sizes of business. 
Units employing fewer than 10 persons are not covered by the Regulation, but 
some Member States plan to have their surveys include units with one or more 
employees. 
In the countries in which specific surveys are carried out, these will use a 
sampling method in order to lessen the burden on businesses and the national 
statistical offices. The sampling plans will be drawn up by the national statistical 
offices, which generally use different sampling ratios depending on the size of the 
statistical units to be used. A large proportion of the information requested on 
the questionnaires is available in businesses' administrative files, which means that 
the inconvenience will not be great. Likewise, the registers of businesses/local 
units also contain some of the information required. In Member States using 
other data sources, the burden on businesses will be considerably less because 
some variables will be derived from these sources. 
\ÅI 
- are there particular geographical areas of the Community where these 
businesses are found 
In certain areas of the EU, small and medium-sized enterprises predominate. In 
order to draw up more detailed tables on salary structure at regional level, some 
data are requested at NUTS 1 level. 
What will business have to do to comply with the proposal? 
The units which are to be included in the surveys will be called on to give 
accurate and complete information on the questionnaires which will have been 
sent to them by their national statistical offices (and to return the questionnaires 
within the given deadline). 
However, in the Member States which already carry out this type of survey 
(France, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom) and those which 
will use administrative data sources (Denmark, Portugal, Finland and Sweden), 
the extra effort required of businesses will not be very great, since the proposed 
variables do not exceed by much the scope of those which already exist. 
What economic effects is the proposal likely to have? 
- on employment 
- on investment and the creation of new businesses 
- on the competitive position of businesses 
Generally speaking, statistical data - and especially data relating to earnings - are 
necessary for implementing and assessing economic and social policies in the 
areas referred to in point 1 above. In this respect, the proposal will have 
beneficial effects on employment and the fight against unemployment, and on 
investment and competitiveness. The access to reliable, up-to-date data provided 
to those responsible for economic and social-policy decisions will enable them to 
better appreciate the socio-economic conditions in which they have to work, and 
will allow employers to define general business policy more clearly. 
The importance of the Community measures which would benefit in terms of 
both implementation and follow-up from the availability of better statistics would 
indicate that the resulting benefits will more than justify the costs involved. 
•^/ 
Does the proposal contain measures to take account of the specific situation 
of small and medium-sized firms? 
Yes. In order to reduce the number of units to be covered by the survey, units 
with fewer than 10 employees will not fall within its scope. Furthermore, the 
percentage of small and medium-sized enterprises included in the survey is 
generally very much lower than that of large enterprises because of the sampling 
method used. 
Consultation 
The Union of Industrial and Employers' Confederations of Europe (UNICE) took 
part from the outset in meetings organized by the "Earnings Statistics" working 
party throughout the phase during which the proposal was being formulated. 
Given the importance (which was mentioned several times) to employers' 
associations of information on the structure and distribution of earnings, the 
representatives of this organization made an active contribution to defining the 
nature of the survey. 
The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) took part in some meetings. 
It warmly welcomed the plan to carry out a survey on the structure and 
distribution of earnings at EU level. The representatives of this organization were 
pleased with the choice of variables to be used in the survey. 
The main users in the Commission (DG II and DG V) were consulted on a 
number of occasions while the draft was being prepared. Accordingly, their 
requirements were made known at the meetings of the working party, thereby 
enabling the representatives of the statistical services to take better account of 
their suggestions. 
The overall planning of the proposed draft has greatly benefited from the 
experience of Member States which carry out this type of survey, and from 
studies and analyses by the Commission and scientific bodies on the basis of 
previous surveys. 
The Statistical Programme Committee, which met on 1 and 2 December 1994 in 
Luxembourg, gave a favourable opinion on this proposal. 
* 4(, 
FINANCIAL STATEMENT NO 1 
1. TITLE OF THE ACTION 
Draft Council Regulation on statistics concerning the structure and distribution of 
earnings. 
2. BUDGET LINES INVOLVED 
Financial perspectives - 4, other policies 
Sub-section B-5: Consumer protection, internal market, industry and trans-
European networks 
Chapter B5-60: Statistical information policy connected with the completion of the 
internal market and in support of Community policies. 
Line B5-6000: Operating appropriations 
3. LEGAL BASIS 
Article 213 of the Treaty 
Council Decision 89/382/EEC of 19 June 1989 establishing a Committee on the 
Statistical Programmes of the European Communities (OJ L 219, 28.8.1993). 
4. DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTION 
4.1 General purpose of the action 
The purpose of the present Council Regulation is to make harmonized 
statistics on the structure and distribution of workers' earnings in the 
European Union available to all users. These data are essential for defining, 
monitoring and assessing social and labour market policies at the regional, 
national and Community levels. 
The beneficiaries of this action are: the Community Institutions, the 
governments of the Member States, the economic and social 
decision-makers in the Member States and also research institutes, 
universities and the media. 
To conduct this survey at European Union level is one of the priority 
projects of the 1993-1997 framework statistical programme of the 
Community (OJ L 219, 28.8.1993). 
I is 
4.2 Period covered by the action and procedures for renewing or extending it 
Once-only action in accordance with the draft Council Regulation 
(Euratom, EEC) on statistics concerning the structure and distribution of 
earnings (collection and processing of data and forwarding of the results to 
Eurostat) covering the period 1996-1998. 
5. CLASSIFICATION OF EXPENDITURE/INCOME 
5.1. Non-compulsory expenditure 
5.2. Differentiated appropriations 
5.3. Type of income envisaged 
Sales of statistical products (database data and publications) cover some of 
the production costs. 
6. TYPE OF EXPENDITURE/INCOME 
The Commission's contribution represents only part of the real cost of collecting 
data - of the order of 18% - since the Commission's statistical work is subsidized 
to a very great extent, the operating and administrative costs being borne almost 
exclusively by the national governments. Nevertheless, the expenditure envisaged 
is essential to promote standardization of the data collected, and for these data to 
be processed and sent to Eurostat. 
Cofinancing by the public sector (out of the budgets of the national statistical 
offices) and the private sector (income from sales of statistical products). 
7. FINANCIAL EFFECT ON INTERVENTION APPROPRIATIONS 
(PART B OF THE BUDGET) 
7.1 Method of calculating the total cost of the action (definition of unit costs) 
The amount to be taken from the Community budget for the project to 
extend the existing systems for collecting data or setting up new surveys 
on the structure of earnings is calculated as follows: 
18% of the operating costs for the two/three years of the project: 
conducting the survey (1996) and sending the data to Eurostat 
(1997/1998). 
l/fc 
Type of expenditure to be borne by the Member States: production of 
questionnaires, contribution to the costs of collecting, processing, and 
disseminating the data and other operating costs. 
The total action represents an average expenditure of approximately 
ECU 25 million for all the Member States. 
Total contribution to the Member States (18% of total) (ECU 4.50 million) 
7.2. Indicative timetable for commitment and payment appropriations 
The survey will be conducted at the beginning of 1996 and the data sent to 
Eurostat in 1997/1998. It is proposed that payment be made in three 
phases: the first two tranches as a contribution to the cost of collecting and 
processing the data (1996/1997) and a third tranche once the results have 
been received. The last tranche will be payable in either 1997 or 1998 
depending on whether the data are sent to Eurostat in 1997 or 1998. 
C.A. 
PA. 1996 
ECU 4.5 million 
ECU 4.5 million 
30% 1997 
ECU 1.8 million 
40% 1998 
ECU 1.35 million 
30% Total 
ECU 4.5 million 
ECU 4.5 million 
8. ANTI-FRAUD PROVISIONS (AND RESULTS OF IMPLEMENTING 
THEM) 
Payment for the contracts and agreements concluded by the Commission is 
made only on the basis of detailed reports on the completion of the operations 
concerned or the results obtained. 
Statistical information is considered to be an objective instrument for 
evaluating Community action programmes and thus contributes to 
consolidating the anti-fraud provisions. * 
\# 
9. COST/EFFICIENCY ANALYSIS ITEMS 
9.1. Specific and quantifiable objectives, target population 
The purpose of this Council Regulation is to establish comparable 
statistics on the structure and distribution of earnings of workers in the 
European Union. Following the guidelines in the White Paper on 
Growth, Competitiveness and Employment, and the conclusions of the 
Essen Summit, these statistics are indispensable for establishing, 
monitoring and assessing regional national and Community policies, in 
particular for monitoring national employment programmes. 
9.2. Grounds for the action 
The responsibility for financing this action rests mainly on the Member 
States (cf. 6 above), which have a well-established structure for 
collecting and processing data. Nevertheless, funds from the Community 
budget appear to be necessary, both for countries which are going to 
carry out this type of survey for the first time, and for those which must 
adjust " existing surveys to Community needs. The purpose of this 
financial contribution is to co-finance part of the costs of collecting and 
processing data. 
The purpose of this action is to achieve four results, viz.: 
- to provide the Community Institutions with the quantitative data for 
drawing up, monitoring and evaluating any programme of action 
pursuant to Article 3 (2) of the Financial Regulation: "it therefore 
contributes to more effective and relevant use of the Community 
budget"; 
- to provide the national governments with comparable statistics on all 
the Member States for evaluating and monitoring the progress of 
Community policies; 
- to provide political, economic and social decision-makers in the 
Community with the data necessary to take and assess decisions in 
their respective fields of action: it is therefore a key component of the 
European information market; 
- to provide the scientific community with the information necessary to 
further study and obtain more information on economic and social life 
in the Community. 
The results of the action will contribute to improving the statistical 
information used in the work linked to social policy, economic cohesion 
and convergence in the internal market. 
\Af 
Statistical information is collected using a highly-subsidized system, in 
which the national systems have a responsibility as regards each Member 
State. The Community Statistical Programme will become an intégral 
part of the national statistical programmes, thus contributing to creating 
a European statistical area. 
The potential of multiplier effects is fairly small. Nevertheless, the data 
concerned by the draft regulation will be of increased interest in that 
users will have access to a set of data which will enable them to make 
international comparisons of the structure and distribution of earnings. 
The specific results of the action could be affected if some of the 
Member States - or the Commission - did not succeed in releasing the 
resources needed for the action to succeed. 
9.3. Monitoring and assessing the action 
The action forms part of the Community Statistical Programme, which is 
monitored continuously by means of a general table which determines 
the objectives and resources required for each project as a function of 
the objective/performance ratio. At the beginning of each year, Eurostat 
produces a progress report on the programme as at the end of the 
previous year. It comprises three parts as follows: 
the first summarizes the main achievements of the year in respect of each 
policy; 
the second describes the objective of each project and the results 
achieved; 
the third gives statistics on the use of human, budgetary, computer and 
administrative resources in the course of the previous year. 
9.4. Cohesion with the financial programming 
The Council Decision of 22 July 1993 on the framework programme for priority actions in 
the field of statistical information 1993 to 1997 provides for a survey to be carried out on 
the structure of earnings.1 
OJL 219, 28.8.1993. 
W? 
10. ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENDITURE (PART A OF THE BUDGET) 
10.1. Does the proposed action involve an increase in the number of 
Commission staff? If so, how many? 
Yes: 1 B post as from 1995 
The administrative resources required for this action will be obtained by 
means of credits allocated by the Commission, including staffing and 
supplementary amounts approved by the budgetary authority. 
10.2. State the amount of staff and administrative expenditure involved in the 
proposed action. Explain the method of calculation 
Indicators: annual cost of the post for 1995 (estimate) 
Base: Average cost of a B2 post: ECU 90 009, of which ECU 73 711 is 
staff expenditure and ECU 16 298 administrative expenditure 
Expenditure: 
Financial years 1995 
et seq. Title Al 
Staff 
73 711 Title A2 
Administration 
16 298 
Cost in constant ecus (1995 value). 
*^c 
TITLE OF THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION 
Proposal for a Regulation on the statistics of the distribution and structure of earnings 
IMPACT ON THE EFTA MEMBERS OF THE EEA 
The EFTA members of the EEA have an interest in the proposed Regulation, and have 
been associated in its discussion. 
All the EFTA members of the EEA took part in the meetings of the Working Party 
relating to this matter. 
FINANCIAL STATEMENT 
The financial statement annexed to this document concerns the Member States of the 
European Union. 
^ 
ISSN 1024-4506 
KOM(95) 287 slutlig 
DOKUMENT 
SV 17 
Katalognummer : CB-C0-95-318-SV-C 
ISBN 92-77-90920-X 
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