Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning a set of actions relating to the trans-European network for the collection, production and dissemination of statistics on the trading of goods within the Community and between the Community and non-member countries (Edicom)
Date: 2000-07-20
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: data collection, domestic trade, economic statistics, foreign trade, transmission network

C 337 E/246

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Official Journal of the European Communities

28.11.2000

Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning a set of actions
relating to the trans-European network for the collection, production and dissemination of
statistics on the trading of goods within the Community and between the Community and
non-member countries (Edicom)

(2000/C 337 E/40)

(Text with EEA relevance)

COM(2000) 458 final (cid:16) 2000/0201(COD)

(Submitted by the Commission on 20 July 2000)

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE
EUROPEAN UNION,

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

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

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

Whereas:

reducing the workload on statistical information providers
have been approved by the European Parliament and the
Council.

(7) The objectives of this Decision are compatible with those
of Decisions Nos 1999/1719/EC (4) and 1999/1720/EC (5)
of the European Parliament and the Council on trans-
the electronic interchange of
European networks
data between administrations
(IDA); account will be
in particular Article 11 of
taken of
Decision No 1999/1719/EC,
this
Decision.

IDA decisions,

implementing

for

in

(1) The actions implemented pursuant to Council Decision
No 96/715/EC of 9 December 1996 on inter-adminis-
tration telematic networks for statistics relating to the
trading of goods between Member States (1) have made
it possible to improve considerably the quality of intra-
Community statistics.

(8) An ex-ante evaluation has been performed in accordance
with the Commission’s financial management rules,
in
order to focus the programme on the need for effec-
tiveness in achieving the objectives and to incorporate
budgetary constraints
the
programme onwards.

from the design phase of

(2) Intra-Community foreign trade statistics are entering a
new phase of development, characterised by growing
and increasingly demanding user needs.

(3) The Council attaches special priority to meeting the
urgent need of the Economic and Monetary Union for
fast, reliable and accurate macroeconomic statistics.

(4) The modernisation of the trans-European network for the
collection, production and dissemination of statistics on
the trading of goods within the Community and between
the Community and non-member countries should be a
driving force in the development of these statistics.

(5) Council Regulation (EEC) No 3330/91 of 7 November
1991 on the statistics relating to the trading of goods
between Member States (2) and Council Regulation (EC)
No 1172/95 of 22 May 1995 on the statistics relating to
the trading of goods by the Community and its Member
for
States with
increased use of automatic processing and electronic
transmission.

non-member

countries (3)

provide

(6) Simplification of the Intrastat system was a pilot project in
the SLIM (;Simpler Legislation for the Internal Market<)
the specific proposals for
initiative launched in 1996;

(9) In accordance with the principles of subsidiarity and
proportionality laid down in Article 5 of the Treaty, the
objectives of this Decision cannot be adequately achieved
the development and
by the Member States;
in fact
the
modernisation of
collection, processing and dissemination of
intra- and
extra-Community trade statistics can be better achieved
at Community level, with the scope of this Decision not
exceeding what is necessary to achieve these objectives.

the trans-European network for

(10) Council Regulation (EC) No 322/97 of 17 February 1997
statistics (6) provides
on Community
regulatory
framework for the provisions of this Decision, particularly
those relating to access to administrative data sources,
statistical confidentiality and the principle of cost-effec-
tiveness.

the

(11) Since the measures necessary for

implementing this
Decision are management measures in accordance with
Article 2 of Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June
1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of
implementing powers conferred on the Commission (7)
the measures
should be adopted according to the
management procedure laid down in Article 4 thereof.

(1) OJ L 327, 18.12.1996, p. 34.
(2) OJ L 316, 16.11.1991, p. 1.
(3) OJ L 118, 25.5.1995, p. 10.

(4) OJ L 203, 3.8.1999, p. 1.
(5) OJ L 203, 3.8.1999, p. 9.
(6) OJ L 52, 22.2.1997, p. 1.
(7) OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23.

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a

financial

(12) This Decision lays down, for the entire duration of the
framework constituting the
programme,
principal point of
reference, within the meaning of
point 1 of the Declaration by the European Parliament,
the Council and the Commission of 6 March 1995, for the
budgetary
budgetary
procedure,

authority

annual

during

the

HAVE ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Field of application and general objectives

The measures provided for in this Decision relate to the
1.
trans-European network for the collection, compilation and
dissemination of statistics on the trading of goods within the
Community and between the Community and non-member
countries.

B to improve the service offered to suppliers and users of
information, by providing them with the available
statistics and metadata relating to the trading of goods;

(b) the development and promotion of

tools for collecting
information on the trading of goods, by taking into
account
to
improve the functions available to information providers.

technological advances

the latest

in order

The specific conditions in which these actions are implemented
are set out in Annex 1 to this Decision.

2.
The procedures for implementing the actions referred to
in paragraph 1 shall be adopted by the Commission in
accordance with the procedure provided for in Article 4(2).

2.

The general objectives are as follows:

Article 3

(a) to encourage the rational organisation of

the network
referred to in paragraph 1 in the most modern and
effective manner
adopt measures
necessary for improving and harmonising the methods
used, in order to produce statistics which:

possible

and

to

B are more reliable and less expensive for the information
providers and administrations, and become available
more quickly,

B more fully satisfy the new expectations of users;

(b) to develop existing computer

the collection,
processing,
transmission and dissemination of statistical
data, taking into account the latest technological advances
and seeking to optimise cost-effectiveness.

tools for

Article 2

Actions

1.
To achieve the objectives referred to in Article 1, a set of
actions (known as the ;Edicom< programme) shall be imple-
mented for:

(a) the development of the network referred to in Article 1(1)

in order to:

B produce statistical information that is of better quality
and becomes available more quickly, in order to satisfy
the requirements of Community policies,

B to produce statistical information that is relevant and
appropriate to the new needs of users within the
framework of Economic and Monetary Union and the
changing international economic environment,

B to incorporate statistics on the trading of goods more
effectively into the general statistical system at national,
European and international
level and adapt them to
changes in the administrative environment,

Annual work programme and management of expenditure

In accordance with the procedure provided for in Article

1.
4(2), the Commission shall approve:

B the annual work programme,

including the allocation of

annual budget expenditure under this Decision,

B the adjustments to the breakdown of expenditure set out in
Annex 2, involving a change of more than EUR 200 000
in the resources allocated annually to a category of actions,
during the year.

2.
The Statistical Programme Committee of the European
Communities, instituted by Decision 89/382/EEC, Euratom (1),
shall be informed of the annual work programme.

Article 4

Procedure

1.
The Commission shall be assisted by the Committee on
statistics relating to the trading of goods between Member
States, established by Regulation (EEC) No 3330/91, and the
Committee on statistics relating to the trading of goods with
non-member countries, established by Regulation (EC) No
1172/95, for matters coming under their respective responsi-
bility.

In the event of reference being made to this paragraph,
2.
the management procedure referred to in Article 4 of Decision
1999/468/EC shall apply, in compliance with the provisions of
Article 7(3) and Article 8 thereof.

The period provided for in Article 4(3) of Decision

3.
1999/468/EC shall be fixed at three months.

(1) OJ L 181, 28.6.1989, p. 47.

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Article 5

Evaluation

Article 6

Financial aspects

The Commission,

1.
in collaboration with the Member
States, shall regularly review the actions financed under this
Decision,
in order to ascertain whether the stated objectives
have been attained and to provide guidelines for improving the
effectiveness of future actions. The Commission shall submit to
the Committees referred to in Article 4(1) a summary of the
evaluations, which may if necessary be examined by the latter.
The evaluation reports shall be available on request to the
Member States.

At the end of the period of five years referred to in
2.
Article 7(2), the Commission shall submit to the European
Parliament and the Council a report on implementation of
this Decision, accompanied, where appropriate, by proposals
for new actions.

This report shall seek to estimate, in the light of the expen-
diture incurred by the Community, the benefits of the actions
accruing to the Community, the Member States and providers
information and to identify areas for
and users of statistical
synergy with other
potential
and
improvement
Community activities, particularly in the field of
trans-
European telecommunications networks and technological
development programmes.

verify

3.
The Commission shall take any other measure necessary
to verify that the financed actions are carried out properly and
in compliance with the provisions of this Decision.

The total appropriation for implementation of the Community
project described in this Decision for the period 2000-2004 is
fixed at EUR 51,2 million. An indicative breakdown, by
category of actions referred to in Article 2,
is shown in
Annex 2.

The annual appropriations shall be authorised by the budgetary
authority, subject to budgetary constraints.

The financial resources provided for under this Decision shall
not, in principle, be allocated to actions which benefit from
other sources of Community funding.

Article 7

Entry into force and validity

This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its publi-
cation in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

This Decision shall be valid for a period of five years as from
its entry into force.

Article 8

Addressees

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

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Specific conditions for implementation of the actions referred to in article 2

ANNEX 1

1. Implementation of the actions referred to in Article 2 shall:

(a) take into account the need for continuity of existing computer tools, the usefulness of which is acknowledged
with respect to the objectives referred to in Article 1, giving due regard to competition with the private sector in
the field of business services;

(b) take into account the results of other relevant activities of the Community, particularly in the field of trans-
European telecommunication networks and Community research and technological development programmes;
account will also be taken of obligations in connection with Article 11 of the IDA Decision No 1999/1719/EC;

(c) refer to existing European standards and the specifications accessible to the public, such as the Internet open
standards, so as to guarantee a high degree of interoperability of national and Community systems within and
between the administrative sectors and with the private sector.

2. The actions provided for in Article 2 shall, in advance of the programme, and in accordance with the proposal for

the annual work programme, be the subject of:

(a) a description of their objectives, scope, justification and the likely costs and benefits;

(b) a description of the functions and technical approach;

(c) a detailed implementation plan which describes each task and the order in which the tasks are to be performed.

3. Implementation of the annual work programme will require technical and administrative assistance and support

measures, with a ceiling of 7 % of total appropriations.

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Indicative breakdown, by category of Edicom actions, in accordance with Article 2, for years 2000-2004

ANNEX 2

Breakdown

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

Total

(EUR millions)

An information network of better quality,
less
costly and available more quickly, in accordance
with the requirements of Community policies

A relevant information network adapted to the
changing needs of users within the framework
of Economic and Monetary Union and the inter-
national economic environment

A network of information which is better inte-
grated into the general statistical environment
and adapted to the development of the adminis-
trative environment

A network improving the
service
offered to administrations, users and providers
of data

statistical

A network based on tools for the collection of
information in the light of the latest technological
advances in order to improve functions available
to information providers

2,262

2,226

2,394

2,250

2,250

11,382

0,696

1,128

1,236

2,371

1,503

6,934

2,493

2,884

2,405

2,381

2,758

12,921

1,130

1,118

1,124

0,986

1,634

5,992

1,188

1,068

1,068

0,648

0,648

4,620

Integrated and interoperable network

1,496

0,874

1,290

1,050

1,086

5,796

Technical and administrative assistance; support
measures

0,697

0,700

0,711

0,715

0,732

3,555

Total

9,962

9,998

10,228

10,401

10,611

51,200