Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning statistics on the Information Society
Date: 2003-08-25
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU financing, EU statistics, household, information society, type of business

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 25.8.2003
COM(2003) 509 final

2003/0199 (COD)

Proposal for a

REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

concerning statistics on the Information Society

(presented by the Commission)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

1.

BACKGROUND

Information and communications technologies (ICT) are having an increasing economic  and
social  impact.  Policy  makers  have  sought  to  ensure  that  the  new  technologies  are  rapidly
absorbed into  everyday  economic  and  social  life.  This  has  led  to  requests  for  statistics  on  a
wide range of topics in the information society domain. The Structural Indicators, used in the
annual  Spring  Report  to  the  European  Council,  include  indicators  from  the  information
society domain which require harmonized statistics at the European level.

In June 2002, European Heads of State endorsed the eEurope 2005 Action Plan, which sets up
a  number  of  targets  to  be  achieved  by  the  end  of  2005,  within  the  overall  objective  of  the
Lisbon  Council  for  2010  of  "making  Europe  within  ten  years  the  most  competitive  and
dynamic  knowledge-based  economy  in  the  world".  The  Plan  includes  among  its  actions  a
process  of  benchmarking  by  means  of  indicators.  The  Action  Plan  states:  "To  improve  the
quality [compared to eEurope 2002],  measurement of eEurope 2005 indicators should  make
greater use of official statistics from the National Statistical Institutes and Eurostat. To allow
for  regular  and  comparable  data  collection  in  Member  States  a  legal  base  is  needed  for
Information Society statistics"1. Council Resolution 5197/2003, on the implementation of the
eEurope 2005 Action Plan, echoes the need for greater quality: "To improve quality, greater
use  should  be  made  of  surveys  undertaken  by  NSIs  and  Eurostat.....  When  carrying  out  the
surveys, all practical steps should be taken to ensure quality and comparability of data across
countries".  As  the  Lisbon  Council  target  year  is  2010,  it  is  probable  that  these  needs  will
continue beyond 2005. The Commission DGs look to the European Statistical System (ESS)
to provide high quality statistics in this area.

In September 2002, after the publication of the eEurope 2005 Action Plan, Eurostat presented
an Action Plan for Information Society statistics for 2002/2003 to the Statistical Programme
Committee, which included measures to increase the involvement of the ESS in the supply of
core statistics. A majority of Member States agreed that "a Framework Regulation, allowing a
maximum of flexibility and referring to a limited set of indicators"2 was necessary.

A  draft  of  a  legal  act  was  first  presented  to  an  Information  Society  Strategic  Task  Force  in
November  2002.  Since  then  a  series  of  consultations  with  Member  States  has  resulted  in
revisions to the act, and finally to the agreed text of the present proposal.

1

2

"eEurope 2005:  An  information  society  for  all"  [  Action  Plan  presented  to  Seville  European  Council,
June 2002]
Minutes of 46th Meeting of the SPC, Palermo, 18 September 2002 (CPS 2002/46/6)

2

                                                
2.

CONTENT OF THE REGULATION

The  proposed  legislation  provides  a  legal  framework  for  National  Statistical  Institutes  to
provide  the  statistics  needed  for  the  Structural  Indicators  and  the  e-Europe  benchmarking
process, while at the same time being flexible enough to respond to new needs. The act is a
framework regulation which covers statistics to be provided only in terms of outputs, leaving
Member States full flexibility in how to obtain the statistics. It is limited in duration, in order
not to create any permanent statistical burden.

The regulation contains two annexes, each defining a module which will later be implemented
by a Commission Regulation. The modules define lists of subjects which may be covered by
implementing  measures.  The  lists  have  been  drawn  up  after  extensive  consultation  with
Member  States,  who  are  in  support  of  both  the  content  of  the  lists  themselves,  and  the
mechanism  of  defining subjects in broad terms  in  the  present  Regulation,  and  later  drawing
from these lists to define characteristics more specifically (in terms of statistical variables to
be provided) in implementing measures.

The draft Regulation was discussed at the meeting of the Statistical Programme Committee on
15th May 2003. A large majority of Member States were in favour of this Regulation.

3

2003/0199 (COD)

Proposal for a

REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

concerning statistics on the Information Society

(Text with EEA relevance)

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

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

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission3,

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty4,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

The European Council in Lisbon  in March 2000 set the target  for Europe to become
within ten years the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the
world;

The  eEurope  Action  Plan  2002  –  endorsed  at  the  Feira  European  Council  in  June
2000– established a process of target-setting and benchmarking to bring Europe online
as fast as possible;

The  European  Council  in  Seville  in  June  2002  endorsed  the  aims  of  the  eEurope
Action Plan 2005, which called for a legal basis to ensure regular and comparable data
provision  in  Member  States  and  enable  greater  use  of  official  statistics  on  the
information society;

The Structural Indicators which are used in the annual Spring Report to the European
Council  require  indicators  based  on  coherent  statistical  information  from  the
information society domain;

The  process  of  benchmarking  eEurope  as  part  of  the  implementation  of  eEurope
Action  Plans  requires  indicators  based  on  coherent  statistical  information  from  the
information society domain;

Harmonised statistics on ICT usage in enterprises are needed on an annual basis by the
Commission’s services;

3

4

OJ C …, …, p. …
OJ C …, …, p. …

4

                                                
(7)

(8)

(9)

(10)

(11)

Harmonised statistics on ICT usage in households and by individuals are needed on an
annual basis by the Commission’s services;

The  rapidly  changing  nature  of  the  information  society  domain  requires  that  the
statistics that are produced adapt to new developments, and this can be provided for by
having  modules  with  a  fixed  duration,  and  by  allowing  for  modification  through
implementing  measures  taking  into  consideration  Member  States'  resources  and  the
burden on respondents;

The  production  of  specific  Community  statistics  is  governed  by  the  rules  set  out  in
Council Regulation N° 322/97 of 17 February 1997 on Community Statistics5;

In  accordance  with  the  principles  of  subsidiarity  and  proportionality  as  set  out  in
Article 5 of the Treaty, the objective of the proposed action, namely the establishment
of a common framework for the systematic production of Community statistics on the
information  society,  cannot  be  sufficiently  achieved  by  the  Member  States  and  can
therefore,  by  reason  of  the  scale  or  effects  of  the  action,  be  better  achieved  by  the
Community.  This  regulation  confines  itself  to  the  minimum  required  to  achieve  this
objective and does not go beyond what is necessary for that purpose;

Since the measures necessary for the implementation of this Regulation are measures
of general scope within the meaning of 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  Commission6  they  should  be  adopted  by  use  of  the  regulatory
procedure provided for in Article 5 of that Decision;

(12)

The  Statistical  Programme  Committee  (SPC),  set  up  by  Decision  89/382/EEC,
Euratom7 has been consulted in accordance with Article 3 of the aforesaid Decision,

HAVE ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1
Subject matter

The  purpose  of  this  Regulation  is  to  establish  a  common  framework  for  the  systematic
production of Community statistics on the information society.

5

6

7

OJ L 52, 22.2.1997, p. 61.
OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23.
OJ L 181, 28.6.1989, p.47.

5

                                                
For the purpose of this Regulation, the following definitions shall apply:

Article 2
Definitions

(a)

(b)

“Community  statistics”  shall  have  the  meaning  assigned  to  it  in  Article  2  of
Regulation (EC) 322/978;

“Production of statistics” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Article 2 of
Regulation (EC) 322/97;

(c)

“Reference period” shall mean a period to which data refer;

(d)

“Reference year” shall mean a reference period of one calendar year;

(e)

“Collection  period”  shall  mean  a  period  specified  in  implementing  measures
during which a collection of data takes place;

Article 3
Scope

1.

2.

The  statistics  to  be  compiled  include  information  required  for  the  eEurope
benchmarking  process  and  for  the  Structural  Indicators,  and  other  information
necessary to provide a uniform basis to analyse the information society.

The  statistics  shall  be  grouped  as  modules.  Each  module  shall  be  defined  in  an
Annex to this Regulation.

Article 4
Modules

The modules in this Regulation shall cover the following domains:

– 

– 

Enterprises and the information society, defined in Annex 1;

Individuals, households and the information society, defined in Annex 2.

Article 5
Methodological manual

The  Commission  (Eurostat)  in  close  cooperation  with  Member  States  shall  draw  up,  and
update  as  made  necessary  by  new  implementing  measures,  an  advisory  methodological
manual  which  contains  guidance  concerning  the  Community  statistics  produced  pursuant  to
this Regulation.

8

OJ L 52, 22.2.1997, p.1. Any modifications made to this definition in Council Regulation (EC) 322/97
shall also apply here.

6

                                                
1.

2.

1.

2.

3.

4.

1.

2.

3.

Article 6
Transmission of data

Member  States  shall  transmit  the  aggregate  data  and  metadata  required  by  this
Regulation  and  its  implementing  measures,  including  confidential  data,  to  the
Commission  (Eurostat)  in  accordance  with  the  existing  Community  provisions  on
transmission  of  data  subject  to  statistical  confidentiality.  These  Community
provisions  shall  apply  to  the  treatment  of  the  results,  in  so  far  as  they  include
confidential data.

Member  States  shall  transmit  the  data  and  metadata  required  by  this  Regulation  in
electronic  form,  in  conformance  with  an  interchange  standard  agreed  between  the
Commission and the Member States.

Article 7
Quality criteria and reports

The Commission (Eurostat) shall assess the quality of the data transmitted.

The Commission (Eurostat), in close co-operation with Member States, shall develop
recommended  common  standards  designed  to  ensure  the  quality  (according  to  the
standard  Eurostat  quality  criteria)  of  the  data  provided.  These  standards  shall  be
published in the methodological manual.

Member  States  shall  take  all  measures  necessary  to  ensure  the  quality  of  the  data
transmitted.

Within a set period after the deadline for transmission of final results, Member States
shall  supply  the  Commission  (Eurostat)  with  a  report  on  the  quality  of  the  data
transmitted on the basis of the recommended common quality standards. This period
shall be agreed upon during the development of implementing measures. The report
shall  specify  instances  in  which  they  have  not  followed  the  methodological
recommendations referred to in paragraph 2.

Article 8
Implementing measures

The  measures  for  implementing  the  modules  of  this  Regulation  shall  concern  the
specification,  adjustment  and  modification  of  subjects  and  their  characteristics,  the
reference  periods  and  breakdowns  of  characteristics,  the  periodicity  and  timing  of
data provision and the deadlines for transmission of results.

Implementing measures, including adjustment and updating measures to take account
of  economic  and  technical  changes,  shall  be  laid  down  in  accordance  with  the
procedure  specified  in  Article  9(2),  taking  into  consideration  Member  States'
resources and the burden on respondents.

Implementing measures shall be drawn up at least 9 months before a data collection
period.

7

1.

2.

3.

1.

2.

3.

4.

Article 9
Committee

The  Commission  shall  be  assisted  by  the  Statistical  Programme  Committee,
established  by  Decision  89/382/EEC,  Euratom  composed  of  representatives  of  the
Member States and chaired by the representative of the Commission.

Where  reference  is  made  to  this  paragraph,  the  regulatory  procedure  laid  down  in
Article 5 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, in compliance with Article 7(3) and
Article 8 thereof.

The  period  provided  for  in  Article  5(6)  of  Decision  1999/468/EC  shall  be  three
months.

Article 10
Financing

For at least the first year in which Community statistics provided for in implementing
measures to this Regulation are  produced  by  Member  States,  the  Commission shall
make a financial contribution to the Member States to help cover the costs incurred
by them in producing, processing and transmitting these statistics.

Financial contributions shall be in the form of grants. The conditions and procedures
for the awarding of grants and for payment and control shall be in accordance with
Council Regulation 1605/2002 (EC, Euratom), Articles 108-120, as implemented by
Commission Regulation 2342/2002 (EC, Euratom), Articles 160-184.

If budgetary conditions permit, the Commission intends to continue financial support
(grants)  to  Member  States  to  help  offset  the  costs  of  providing  these  statistics  in
subsequent years.

The  amount  of  such  financial  contribution  shall  be  fixed  as  part  of  the  annual
budgetary  procedures  of  the  European  Communities.  The  maximum  Community
contribution shall not exceed 90 % of the total costs of providing these statistics. The
budget authority shall determine the appropriations available.

8

Article 11
Entry into force

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

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

Done at Brussels,

For the European Parliament
The President

For the Council
The President

9

ANNEX 1
MODULE 1: ENTERPRISES AND THE INFORMATION SOCIETY

(a)

Aims

The aim of this module is the timely provision of statistics on the availability of, readiness for,
usage of, and perceived effects of ICT in enterprises

(b)

Coverage

This  module  covers  business  activities  within  Sections  D  to  K,  and  Division  92  of  the
the  European  Community
statistical 
(NACE REV. 1.1). Section J will be included subject to successful prior pilot studies.

classification  of 

economic 

activities 

in 

The statistics shall be compiled for enterprise units.

(c)

Duration and periodicity of data provision

Annual provision  of statistics  for  up  to  five  reference  years  following  the  date  of  entry  into
force  of  this  Regulation.  Not  all  characteristics  will  necessarily  be  provided  each  year;  the
periodicity of provision for each characteristic will be specified and agreed upon as part of the
implementing measures.

(d)

Subjects covered

The characteristics to be provided will be drawn from the following list of subjects:

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

ICT systems and their usage in enterprises

Use of internet and other electronic networks by enterprises

e-Commerce and e-Business processes

ICT competence in the enterprise unit and the demand for ICT skills

Barriers to use of ICT, internet and other electronic networks, e-commerce and
e-business processes

ICT expenditure and investment

ICT security

Perceived effects of ICT usage on enterprises

10

 (e)

Breakdowns

Not all breakdowns will necessarily be provided each year; the breakdowns required will be
drawn from the following list and agreed upon as part of the implementing measures.

– 

– 

– 

By size class

By NACE heading

By region.

11

ANNEX 2
MODULE 2: INDIVIDUALS, HOUSEHOLDS AND THE INFORMATION SOCIETY

 (a)

Aims

The aim of this module is the timely provision of statistics on the availability of, readiness for,
usage of, and perceived effects of ICT in households and for individuals.

 (b)

Coverage

This module covers statistics about private households and individuals.

 (c)

Duration and periodicity of data provision

Annual provision  of statistics  for  up  to  five  reference  years  following  the  date  of  entry  into
force of this Regulation. Not all characteristics will necessarily be provided each year; the he
periodicity of provision for each characteristic will be specified and agreed upon as part of the
implementing measures.

 (d)

Subjects covered

The characteristics to be provided will be drawn from the following list of subjects:

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

Access to and use of ICT systems by individuals and/or in households

Use of internet for different purposes by individuals and/or in households

ICT security

ICT competence

Barriers to use of ICT and the Internet

Perceived effects of ICT usage

 (e)

Breakdowns

Not all breakdowns will necessarily be provided each year; the breakdowns required will be
drawn from the following list and agreed upon as part of the implementing measures:

 A. For statistics supplied for households:

– 

By household type

12

 B. For statistics supplied for individuals:

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

By age class

By sex

By education level

By employment situation

By region

13

LEGISLATIVE FINANCIAL STATEMENT

Policy area(s): Statistics

Activit(y/ies): Information Society Statistics

TITLE OF ACTION: Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and the Council (EC)

No ../..... concerning statistics on the information society

1.

BUDGET LINE(S) + HEADING(S)

B5-3310  (ABB  09  03  01)(DG  INFSO/ESTAT)  -  MODINIS  (until  end  2005;  in
subsequent years subject to availability of funds from a follow-up programme)

B5-3260 (ABB 02 05 01) (DG ENTR) - Competitiveness

B5-6000  (ABB  29  02  01)  (ESTAT)  Statistical  Information  Policy  (after  2006,  if
consistent with financial perspective in force for the period commencing in 2007)

2.

OVERALL FIGURES

2.1.

Total allocation for action (Part B): 12.5 € million for commitment

Existing  budget  allocation  on  these  lines  (concerning  B5-3310  subject  to  final
approval  of  the  MODINIS  budget)  already  covers  this  amount  and  no  additional
resources  are  necessary.  This  proposal  is  consistent  with  the  existing  financial
programming of the Commission.

2.2.

Period of application:

2004-2008

2.3.

(a)

Overall multiannual estimate of expenditure:

Schedule  of  commitment  appropriations/payment  appropriations 
intervention) (see point 6.1.1)

(financial

€ million (to 3rd decimal places)

[n+1]

[n+2]

[n+3]

[n+4]

Year
[n]

[n+5
and
subs.
Years
]

Total

Commitments*

2.500

2.500 2.500

2.500

2.500

0

12.500

Payments

1.000

2.500 2.500

2.500

2.500

1.500

12.500

*  Expected  breakdown  of  expenditure  between  budget  lines  for  each  year  (€  million):
B5-3310: 2.000

B2-3260: 0.500

B5-6000: (p.m.)

Total: 2.500

14

(b)

Overall  financial  impact  of  human  resources  and  other  administrative  expenditure
(see points 7.2 and 7.3)

Commitments/
payments

0.432

0.432

0.432

0.432

0.432

0

2.160

The human resources indicated will be covered within the existing allocation of Policy Area
Statistics.

TOTAL a+b

Commitments

2.932

2.932

2.932

2.932

2.932

14.660

Payments

1.432

2.932

2.932

2.932

2.932

1.500

14.660

2.4.

Compatibility with financial programming and financial perspective

Proposal is compatible with existing financial programming.

2.5.

Financial impact on revenue:

No financial implications (involves technical aspects regarding implementation of a measure)

3.

BUDGET CHARACTERISTICS

B5-3310 (09 03 01)

MODINIS

Type of expenditure

New

EFTA
participation

Participation
applicant
countries

Heading
Financial
Perspective

Non-comp

Diff

NO

YES

YES

No 3 -
Internal
Policies

B5-3260 (02 05 01) –
Competitiveness

Type of expenditure

New

EFTA
participation

Participation
applicant
countries

Heading
Financial
Perspective

Non-comp

Diff

NO

NO

NO

No 3 -
Internal
Policies

15

B5-6000 (29 02 01) –
ESTAT (p.m.)

Type of expenditure

New

EFTA
participation

Participation
applicant
countries

Heading
Financial
Perspective

Non-comp

Diff

NO

YES

NO

No 3 -
Internal
Policies

4.

LEGAL BASIS

Articles 285, 157 and 165 of the Amsterdam Treaty establishing the European Community

Council Regulation (EC) No. 322/97 on Community Statistics

Decision No. 2367/2002/EC of the EP and of the Council of the 16th December 2002 on the
Community Statistical Programme 2003 to 2007

Seville European Council (June 2002)

Council Resolution 5197/2003 implementing the eEurope 2005 Action Plan

5.

DESCRIPTION AND GROUNDS

5.1.

Need for Community intervention

5.1.1. Objectives pursued

The  objective  of  this  Proposal  is  to  establish  a  legal  framework  for  the  provision  of
harmonized statistics on the information society at European level, including statistics needed
both for the Structural Indicators, used in the annual Spring Report to the European Council,
and for the eEurope benchmarking process.

The  eEurope  2005  Action  Plan,  endorsed  by  Heads  of  State  at  the  Seville  Council  in  June
2002, states: "To improve the quality [compared to eEurope 2002 indicators], measurement of
eEurope  2005  indicators  should  make  greater  use  of  official  statistics  from  the  National
Statistical  Institutes  and  Eurostat.  To  allow  for  regular  and  comparable  data  collection  in
Member States a legal base is needed for Information Society statistics.”9

9

"eEurope 2005:  An  information  society  for  all"  [  Action  Plan  presented  to  Seville  European  Council,
June 2002]

16

                                                
5.1.2. Measures taken in connection with ex ante evaluation

The  eEurope  2002  Action  Plan  contained  a  set  of  23  indicators  to  be  used  to  benchmark
progress  towards  the  2010  Lisbon  Council  objective  of  making  Europe  within  ten  years  the
most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world. These indicators were
based  on  statistics  from  non-official  sources.  Following  the  evaluation  of  this  process,  the
Action Plan for eEurope up to 2005 contained the statement quoted in paragraph 5.1.1 above,
and Council Resolution 5197/2003, on the implementation of the eEurope 2005 Action Plan,
reiterated the need for greater quality in the indicators used: "To improve quality, greater use
should be made of surveys undertaken by NSIs and Eurostat. When carrying out the surveys,
all  practical  steps  should  be  taken  to  ensure  quality  and  comparability  of  data  across
countries".

In  this  context  Eurostat  presented  an  Action  Plan  for  Information  Society  statistics  for
2002/2003 to the SPC, which included measures to increase the involvement of the ESS in the
supply of core statistics. A majority of Member States agreed that "a Framework Regulation,
allowing  a  maximum  of  flexibility  and  referring  to  a  limited  set  of  indicators"10  was
necessary.

5.2.

Action envisaged and arrangements for budget intervention

The proposed Regulation describes the legal framework within which Member States' national
statistical  offices  will  provide  the  statistical  variables  on  the  information  society  needed  for
the Structural Indicators and eEurope benchmarking indicators. The variables to be provided
will  be  detailed  in  implementing  measures.  Both  this  framework  regulation  and  future
implementing  regulations  will  be  "output"  measures,  defining  the  statistical  variables  to  be
provided, but leaving Member States full flexibility in how to obtain the variables. In practice,
many  Member  States  will  extend  existing  surveys  or  conduct  specific  surveys  to  obtain  the
results  required.  The  Commission  contribution  will  take  the  form  of  grants  awarded  on  the
basis  of  grant  applications  submitted  by  Member  States  in  advance  which  will  include
estimated cost statements. Data will be provided annually. Eurostat will maintain a database
for the data, and will publish statistics on the information society annually. There will thus be
a single action: to provide grants to national statistical institutes in Member States to offset the
cost of providing these variables.

5.3.

Methods of implementation

Management of the grants procedure and all data handling  will  be carried out by permanent
Commission staff, with no externalisation.

10

Minutes of 46th Meeting of the SPC, Palermo, 18 September 2002 (CPS 2002/46/6).

17

                                                
6.

FINANCIAL IMPACT

6.1.

Total financial impact on Part B - (over the entire programming period)

6.1.1.

Financial intervention

Commitments (in € million to the 3rd decimal place)

Breakdown*

[Year
n]

[n+1]

[n+2]

[n+3]

[n+4]

Action  1-  grants  to  MSs  for

2.500

2.500

2.500

2.500

2.500

the  provision  of  statistical

variables

TOTAL 2.500

2.500

2.500

2.500

2.500

[n+5
and
subs.
Years]

0

0

Total

12.500

12.500

* Expected breakdown of expenditure between budget lines for each year (€ million):

B5–3310: 2.000

B5-3260: 0.500

B5-6000: (p.m.)

Total: 2.500

6.2.

Calculation  of  costs  by  measure  envisaged  in  Part  B  (over  the  entire
programming period)

Breakdown

Action 1

Management of grant procedure

Commitments (in € million to 3rd decimal place)

Type
of outputs
(projects, files )

Number of
outputs

Average unit
cost

(total for years
1…n)

Total cost

(total for years
1…n)

1

2

Set  of  statistical
variables

125 
sets 
countries 
5 years)

(25
x

3

0.100

4=(2X3)

12.500

TOTAL COST

18

7.

IMPACT ON STAFF AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENDITURE

7.1.

Impact on human resources

The  human  resources  indicated  will  be  covered  within  the  existing  allocation  of
Policy Area Statistics.

Types of post

Staff to be assigned to management of the
action using existing resources

Total

Description of tasks deriving from the
action

Number of
permanent posts

Number of
temporary posts

1.5

2.0

0.5

4.0

Management of grants procedure

Contracts, Database management

Secretarial.

1.5

2.0

0.5

4.0

Permanent
Officials 
temporary staff

or

A

B

C

Other human resources

Total

7.2.

Overall financial impact of human resources

Type of human resources

Amount (€)

Method of calculation *

Officials

Temporary staff

Other human resources

432,000

4 x 108,000

(give budget line)

Total

432,000

The amounts are total expenditure for twelve months.

7.3.

Other administrative expenditure deriving from the action

Amount €

Method of calculation

Budget line

(number and heading)

Overall allocation (Title A7)

A0701 – Missions

A07030 – Meetings

A07031 – Compulsory committees 1

A07032 – Non-compulsory committees 1

A07040 – Conferences

A0705 – Studies and consultations

Other expenditure (specify)

Information systems (A-5001/A-4300)

Other expenditure - Part A (state which)

The amounts are total expenditure for twelve months.

Total

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1 Specify the type of committee and the group to which it belongs.

I.

II.

III.

8.

Annual total (7.2 + 7.3)

Duration of action

Total cost of action (I x II)

432,000 €

5 years

2,160,000 €

FOLLOW-UP AND EVALUATION

8.1.

Follow-up arrangements

The implementation of this Regulation will be treated in a comitology procedure. As specified
in Article 8 of this Regulation, Commission Regulations will be developed in relation to the
specification,  adjustment  and  modification  of  statistical  characteristics  (variables)  to  be
provided together with their reference periods and breakdowns, the periodicity and timing of
data  provision,  the  breakdowns  of  results  and  the  deadlines  for  transmission  of  results  and
quality reports to Eurostat.

8.2.

Arrangements and schedule for the planned evaluation

Within  a  defined  period  after  the  deadline  for  the  transmission  of  final  results  for  every
reference period, each Member State will submit to the Commission a report on the quality of
the  data  transmitted,  based  on  recommended  common  quality  standards  developed  by  the
Commission  in  consultation  with  the  Member  States.  The  report  shall  specify  instances  in
which  they  have  not  followed  methodological  recommendations,  and  give  some  analysis  of
the cause of the discrepency. Commission services will evaluate these reports each year and,
in consultation with Member States, make modifications to the procedures in force or to the
methodological recommendations to improve compliance to quality standards in the future.

9.

ANTI-FRAUD MEASURES

A  revised  system  of  internal  management  and  control  was  put  in  place  following  the
Commission's Reform initiative on financial management. This system included a reinforced
internal audit capability.

Annual  monitoring  of  progress  with  implementation  of  the  Commission's  Internal  Control
Standards  is  designed  to  give  assurance  on  the  existence  and  functioning  of  procedures  for
prevention and detection of fraud and irregularities.

New  rules  and  procedures  have  been  adopted  for  the  principal  budgetary  process:  calls  for
tenders,  grants,  commitments,  contracts  and  payments.  The  manual  of  procedures  are  made
available  to  all  those  intervening  in  financial  acts  with  a  view  to  clarify  responsibilities,
simplify  workflows  and  indicate  key  control  points.  Training  on  their  use  is  provided.  The
manuals are subject to regular review and updating.

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