Proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) on the organization of a labour force sample survey in the Community
Date: 1997-10-30
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: economic statistics, labour market, sample survey, unemployment, working population

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels,  30JO. 1997 
COM(97)  376  final 

97/ 0202 (CNS) 

Proposal  for a 

COUNCIL  REGULATION  (EC) 

on the organization of a labour force  sample survey in the Community 

(presented  by the Commission) 

EXPLANATORY  MEMORANDUM 

1. 

2. 

In  order  to  carry  out  its  tasks,  in  particular  the  monitoring  of  trends  in 
employment  and  unemployment  (Annual  Report  to  the  Council  following  the 
Essen  Summit),  to  identify  the  regions  most  affected  by  unemployment 
(eligibility  for the structural  funds  - Objective  2) and to analyse the situation of 
individuals and households on the labour market, the Commission needs to have 
regular, comparable, recent and representative regional data on employment and 
unemployment in the Member States. 

The Community  Labour Force Survey currently consists of putting together the 
national  labour  force  surveys  conducted  in  the  Member  States.  Although 
formally  harmonized  (Council  Regulation  (EEC)  N° 3711/91  of  16  December 
1991), these  surveys essentially  retain their own specific  features  as adopted to 
meet  national  requirements.  The  differences 
the 
definition  of the  reference  period,  the units  observed,  the  survey  coverage, the 
observation  methods,  the  sample  design,  the  extrapolation  methods  and  the 
questionnaires.  The  country-to-country  comparability  of  the  data  obtained, 
particularly on employment and unemployment, must therefore be improved. 

include  the  frequency, 

3.  One of the obstacles to achieving more comparable survey methods is the inertia 
of  large  sample  surveys: reforming  a national  labour  force  survey  represents  a 
considerable investment of resources in terms of sample design, organization of 
data processing and general survey infrastructure.  It is not until a Member States 
has  actually  begun  to  overhaul  its  survey  that  there  is  any  real  chance  of 
progress.  For  this  reason,  the  proposed  Regulation  defines  a  target  while 
allowing  the  Member  States,  for  a  transitional  period,  the  possibility  of 
conducting only an annual survey in the spring. 

4. 

Limiting  the  costs  of  implementing  the  continuous  survey  has  been  a  major 
consideration:  spreading  data  collection  over  the  whole  year  should  make  for 
more  rational  organization  of  the  operations  and  efficient  use  of  computer 
resources  (particularly  portable  machines);  the  accuracy  levels  set  do  not 
generally  imply  an  excessive  increase  in  the  size  of  the  annual  sample;  the 
requirement to use the household as the sampling unit has been dropped in order 
to  accommodate  those  Member  States  which  prefer  to  base  their  sample  on 
individuals,  on  condition  that  the  other  requirements  regarding  households  are 
met;  certain  variables  included  in  the  current  series  of  surveys  have  been 
dropped. 

5. 

In  line  with  the  principle  of  subsidiarity,  only  data  on  the  variables  used  to 
determine  activity  status  and  underemployment  have  to  be  collected  in  direct 
personal  interviews  conducted  according  to  very  strict  common  guidelines, 
which  are  essential  for  ensuring  an  acceptable  degree  of  comparability  of  the 
results; for  the remaining  variables, the  wording  and  sequence  of the  questions 

c^ 

are  not  subject  to  Community  guidelines  but  are  left  to  the  discretion  of  the 
NSIs,  or  the  information  required  may  be  obtained  from  other  sources 
(administrative files). 

Furthermore, the target structure does not require a sample rotation scheme (not 
essential  for  the  comparability  of  results),  so  that  Member  States  can  use  the 
survey plan that most effectively  takes account of specific national features. 

The proposed Regulation has been widely discussed with the national  statistical 
offices  and  has  received  a  favourable  opinion  from  the  Statistical  Programme 
Committee.  Its  aim  is  that  the  Member  States'  labour  force  surveys  should 
gradually  be  adapted  so  as  to  provide  a  statistical  instrument  which  is  more 
reliable, more modern and more flexible. 

PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) 

on the organization of a labour force  sample survey in the Community 

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 

Having  regard  to the  Treaty  establishing  the European  Community,  and  in  particular 
Article 213 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,  in  order  to  carry  out  the  tasks  assigned  to  it,  the  European  Union  needs 
comparable  statistical  information  on  the  level  and  pattern  of  and  trends  in 
employment and unemployment in the Member States; 

Whereas  the  best  method  of  obtaining  such  information  at  Community  level  is  to 
conduct harmonized labour force surveys; 

Whereas  Council  Regulation  (EEC)  N°  3711/91 '  of  16 December  1991  on  the 
organization  of  an  annual  labour  force  sample  survey  in  the  Community  laid  down 
that, starting in  1992, a survey was to be conducted in the spring of each year; 

Whereas,  although  a  continuous  survey  is  preferable  to  an  annual  spring  survey  for 
ensuring  the  availability  and  harmonization  of  data  and  measuring  the  volume  of 
work,  it  is  difficult  to  implement  a  continuous  survey  on  the  same  dates  in  all  the 
Member States; 

Whereas the use  of existing  administrative  sources  should  be encouraged  in so far  as 
they  can usefully  supplement  the information  obtained through  interviews or serve as 
a sampling basis; 

Whereas  the  data  in  the  survey,  as  fixed  by  this  Regulation,  may  be  extended  to 
include  a  further  set  of  variables  forming  part  of  a  programme  of  ad  hoc  modules 
which  covers  several  years, and which the  Commission  is required  to draw  up under 
an appropriate procedure as part of the implementation arrangements; 

Whereas  the  statistical  confidentiality  is  governed  by  the  rules  set  out  in  Council 
and  in  Council  Regulation 
Regulation  (EC)  N.°  322/97  on  Community  statistics 

OJN°L351  of 20.12.1991, p.  1 
OJN.°L52,  of 22.2.1997, p.  1 

h 

(Euratom,  EEC)  N.°  1588/90  on  the  transmission  of  data  subject  to  statistical 
confidentiality  to the Statistical Office  of the European Communities3, 

Whereas  the  Statistical  Programme  Committee  established  by  Council  Decision 
89/382/EEC, Euratom  4  has been  consulted  by the  Commission  in accordance  with 
Article 3 of the aforesaid  Decision, 

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 

3 
4 

OJN.°L  151 of 15.6.1990, p.  1 
OJN.°L181of28.6.1989,p.47 

S~ 

Article 1 

Article 2 

Frequency of the survey 

force 

labour 

sample 

A 
survey, 
hereinafter  referred  to  as  "the  survey", 
shall  be  conducted  by  the  Member 
States each year. 

The  survey  is  a  continuous  survey 
providing quarterly and annual results; 
however,  those  Member  States  which 
are  not  in  a  position  to  implement  a 
continuous  survey  may  carry  out  an 
annual survey only, to take place in the 
spring. 

The  information  collected  during  the 
survey 
the 
relates  generally 
situation  during the course of the week 
(taken to run from  Monday to Sunday) 
preceding  the  interview,  known  as the 
reference  week. 

to 

In the case of a continuous survey : 

the  reference  weeks  are  spread 
the 
uniformly 
whole year; 

throughout 

during 

following 

the  interview  normally  takes 
the  week 
place 
immediately 
the 
reference  week.  The  reference 
the 
week  and 
interview  may  not  be  more 
than five weeks apart, except in 
the third quarter; 

the  date  of 

the reference  quarters and years 
are respectively groups of  13 or 
52 consecutive  weeks. A list of 
the  weeks  making  up  a  given 
quarter  or  year  is  drawn  up 
according  to the procedure  laid 
this 
in  Article  8  of 
down 
Regulation. 

Units and scope of the survey, 
observation  methods 

The survey  shall  be carried  out 
1. 
in  each  Member  State  in  a  sample  of 
households  or  of  persons  residing  in 
the  economic  territory  of  that  State  at 
the time of the survey. 

2. 
the 
The  principal  scope  of 
survey  consists  of  persons  residing  in 
private  households  on  the  economic 
territory  of  each  Member  State.  If 
possible, 
this  main  population  of 
persons living in private households, is 
supplemented  by  persons  living  in 
collective households. 

collective 
possible, 
Wherever 
households  are  covered  by  means  of 
samples  specially  drawn  to  permit 
the  persons 
direct  observation  of 
concerned.  If this  is not  possible, then 
persons  in  these  groups  who  continue 
to  have  an  association  with  a  private 
household  are  included  in  connection 
with that household. 

The 

used 

status 

variables 
labour 

to 
3. 
determine 
and 
underemployment must be obtained by 
interviewing  the person concerned, or, 
if this is not possible,  another member 
of  the  household.  Other  information 
from  alternative 
may  be  obtained 
administrative 
sources, 
records,  provided 
the  data 
obtained are of equivalent quality. 

including 

that 

the 
Regardless  of  whether 
4. 
sampling  unit  is  an  individual  or  a 
household, 
is  usually 
information 
collected  for  all  individuals  of  the 
household.  However,  if  the  sampling 
unit  is  an  individual,  the  information 

Q 

concerning  the  other  members  of  the 
household 

may  exclude  the  characteristics 
h,  i  et  j  of 
listed  under  g, 
paragraph  1  of of Article 4, 

and may be collected  from  a sub-
sample defined  in such a way that: 

- 

reference  weeks  are 
distributed 

the 
uniformly 
throughout the whole year; 

-  the  number  of  observations 
(individuals  sampled  plus  the 
members  of  their  (household) 
theannual 
for 
satisfies, 
the 
of 
estimates 
reliability  criteria  defined  in 
Article 3. 

levels, 

Article 3 

Representativeness  of the sample 

1. 
In  order  to  ensure  a  reliable 
foundation  for  comparative  analysis at 
Community  level,  as  well  as  at  the 
level  of  the  Member  States  and  of 
specific  regions,  the  sampling  plan 
shall  guarantee  that  for  characteristics 
relating  to  5%  of  the  population  of 
working age the relative  standard  error 
for  the  estimation  of  annual  averages 
(or  to  the  spring  estimates  in  the  case 
of  an  annual  survey  in  the  spring)  at 
NUTS  II  level  does  not  exceed  8%, 
assuming  the  design  effect  for  the 
variable  "unemployment". 

Regions  with 
than  300,000 
less 
inhabitants  shall  be  exempt  from  this 
requirement. 

2. 
survey, 

In  the  case  of  a  continuous 
the  sample  design  should 

that 

sub-populations 
for 
guarantee 
which  constitute  about  5%  of  the 
population  of  working 
the 
standard  error  at national  level  for  the 
two 
estimate  of  changes  between 
successive  quarters,  does  not  exceed 
2% of the sub-population  concerned. 

age, 

For  Member  States  with  a  population 
of  between  one  million  and  twenty 
million  inhabitants, this requirement  is 
relaxed  so  that  the  standard  error  for 
the estimate  of quarterly  changes  does 
not  exceed  3%  of  the  sub-population 
concerned. 

Member  States  whose  population  is 
inhabitants  are 
below  one  million 
precision 
exempt 
requirements concerning changes. 

these 

from 

3. 
Where the survey  is carried  out 
only  in the  spring, at  least a quarter  of 
the  survey  units  are  taken  from  the 
preceding  survey and at least  a quarter 
form part of the following  survey. 

These  two  groups  shall  be  identified 
by a code. 

Where  non-response  to  certain 
in  missing  data, 
is  normally 

4. 
questions  results 
statistical 
applied. 

imputation 

factors 
into  account 

The  weighting 
taking 

are 
5. 
the 
calculated 
probability  of  selection  and  external 
data  relating  to  the  distribution  of  the 
population being surveyed, by sex, age 
region 
(five-year  age  groups)  and 
(NUTS  2  level),  where  such  external 
data are sufficiently  reliable. 

1 

The  same  weighting  factor  is  applied 
same 
for 
household.5 

all  members  of 

the 

(hereinafter 

6. 
Member  States  shall  provide 
the  Statistical  Office  of  the  European 
Communities 
called 
"Eurostat") with whatever  information 
is required concerning the organisation 
and methodology  of the survey, and in 
particular, 
the 
criteria adopted for the design and size 
of the sample. 

they  shall 

indicate 

or  proxy  through  another 
member of the household) 

b) 

labour status : 

- 

labour  status  during 
reference  week 

the 

for 

not 

-  reason 

having 
worked though having a job 
-  search  for  employment  for 
person without employment 
type of employment  sought 
(self-employed  or employee) 

- 

Article 4 

Survey characteristics 

Data shall be collected on : 

-  methods used to find a job 
-  availability to start work 

c) 

employment  characteristics  of 
the main job : 

-  professional  status 
-  economic  activity  of  local 

demographic background : 

unit 

1. 

a) 

to 

reference 

reasons) 

-  sequence number in the 

household 

-  sex 
-  year of birth 
-  date  of  birth  in  relation  to 
the  end  of  the  reference 
period 

-  marital status 
-  relationship 
person 

-  sequence number of spouse 
-  sequence number of father 
-  sequence number of mother 
-  nationality 
-  number 

of 
years 
of 
in  the  Member 

residence 
State 

-  country of birth (optional) 
-  nature of participation  in the 
survey  (direct  participation 

This obligation will be retained  in the 
Regulation only  if its basis is not 
challenged  by the studies on this 
topic currently  in progress. 

-  occupation 
-  number  of  persons  working 

at the local unit 

-  country of place of work 
-  region of place of work 
-  year  and  month  when  the 
person  started  working  in 
current  employment 

-  permanency  of  the job  (and 

-  duration of temporary job or 
limited 

work  contract  of 
duration 
full-time/part-time 
distinction (and reasons) 

- 

-  working at home 

d) 

hours worked : 

-  number  of  hours  per  week 

usually worked 

-  number  of  hours  actually 

worked 

-  main 

reason 

for 

actually  worked 

hours 
being 

P 

different 
usual hours 

from 

person's 

employment 

-  reason  why  person  has  not 

sought work 

e) 

second job : 

h) 

education and training 

-  existence  of  more  than  one 

job 

-  professional  status 
-  economic  activity  of 

the 

local unit 

-  number  of  hours  actually 

worked 

f) 

visible underemployment : 

-  wish  to  work  usually  more 
than  the  current  number  of 
hours  (optional  in  the  case 
of an annual survey) 
looking  for  another job  and 
reasons for doing so 
type  of  employment  sought 
(as employee or otherwise) 
used 

-  methods 

find 

to 

- 

- 

another job 

-  reason why the person is not 
job 
seeking 
(optional  in  the  case  of  an 
annual survey) 

another 

-  availability to start work 
-  number  of  hours  of  work 
wished  for  (optional  in  the 
case of an annual survey) 

g) 

search for employment : 

- 

type of employment sought 
(full-time  or part-time) 
search 
of 

-  duration 

for 

employment 

-  situation 

person 
of 
immediately  before  starting 
to seek employment 

-  registration 
employment 
whether receiving  benefits 

at 
office 

public 
and 

-  willingness to work for 
person not seeking 

9 

-  participation in education 

or training during previous 
four weeks 

-  purpose 
- 
level 
-  place 
- 
- 
-  highest  successfully 
completed level of 
education or training 

total length 
total number of hours 

-  year when this highest level 
was successfully  completed 
-  received vocational training 

within a  dual system 

i) 

previous  work  experience  of 
person not in employment : 

-  existence 

of 

previous 

employment experience 
-  year and month in which the 

person last worked 

-  main  reason  for  leaving  last 

job or business 

-  professional  status  in  last 

job 

-  economic  activity  of  local 
unit  in  which  person  last 
worked 

-  occupation of last job 

j) 

situation  one  year  before  the 
survey : 

-  main labour status 
-  professional  status 
-  economic  activity  of  local 
unit  in  which  person  was 
working 

-  country of residence 
-  region of residence 

k) 

1) 

m) 

main labour status (optional) 

income (optional) 

technical  items  relating  to  the 
interview 

-  year of survey 
-  reference  week 
- 
interview week 
-  member state 
-  region of household 
-  degree of urbanisation 
-  serial number of household 
- 
- 
-  weighting  factor 
-  sub-sample in relation to the 

type of household 
type of institution 

preceding survey 
(annual  survey) 

-  sub-sample in relation to the 
following  survey (annual 
survey) 

-  sequence number of the 

survey  wave 

2. 
A  further  set  of  variables, 
hereinafter  referred  to  as  an  "ad  hoc 
module", may be added to  supplement 
the  information  described  above  in 
paragraph 1. 

A  programme  of  ad  hoc  modules 
covering  several  years  shall  be  drawn 
up  each  year  according 
the 
procedure  laid  down  in  Article  8  of 
this Regulation: 

to 

-  this  programme  shall  specify  for 
each  ad  hoc  module,  the  subject,  the 
Member  States  and  regions  covered, 
the  reference  period,  the  sample  size 
(equal to or less than the sample  size 
determined  according  to  Article  3) 
and  the  deadline  for  the  transmission 
of the results (which may be  different 

- 

- 

the  deadline  according 

from 
Article 6). 

to 

the detailed list of information  to be 
collected in an ad hoc module shall 
be drawn up at least twelve months 
before 
the 
reference period for that module; 

the  beginning  of 

the volume of an ad hoc module 
shall not exceed the volume of the 
module c described  under point  1  of 
this Article. 

3. 
The  definitions,  the  edits  to  be 
used, the  codification  of the  variables, 
and  a 
the 
list  of  principles 
for 
formulation 
questions 
concerning 
labour  status,  are 
drawn  up  according  to  the  procedure 
laid  down 
this 
Regulation. 

in  Article  8  of 

the 

the 

of 

Article 5 

Conduct of the survey 

The  Member  States  may  make 
compulsory to reply to the survey. 
They  shall  endeavour  to  ensure  that 
the  information  requested  is  provided 
truthfully  within the periods  specified. 

it 

)o 

Article 6 

Transmission of the results 

Within twelve weeks of the end of the 
reference  quarter  in  the  case  of  a 
continuous  survey  (and  within  nine 
months  of  the  end  of  the  reference 
period  in  the  case  of  a  survey  in  the 
spring), 
the  Member  States  shall 
forward  to  Eurostat  the  results  of  the 
survey,  duly  checked,  for  each  person 
questioned, without indication of name 
or address. 

Article 7 

Reports 

A report on the implementation  of this 
Regulation  shall  be  submitted  by  the 
Commission to the Parliament  and the 
Council  every  three  years,  beginning 
in  the  year  2000.  This  report  shall 
evaluate in particular the quality of the 
statistical  methods  envisaged  by  the 
Member  States  to  improve  the  results 
or to lighten the survey procedures. 

Article 8 

Procedure 

The  Commission  shall  be  assisted  by 
the  Statistical  Programme  Committee 
set up under Decision (EEC, Euratom) 
No.  89/382,  hereinafter  referred  to  as 
'the committee'. 

The  representative  of the  Commission 
shall  submit  to  the  committee  a  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 delivered  by the majority  laid 
down in Article  148(2) of the Treaty in 
the  case  of  decisions  which 
the 
Council  is  required  to  adopt  on  a 
proposal  from  the  Commission.  The 
votes  of  the  representatives  of  the 
Member  States  within  the  committee 
shall be weighted in the manner set out 
in that Article. The chairman  shall  not 
vote. 

shall 

The Commission  shall adopt  measures 
which 
immediately. 
apply 
However,  if these  measures  are  not  in 
accordance  with  the  opinion  of  the 
be 
they 
committee, 
communicated  by  the  Commission  to 
the  Council  forthwith.  In  that  event, 
the Commission shall defer  application 
of  the  measures  which  it  has  decided 
for  a  period  of  three  months  from  the 
date of communication. 

shall 

The  Council,  acting  by  a  qualified 
majority,  may take a different  decision 
within the time  limit  referred  to  in  the 
previous paragraph. 

Article 9 

Arrangements for repealing 

The Regulation (EEC) N° 3711/91 is 
hereby repealed. 

Article 10 

Entry into force 

This  Regulation  shall  enter  into  force 
on the day  following  its publication  in 
the  Official  Journal  of  the  European 
Communities. 

This Regulation  shall be binding  in all 
its entirety and immediately  applicable 
in all Member States. 

li 

FINANCIAL STATEMENT No 1 

1. 

FINANCIAL STATEMENT 

Title of the operation: proposal  for  a Council regulation  on the organisation  of a 
labour force sample survey in the Community 

2. 

BUDGET HEADINGS INVOLVED 

B5-6000 and budgetary headings concerned with social and regional policies 

3. 

LEGAL BASIS 

Article 213 of the Treaty and Council Regulation (EC) n.° 322/97 of  17 February 
1997 concerning Community Statistics. 

4. 

DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTION 

4.1 

General purpose of the action 

This  purpose  of  the present  Council  Regulation  is  to  provide  users  with 
frequent,  more  recent  and  more  harmonised  statistics  on 
more 
employment and unemployment in the European Union. 

4.2 

Period covered by the action and procedures for  renewal or extension 

The proposed regulation organises the survey for an indefinite period. 

5. 

CLASSIFICATION OF EXPENDITURE OR REVENUE 

5.1 

Non-compulsory expenditure 

5.2  Differentiated appropriations 

5.3 

Type of revenue involved 

Sales of statistical products (databases, publications) cover a small  part of 
the production costs. 

ISu 

TYPE OF EXPENDITURE OR REVENUE 

The amount paid by the Commission to the Member States represents only part of 
the  real  cost  of  data  collection  since  the  Commission's  statistical  work  is 
devolved to a very large extent, with the operating  and administrative  costs being 
borne  almost  exclusively  by  the  national  governments.  Nevertheless,  the 
expenditure  envisaged  is essential  in  order  to  accelerate  the  process  of  adapting 
the national  surveys, thus reducing the transitional  period mentioned  in Article 1 
(2). 

FINANCIAL  EFFECT  ON  INTERVENTION  APPROPRIATIONS  (PART  B  OF  THE 
BUDGET) 

7.1  Method of calculating the cost of the action (definition of unit costs) 

The  amount  to  be  taken  from  the  Community  budget  for  the  project  to 
adapt the existing  system  for  collecting  data  is calculated  on the  basis  of 
the very different  extent of the changes required in each Member State. 

Type of changes required and expenses to be borne by the Member States: 
computerisation  of  interview  procedures  (CAPI/CATI),  revision  of  the 
sampling  plan,  adaptation  of the  questionnaires, pilot  surveys,  adaptation 
of data management computer programs. 

The  Community's  contribution  to  the  Member  States  would  amount  to 
ECU 7 million. 

7.2 

Breakdown of the cost of the action (ECU million) 

Member State 
Total 

1998 
2 000 
2 000 

1999 
2 000 
2 000 

2000 
1000 
1 000 

2001 
1000 
1000 

2002 
1 000 
1000 

Total 
7 000 
7 000 

7.3  Operating expenditure for  studies, experts, etc, included in Part B of the 

Budget (ECU million) 

None 

/3 

7.4 

Indicative timetable for  commitment and payment appropriations 

C.A. 
P.A. 

1998 
2 000 
1000 

1999 
2 000 
2 000 

2000 
1000 
1 500 

2001 
1000 
1000 

2002 
1000 
1000 

2003 
-
500 

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. 

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  level and  structure  of employment  and unemployment  in 
the  European  Union.  Following  the  guidelines  in  the  White  Paper  on 
Growth,  Competitiveness  and  Employment,  and  the  conclusions  of  the 
Essen  Summit, 
indispensable  for  establishing, 
monitoring  and  assessing  regional,  national  and  Community  policies  on 
employment.  They  are  also  required  for 
implementation  and 
assessment of structural policies. 

these  statistics  are 

the 

9.2 

Grounds for  the action 

The responsibility  for  financing  this action rests mainly with 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 for adapting existing surveys to Community needs. 
The purpose of this financial  contribution is to co-finance  part of the costs 
involved in adapting the survey methods. 

The purpose of this action is 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"; 

iy 

provide  the  national  governments  with  comparable  statistics  on  all  the 
Member  States for  evaluationg and monitoring the progress of Community 
policies; 

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; 

provide the  scientific  community  with  the  information  necessary  to  carry 
forward  its analyses 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 and the structural policies. 

in  which 

Statistical information  is collected using a system largely based  on the principle of 
subsidiarity, 
the  national  statistical  offices  have  considerable 
responsibility. 
The Community  Statistical Programme will become an integral part of the national 
statistical programmes, thus contributing to creating a European statistical area. 

Improving the labour force  surveys will have a considerable positive impact on the 
whole  of  the  European  statistical  system, 
through  greater 
harmonisation between  the different  surveys of households and better estimates of 
employment (ESA). 

in  particular 

9.3  Monitoring and assessing the action 

The action forms part of the Community Statistical Programme, which is 
monitored continuously by the Statistical Programme Committee in the 
context of (EC) Regulation No .322/97 relating to Conimunity statistics. 

/r 

10. 

ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENDITURE (PART A OF THE BUDGET) 

10.1 

Impact on the number of staff- internal redeployment 

Type of post 

Staff appointed to run 
the action 

permanent 
posts 

temporary 
posts 

Officials  or 
temporary agents 

Other resources 
Total 

A 
B 
C 

2 
4 
1 

7 

0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

of which 

duration 

by using 
existing 
resources 
within the 
DGor 
service 
concerned 
2 
4 
1 
0 
7 

by 
employin 
g 
additional 
resources 

0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

from  1999 

10.2  Overall financial impact of additional human resources 

None (internal redeployment) 

Officials 
Temporary agents 
Other resources 

Totals 
Ô 
0 
0 
0 

Total 

(ecus) 

Method of calculation 

10.3 

Impact on other operating expenditure 

None 

Budget heading (No and title) 

Totals 

Method of calculation 

(ecus) 

Total 

0 

H 

IMPACT OF THE PROPOSAL ON ENTERPRISES 

No impact on enterprises since this is a household survey. 

n-

ADDITIONAL STATEMENT CONCERNING THE EFTA MEMBERS OF THE 
EEA 

TITLE OF THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION 

Proposal for a Council Regulation on the organisation of a labour force sample survey in 
the European Community. 

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. 

They 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. 

te 

ISSN 0254-1475 

COM(97) 376 final 

DOCUMENTS 

EN 

17  04 

Catalogue number  :  CB-CO-97-372-EN-C 

ISBN  92-78-22840-0 

Office  for Official  Publications of the European Communities 

L-2985  Luxembourg 

19