Amended proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION adopting a 4-year programme (1993-1996) to develop regular official statistics of the environment
Date: 1992-11-20
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU programme, EU statistics, European Environment Agency, data collection, dissemination of information, environmental policy

COMMISSION  OF  THE  EUROPEAN  COMVIUNITIES 

C0M(92) 483 final 

Brussels,  20 November  1992 

Amended  proposal  for a 

COUNCIL DECISION 

adopting a 4-year programme (1993-1996) 
to develop regular official  statistics 
of the environment 

(presented  by  the  Commission  pursuant 
the  EEC-Treaty) 

of 

to  A r t i c le  149(3) 

EXPLANATORY  MEMORANDUM 

The  Commission  presents  herewith,  in  accordance  with  Article  149  (3)  of  the  EC 
treaty  a  modified  proposal  for  a  Council  decision  adopting  a  four-year  programme  to 
develop  regular  official  statistics  of  the  environment  (Doc.  COM  (90)  319  final  of 
24.7.1990). 

2. 

The  modifications  take  into  account  eleven  of  the  23  amendments  proposed  by  the 
European  Parliament  which  have  been  voted  on  the  13th  of  December  1991  and  -
pursuant  to  Rule  40  (2)  of  the  Parliament  -  on  the  11th  of  February  1992  following 
the  report  of  Mr  Amendola  (Doc  PE  A3  -  0271/91)  and  certain  consequences  of  a 
drafting  nature required  by those amendments. 

The main  thrust of  the parliamentary  report  was the need  for  good coordination  of the 
statistical  programme  with  the  proposed  European  Environment  Agency  and  the 
outgoing Corine programme. 

4. 

The  Commission  agrees  with  the  Parliament  that  a  key  issue  in  the  development  of 
environmental  information  is a correct  distribution  of  roles,  with  clear  procedures  for 
coordination  of the various bodies involved. 

Thus  in  general  the  Commission  accepts  the  amendment  proposals  tending  to  clarify 
the relationship  between  the European  Environment  Agency  (EEA)  and  the  proposed 
four-year  programme  to  develop  the  environmental  component  within  official 
statistics,  a  relationship  already  set  out  in  general  terms  in  the  Council  regulation 
instituting  the EEA. 

The  Commission  cannot  accept  however  several  of  the  amendments  introducing 
references  to  the  Corine programme.  This  experimental  programme  ended  at  the end 
of  1990,  after  having achieved  the two aims  it had  been  assigned  : on  the one  hand  it 
has  supplied  the  Community  environmental  policy  with  relevant  information  on 
priority  issues  (natural  biotopes,  air  emissions  and  natural  resources  especially  in  the 
Mediterranean  region)  ;  on  the  other  hand  it  has  established  the  need  for  and 
demonstrated  the  feasibility  of  a  permanent  environmental  information  system  and 
network,  which  will  be  developed  by  the  EEA.  Pending  the  entry  into  force  of  the 
Agency  regulation,  the  Commission  has  taken  its  responsibility  to  keep  up-to-date, 
and complement  where necessary,  the Corine  system,  and  will  continue  to do so until 
the EEA  regulation  enters  into  force.  In  the present  circumstances,  a prolongation  of 
the Corine programme as defined  in Mr.  Amendola's report is not on the agenda. 

d* 

-1 

AMENDED PROPOSAL 

for a Council Decision adopting a 4-year  programme 

(1993-1996) to develop regular official  statistics 
of the environment 

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 

Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the  European  Economic  Community  and  in 
particular  Article  130s thereof, 

Having regard to the proposal  from  the Commission  \ 

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament^, 

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social  Committee^, 

Whereas  the  Fourth  Environmental  Action Programme of  the European  Communities  (1987-
1992),  laid  down by  Council  Resolution  of  19 October  1987^,  states  that  the  environmental 
component of the statistical  programme  is to be reinforced  with  a view  to  complementing  the 
information  produced  under  the  Corine  programme  (1985-1998),  which  was  laid  down  in 
Council  Decision  85/138/EEC5',  and  was  extended  to  the  years  1989  and  1990  by  Council 
Decision 90/150/EEC6'; 

Whereas  Council  Regulation  (EEC)  '  No  1210/90  on  the  establishment  of  the  European 
Environment  Agency  states  that  the  task  of  this  agency,  amont  its  other  duties,  shall  be  to 
cooperate with the Statistical Office  of the European Community  (Eurostat), 

Whereas  it  is  necessary  to  assess  the  issues,  and  to devise,  monitor,  evaluate  and  coordinate 
Community  policies  on  the  basis  of  adequate  factual  information,  including  environmental 
data, 

Whereas  such  adequate  factual  information  requires  a  complete  and  reliable  framework  of 
environmental  data  also  serving  as  acknowledged  reference  points  for  other  environmental 
data; 

Whereas  there  is  a  clear  need  for  quantative  information  on  the  relationship  between  the 
policies of  the Community  and  its  Member States and environmental  issues,  and  that  this  can 
only  be  satisfied  by  integrating  the  environmental  data  supplied  by  Corine  into  the  general 
structure  of  official  statistics  by  appropriate  methods  of  adaptation;  whereas  the  findings  of 
the Corine programme must be taken into account; 

Whereas this type of reference  framework  is inadequate and  must be  improved; 

1)  OJ No C 209 of 22.8.1990, p. 29 
2)  OJ No C 209 of 22.8.1990, p. 29 
3)  OJ No C 209 of 22.8.1990, p. 29 
4)  OJ No C 328 of 7.12.1987, p. 1 
5)  OJ No L 176 of 6.7.1985, p. 14 
6)  OJ No L 81 of 28.3.1990, p. 38 
7)  OJ No L 120 of 11.5.1990, p. 1 

A 

- 2-

Whereas it  is essential  for developments  in official  environmental  statistics to  be coordinated 
to meet the main international, Community and national needs at minimum public and private 
cost,  and  that  this  can  most  conveniently  be  done  within  the  established  procedures  of 
coopération between the Commission, the statistical services of international  organizations and 
those  of  the  Member  States;  whereas  it  is  therefore  appropriate  to  adoopt  a  four-year 
programme to ensure this coordinated  development; 

Whereas  developing  environment  statistics  forms  part  of  the  Statistical  Programme  of  the 
European Communities (1989-1992) laid down by Council Resolution  of  19 June  1989P' ; 

Whereas  this  four-year  programme  of  environment  statistics  is  complimentary  to  the  Corine 
programme  (1985-1988)  established  by  Council  Decision  85/338/EECr',  as  extended  by 
Council Decision 90/150/EEC10' to cover the years  1989 and  1990; 

Whereas  the  European  Environment  Agency  is  required 
to  coordinate  with  existing 
Community  structures,  and  a  clearly  defined  programme  for  developing  official  statistics  of 
the environment will facilitate this  cooperation; 

Wliereas  the  timely  delivery  of  suitable  comparable  data  can  only  be  guaranteed  by 
appropriate  legal  provisions  and  these  provisions  have  to  be  prepared  together  with  the 
relevant  Commission  services;  whereas  the  provisions  can  most  efficiently  be  met  by 
Community measures prepared after  consultation  with Member  States; 

Whereas  important  work on  the methodology  and  collection  of  environmental  data  is  carried 
out by  the statistical  services  of  international  organizations,  in particular  the  United  Nations' 
Statistical  Office,  the United  Nations' Economic Commission for  Europe and the  Organization 
for  Economic  Cooperation  and  Development;  whereas  the  present  programme  should  take 
account of this work; 

Whereas  it  is  urgent  to  provide  data  as  soon  as  possible  to  meet  the  most  pressing  policy 
needs; 

Whereas  it  is  necessary  to  keep  the Council  and  the  Parliament  informed  of  progress  on  this 
programme to develop and consolidate official  environment  statistics; 

Whereas the details of data to be provided by the Member States to the Commission,  including 
definitions,  methodology  and manner of transmission,  need to be fixed  by the  Commission; 

Whereas  consultation  with  Member  States on  the carrying out of this programme  can  be made 
through  the  Committee on  the Statistical  Programme  of the  European  Communities  set  up by 
Council  Decision  89/382/EEC 
',  and  whereas  that  Committee  can  also  be  called  on  to give 
its opinion  on the Commission's  specific  proposals  for  collection  and  submission  of  statistical 
data by Member States; 

Whereas  this  Committee  has  been  consulted  on  the general  lines  of  this  programme  and  has 
approved  them; 

8)  OJ No C  161 of 28.6.1989, p. 1 
9)  OJ No L  176 of 6.7.1985,  p.  14 
10)  OJ No  L81 of 28.3.1990, p. 38 
11)  OJ N0LI8I  of  1989, p. 47 

-3  -

Whereas  the  creation  of  a structure of  regular  environmental  information  integrated  with  the 
official  statistical systems of Member States requires substantial theoretical  and practical  work 
and  a  Community  financial  contribution  to  certain  aspects  of  predominantly  Community 
interest is appropriate; 

Whereas there is a need to gauge the amount of Community funds  required  to  implement this 
programme;  whereas  this  amount  is  in  line  with  the  financial  perspective  annexed  to  the 
Interinstitutional  Agreement of 29 June 1988 
'  and the appropriations actually  available will, 
in compliance with this agreement, be determined  in accordance with budgetary  procedure, 

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS 

Article 1 

1.  A programme to develop regular official  statistics on the environment  and  to examine its 
connections  with  other  Community  policies  is  hereby  adopted  for  a  four-year  period 
starting on the date of entry into force of this Decision. 

2.  The  objective  of  this  programme  is  to  provide  regular  series  of  key  environmental 
information  which  will be integrated with official  statistics  and which will  be available to 
all  Member  States  by  the end  of  1995.  Together  with  the  information  provided  by the 
European  Environment  Agency,  which  will  incorporate  that  supplied  by  Corine,  it  is 
designed  to  meet  the  Community's  needs  in  respect  of  environmental  policy  and  its 
connections with other Community policies. It will take account of work on  environment 
statistics  carried  out  by  other  Community  bodies  and  by  international  organizations.  It 
will  contribute  to  the  preparation  of  the  appropriate  Commission  legislation  governing 
the furnishing  of data by Member States. 

Article 2 

1.  The programme  will  be  executed  by the Commission  and  the official  statistical  services 

of the Member States. 

Pending  the  setting  up  of  the  European  Environment  Agency  and  in  order  that  the 
programme may be carried through, coordination  shall be handled  by the  Commission. 

The  Commission  will  call  on  the  personnel  involved  in  the  Corine  programme,  and 
currently  employed  in  the  task  force  devoted  to  the  European  Environment  Agency,  in 
order  to  utilize  the  Corine  source  of  information  until  this  is  integrated  and  continued 
under the aegis of the European  Environment  Agency. 

The  statistical  programme  shall  be  coordinated  with  the  activities  of  the  European 
Environment  Agency  in  the  six  months  following  its  establishment  and  in  accordance 
with a joint agreement as provided for  in Annex B of Regulation  1210/90 (EEC). 

12)  OJ No L185 of  15.7.1988,  p. 33 

- 4-

It will include: 

i) 

ii) 

iii) 

iv) 

v) 

vi) 

methodological/conceptual  studies, 

practical studies, 

pilot  surveys  (carried  out  by  the  Official  Statistical  Organizations  of  the 
Member States), 

concertation, 

data collection, 

dissemination, 

vii) 

concretization  in Community legal  instruments. 

2.  The  details  of  the  programme,  including  the  priorities  and  the  way  it  is  implemented, 
shall  be  laid  down  by  the  Commission  in  accordance  with  the  procedure  set  out  in 
Article 4. 

3.  The  Annex  comprises  the  structure  of  the  programme  and  the  priority  fields  of  work 
which  may  be  modified  in  collaboration  with  the  European  Environment  Agency  in 
accordance with the procedure set out in paragraph  1. 

Article 3 

1.  The Commission shall,  in accordance with the procedure laid down  in Article 4 and until 
the programme  is completed,  lay down  as early  as possible  the details  of  the data to  be 
forwarded  by  the Member  States as soon  as the statistical  requirements  and  possibilities 
for  the Member States to provide data  in a particular  area have been  examined. 

2.  The  information  collected  shall  be published,  specifying,  where appropriate,  the various 
methods  used  to obtain  it.  The  information  shall  be  circulated  so  as to  ensure,  as  far  as 
possible,  comparability  between  the  information  collected  and  the  values  laid  down  in 
Community and national  legislation. 

Article 4 

1.  The Commission  shall be assisted  by the Committee on the Statistical  Programmes  of the 
European  Communities  (hereinafter  referred  to  as  "the  Committee")  as  it  is  established 
by the Council  decision  80/382/EEC. 

2.  The  representative  of  the  Commission  shall  submit  to  the  Committee  the  draft  of  the 
measures to be taken.  The Committee shall deliver  its opinion on the draft  within  a time 
limit  which  the  Chairman  may  lay  down  according  to  the  urgency  of  the  matter.  The 
opinion  shall  be  recorded  in the minutes;  in addition,  each  Member  State  shall  have the 
right to ask that its position  be recorded  in the minutes. 

3.  The Commission  shall  take account of  the opinion  delivered  by  the  Committee.  It shall 

inform  the Committee of the manner  in which this opinion  has been taken  into  account. 

- 6-

Article 5 

The funds  necessary  for the implementation of  the present decision  are entered  each  year in 
the general  budget of the European Communities.  This amount includes contributions to the 
cost of data collection in selected Member States including pilot and other surveys. 

Article 6 

The Commission shall make a progress report to the Council and the European Parliament not 
later  than  December  1994  and  a  further  report  on  completion  of  the  programme.  The 
European Environment Agency and the Committee shall give their opinion on these reports. 

This Decision is addressed to the Member States 

Article 7 

Done at 

By the Council 
The President 

ANNEX 1 

Community Programme to develop Regular Official  Statistics 
on the Environment 
1993 -1996 

A. 

STRUCTURE 

Physical  data 

defining  and  preparing 
comparable data available over time 

the  collection  and 

transmission  of  aggregable, 

studies  on  the  availability  and  selection  of  relevant  data  at  international, 
national,  regional and local level 

pilot  projects  for  testing  the  method  of  collection  and  integration  in  general 
surveys 

participation  in  the development  of  global  accounting  systems  such  as  natural 
resource  accounts  and  integration  of  the  physical  data  collection  in  this 
framework 

participation  in  the  development  and  implementation  of  new  technology 
(Remote Sensing) 

2. 

Economic  data 

defining  and  preparing 
comparable data available over time 

the  collection  and 

transmission  of  aggregated 

studies on the availability  and selection  of relevant  data 

pilot  projects  for  testing  the  method  of  collection  and  integration  in  general 
surveys 

defining  an accounting concept  for  the presentation  of  economic  data  and  their 
integration  in global accounting  systems such  as  satellite environment  accounts 
and  links  to  the  system  of  national  accounts  (SNA)  and  to  natural  resource 
accounting. 

3. 

Legal framework 

-2-

preparation  of  legal  texts  defining  the content,  definitions,  classifications  and 
methods of collection of physical and economic data. 

4. 

Support for Member States data collection work 

the  Commission  will  look  to  the  Member  States  statistical  services  and 
specialised  research  institutes  for  contributions  to  special  studies,  testing  and 
pilot  projects.  Financial  support  will  be  given  to  the  extent  resources  permit 
and routine data collection is not involved. 

5. 

Data management and geographical  information systems 

EUROSTAT  will  adapt  its  informatics  infrastructure  for  the  reception, 
pretreatment,  processing  and  dissemination  of  the  statistical  data  transmitted 
and especially its capabilities to handle space related environmental data.  Links 
will  be  established  with  the  Statistical  services  of  the  Member  States,  the 
Commission's services and the European Environment Agency. 

International  Coordination 

The programme  will  be developed  in  the larger  context  of  international  environment 
statistics  e.g.  United  Nations  Statistical  Office  ECE/Conference  of  European 
Statisticians, World  Bank,  Organisation  for  Economic  Cooperation  and  Development, 
to avoid duplication and to ensure consistency 

B.  WORKING AREAS 

The  working  areas  are  determined  by  policy  needs  actually  expressed  in  the  fourth 
environmental  action  programme  (1987  -  1992)  and  may  be  adapted  in  the  light  of 
policy changes. 

The programme on official  environment statistics comprises the following  topics: 

1. 

description of the changes in the quality of the environment  i.e.  soil,  water, air 
and atmosphere: flora and fauna,  human health, climate. 

Description  of  human  activities  and  their  influence  on  the  quality  of  the 
environment: 

"7 

-3-

extraction and consumption of raw materials 

production and consumption of agricultural and industrial products 

energy production and consumption 

construction and settlement 

leisure and tourism 

transport 

population growth and social welfare 

linked to 

resources depletion (use of renewable and non renewable resources) 

changes in land cover and land use 

pollution by emissions. 

Description  of  the  response  to  the  environmental  damage  and  dangers, 
assessment  of  the  costs  and  benefits  and  follow  up  of  the  Communities 
environmental policy i.e. 

conservation and substitution of natural resources 

changes in production methods and consumption behaviour 

direct  and  indirect  (clean  technology)  prevention  and  reduction  of 
emissions and pollution) 

conservation and protection of nature, soil, flora and fauna 

Priority areas for  1993 - 1996 are: 

economic  statistics  of  current  expenditure  and  investment  for  environmental 
protection 

data collection in collaboration with OECD and ECE/UNO 

statistics of the management of waste and dangerous products 

statistics of the quality and management of water 

linkage  of  transport  statistics  to  environment  statistics  (including  transport  of 
dangerous goods and waste) 

linkage of  energy  statistics to environment  statistics 

integration  of  environmental  statistics  in  industrial  surveys  (definition  of 
environment  industries) 

integration of environmental  statistics in agricultural and forestry  surveys 

linkage  of  environment  with  other  statistics 
(collection  of  space related data) 

through 

land 

information 

6i 

ISSN 0254-1475 

COM(92) 483 final 

DOCUMENTS 

EN 

17 

Catalogue number : CB-CO-92-500-EN-C 

ISBN 92-77-49316-X 

Office  for Official Publications of the European Communities 
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