Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the production and development of statistics on education and lifelong learning
Date: 2005-12-06
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU statistics, administrative cooperation, continuing vocational training, data collection, education statistics, statistics

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 6.12.2005 
COM(2005) 625 final 

2005/0248 (COD) 

. 

Proposal for a 

REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL 

concerning the production and development of statistics on education and 
lifelong learning 

. 

(presented by the Commission) 

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 EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 

1)  CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL 

110 

•  Grounds for and objectives of the proposal 

The  Spring  2005  European  Council  agreed  to  re-launch  the  Lisbon  Strategy.  It 
concluded that Europe must renew the basis of its competitiveness, increase its growth 
potential  and  its  productivity  and  strengthen  social  cohesion,  placing  the  main 
emphasis  on  knowledge,  innovation  and  the  optimisation  of  human  capital.  In  that 
respect,  the  European  Council  underlined  that  "human  capital  is  Europe's  most 
important asset". 

Comparable statistics and indicators on education, training and lifelong learning are of 
increasing  importance  for  the  European  Union  to  support  the  open  method  of 
coordination in the area of education and training policy. They are also necessary for 
policy  discussions  on  human  capital,  innovation,  growth  and  competitiveness  in  the 
framework of employment, research and innovation and economic policies. Education 
and  training  statistics  were  developed  in  the  past  decade  based  on  the  agreement  of 
countries  to  work  in  the  area  (gentlemen's  agreement)  as  a  response  to  the  Council 
Resolution of 5 December 1994 on the promotion of education and training statistics in 
the European Union (94/C 374/02). However, since the Lisbon European Council the 
demand is increasing and both countries and the Commission acknowledge the need to 
specify and formalise the request in the form of a legal basis in order to be able to plan 
the resources necessary to achieve quality improvements and to carry out new surveys 
if necessary. 

120 

•  General context 

To ensure their contribution to the Lisbon strategy, Ministers of Education adopted in 
2001 a "report on the future objectives of education and training systems" agreeing for 
the first time on shared objectives to be achieved by 2010. A year later, the Education 
Council  and  the  Commission  endorsed  a  10-year  work  programme  (known  as 
"Education and Training 2010" work programme) to be implemented through the open 
method  of  coordination.  The  Barcelona  European  Council  of  15-16  March  2002 
endorsed the work programme, including an indicative list of indicators to be used to 
measure  progress  towards  the  implementation  of  the  thirteen  concrete  objectives 
through  the  Open  Method  of  Coordination,  with  the  aim  for  European  education  and 
training  systems  of  becoming  "a  world  reference  for  quality  by  2010".  These 
agreements  constitute  the  new  and  coherent  Community  strategic  framework  of  co-
operation  in  the  fields  of  education  and  training.  Indicators  and  reference  levels  of 
European average performance ("benchmarks") are among the instruments of the open 
method of co-ordination. The Ministers of Education took a decisive step in May 2003 
by agreeing on five European benchmarks to be attained by 2010, while stressing they 
do  not  define  national  targets  nor  prescribe  decisions  to  be  taken  by  national 
governments1. 

1 

Council Conclusions of 5 May 2003 on reference levels of European average performance in education 
and training (benchmarks). OJ C 134 of 7.6.2003. 

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The  Commission  and  the  Council  have  adopted  a  Joint  Interim  Report  in  February 
2004, which underlined the need to improve the quality and comparability of existing 
indicators,  particularly  in  the  field  of  lifelong  learning.  In  November  2004  a 
Commission  Staff  working  paper  has  been  adopted  defining  the  strategies  for 
developing new indicators on education and training to cover the needs expressed by 
the Council.  

130 

•  Existing provisions in the area of the proposal 

Council  Resolution  of  5  December  1994  on  the  promotion  of  education  and  training 
statistics in the European Union (94/C 374/02). 

Regulation  (EC)  No  1552/2005  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  on 
statistics  relating  to  vocational  training  in  enterprises.  Survey  specific  regulation 
covering only a specific part of enterprise based training. The regulation is due to be 
published  soon,  considering  that  an  agreement  was  reached  at  the  Council  and  the 
European Parliament. 

141 

•  Consistency with other policies and objectives of the Union 

Not applicable. 

2)  CONSULTATION OF INTERESTED PARTIES AND IMPACT ASSESSMENT 

•  Consultation of interested parties 

219 

Not relevant. 

•  Collection and use of expertise 

221 

Scientific/expertise domains concerned 

The  experts  consulted  came  from  the  National  Statistical  Systems,  representing 
National Statistical Institutes, Ministries of education and other bodies involved in the 
production of education, training and lifelong learning statistics.  

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Methodology used 

Written consultation and discussion in working group meetings. 

Main organisations/experts consulted 

A  first  draft  of  the  proposed  text  has  been  sent  for  written  comments  in  November 
2004  to  the  delegates  to  the  Education  and  Training  Statistics  (ETS)  Working  Group 
(group composed of the National Education and Training Statistics Coordinators), the 
Adult Education Survey task force (representatives of the Member States involved in 
the  development  of 
the  UOE  subgroup 
the  Adult  Education  Survey)  and 
(representatives of the Member States involved in the administrative data collection on 
education systems). A 2nd draft was then prepared and sent for a 2nd round of written 
comments in December 2004. In January 2005 the draft proposal was discussed at the 
annual  meeting  of  the  ETS  WG  which  accepted  in  principle  the  draft  text  but  made 

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additional  proposals  for  improvement.  A  new  version  was  sent  to  the  National  ETS 
Coordinators  for  final  comments  on  the  2nd  of  March  2005.  A  revised  proposal  was 
submitted  for  opinion  at  the  meeting  of  the  Statistical  Programme  Committee  in 
Copenhagen  on  25-27  May  2005,  where  the  Director-Generals  of  the  National 
Statistical Institutes expressed a favourable opinion. 

2249 

Summary of advice received and used 

225 

226 

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The existence of potentially serious risks with irreversible consequences has not been 
mentioned. 

Most  of  the  comments  received  through  out  this  process  were  taken  on  board  and 
contributed to clarifying, refining and simplifying the proposed text. 

Means used to make the expert advice publicly available 

A  point  by  point  reply  to  the  comments  was  presented  to  the  consulted  groups  and 
included, where appropriate, in the corresponding meeting minutes. 

•  Impact assessment 

The  main  alternative  option  would  be  to  continue  working  under  gentlemen's 
agreement for the production of education and lifelong learning statistics. However this 
would  not  result  in  the  sustainable  system  of  statistical  production  and  would  not 
guarantee the availability of the statistics and indicators required for policy making at 
EU  level  and  for  efficient  evidence  based  discussions  within  the  open  method  of 
coordination. 

The second alternative examined was to develop specific legal acts for each existing or 
planned statistical activity (survey or data collection). However it was considered that 
this should be done after reaching an agreement on how to delimit the scope of work 
and the objectives for Community education and lifelong learning statistics. In this way 
any  specific  actions  would  be  developed  and  implemented  keeping  an  eye  on  the 
relationship  of  each  identified  aim  to  the  overall  objective  is  clearly  defined  in  the 
proposed regulation.  

3)  LEGAL ELEMENTS OF THE PROPOSAL 

305 

•  Summary of the proposed action 

The  intention  of  this  legal  basis  is  to  establish  the  framework  for  all  the  current  and 
foreseeable  activities  in  the  field  of  lifelong  learning  statistics,  with  the  exception  of 
vocational  training  in  enterprises  (covering  the  survey  CVTS),  for  which  a  European 
Parliament  and  Council  regulation  is  about  to  be  adopted.  In  particular,  the  actions 
include  methodological  developments,  having  in  mind  the  importance  of  the 
formulation  of  a  framework  of  coherent  concepts  and  comparable  measures,  specific 
data collections, in particular on education systems and on adult learning as well as the 
general objectives of improvement of quality and dissemination of education data. The 
intention is to establish the legal basis for a sustainable system of production of data on 
education to underpin policy discussions in different areas at the EU level. 

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310 

•  Legal basis 

Article  285  provides  the  legal  basis  for  Community  statistics.  The  Council,  acting  in 
accordance with the codecision procedure, shall adopt measures for the production of 
statistics where necessary for the performance of the activities of the Community. This 
Article  sets  out  requirements  relating  to  the  production  of  Community  statistics  and 
requires  conformity  to  standards  of  impartiality,  reliability,  objectivity,  scientific 
independence, cost-effectiveness and statistical confidentiality 

320 

•  Subsidiarity principle 

The  subsidiarity  principle  applies  insofar  as  the  proposal  does  not  fall  under  the 
exclusive competence of the Community. 

The  objectives  of  the  proposal  cannot  be sufficiently  achieved  by  the  Member  States 
for the following reason(s). 

In  accordance  with  the  principles  of  subsidiarity  as  set  out  in  Article  5  of  the  EC 
Treaty,  the  objective  of  the  proposed  action,  namely  the  systematic  production  of 
comparable  Community  statistics  on  education  and  lifelong  learning,  cannot  be 
sufficiently  achieved  by  the  Member  States  acting  individually  and  can  therefore  be 
better achieved by the Community. 

Although  the  Commission  is  best  able  to  organise  the  collection  of  Community 
statistics,  the  Member  States  are  competent  in  the  organisation  and  operation  of  the 
national  statistical  systems.  The  proposal  only  relates  to  education,  training  and 
lifelong learning statistics that are to be supplied to the Commission for the production 
of  Community  statistics.  There  is  no  direct  impact  on  the  production  of  statistics  for 
national purposes. Appropriate rules are laid down in Council Regulation (EC) 322/97 
of 17 February 1997 on Community statistics. 

Community action will better achieve the objectives of the proposal for the following 
reason(s). 

The  further  development  of  harmonised  Community  statistics  on  education,  training 
and lifelong learning needs to be able to respond to the Community policy needs and to 
take into account relevant international practices, activities and classifications as well 
as  practicalities  of  applying  the  definitions  in  the  specific  context  of  each  of  the 
Member  States.  This  requires  consultation,  coordination  and  planning  at  European 
Union  level that the  Commission is best able to undertake. The statistics covered are 
broadly  based  on  Eurostat's  existing  annual  education  data  collection,  and  the  new 
collection  of  individual  data  on  participation  of  adults  in  learning  activities.  It 
accommodates  however  the  possibility  of  using  other  sources  and  developing 
additional statistical tools if necessary to cover clearly identified emerging information 
needs. 

It  is  essential  that  EU-wide  information  is  available  for  the  purposes  of  monitoring 
progress  made  towards  the  Lisbon  objectives  and  for  supporting  the  open  method  of 
coordination in the framework of the "Education and Training 2010" work programme. 

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327 

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341 

342 

This legislation is seen as an essential action to improve the availability of comparable 
community statistics on a topic that has been acknowledged as being a high priority at 
both  European  and  Member  State  level.  The  failure  to  introduce  the  Regulation  and 
subsequent  implementing  measures  may  have  a  serious  negative  impact  on  policy 
development and monitoring.  

The proposal therefore complies with the subsidiarity principle. 

•  Proportionality principle 

The proposal complies with the proportionality principle for the following reason(s). 

In accordance with the principle of proportionality this Regulation confines itself to the 
minimum required to achieve its objective and does not go beyond what is necessary 
for  that  purpose.  It  identifies  the  domains  of  work  and  the  necessary  actions  giving 
information useful to delineate its scope and leaving the detailed definition of the data 
requests for the implementing acts to be developed after its adoption for each separate 
data collection activity for which this is required. The aim is to assist the Community 
and the national administrations in the orientation of their resources on the basis of a 
stable  framework  within  which  individual  activities  that  are  required  may  be  defined 
more in detail. 

At  national  level,  responsibility  for  education,  training  and  lifelong  learning  statistics 
rests with a wide variety of different agencies. It is appreciated that the legislation may, 
for  some  Member  States,  imply  some  developments  to  their  existing  activities  -  for 
example, collecting additional variables or reducing the time delay in the availability of 
data.  Eurostat  will  continue  to  work  closely  with  the  responsible  national  authorities 
and will seek to minimise any potential difficulties caused by the framework regulation 
and later Commission implementing measures. 

The  regulation  will  establish  a  well  defined  framework  for  the  production  of 
Community  education  and  lifelong  learning  statistics  and  in  this  way  facilitate  the 
availability, planning and more efficient use of resources both at the Community and at 
other levels involved (national, regional, local). 

•  Choice of instruments 

Proposed instruments: regulation. 

Other means would not be adequate for the following reason(s). 

Selection  of  the  appropriate  category  for  an  act  of  the  EP/Council  depends  on  the 
legislative  goal.  Given  the  information  needs  at  European  level,  the  trend  for 
Community Statistics has been to use Regulations rather than Directives for basic acts. 
Regulation is preferable because it lays down the same law throughout the Community, 
leaving the Member States with no power to apply them incompletely or selectively; it 
is directly applicable, which means that it needs not be transposed into national law. In 
contrast,  directives,  which  aim  at  harmonization  of  national  laws,  are  binding  on  the 
Member States as regards their objective, but leave the national authorities the choice 
of form and methods used to attain the objective agreed upon at Community level; they 

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must be transposed into national law. 

4)  BUDGETARY IMPLICATION 

409 

Over the period 2007 until 2012, the budgetary implication are estimated to amount to 
5.4 millions euro, essentially to allow to co funding of the first implementation of the 
adult education survey foreseen in 2011. Over this period, costs of the staff needed for 
the implementation of the regulation are estimated at 6.8 millions euro. However, the 
required  appropriations  will  be  covered  by  the  amounts  foreseen  in  the  Decision  No 
2367/2002/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2002 on 
the  Community  statistical  programme  2003  to  20072  and  the  future  five  years 
Community statistical programme. 

5)  ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 

560 

•  European Economic Area 

The proposed act concerns an EEA matter and should therefore extend to the European 
Economic Area. 

2 

OJ L 358 of 31.12.2002. 

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2005/0248 (COD) 

Proposal for a 

REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL 

concerning the production and development of statistics on education and 
lifelong learning 

(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, 

Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee4, 

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

Whereas: 

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

The  Council  Resolution  of  5  December  1994  on  the  promotion  of  education  and 
training statistics in the European Union5 requested the Commission and the Member 
States to take action for the development of statistics in this area.  

The  Spring  2005  European  Council  agreed  to  re-launch  the  Lisbon  Strategy.  It 
concluded that Europe must renew the basis of its competitiveness, increase its growth 
potential  and  its  productivity  and  strengthen  social  cohesion,  placing  the  main 
emphasis  on  knowledge,  innovation  and  the  optimisation  of  human  capital.  In  that 
respect, the employability, adaptability and mobility of citizens is vital for Europe.  

Lifelong learning is a key element in developing and promoting a skilled, trained and 
adaptable  workforce.  The  Spring  2005  European  Council  underlined  that  "human 
capital is Europe's most important asset"6. The Integrated Guidelines for Growth and 
Jobs  including  the  guidelines  for  the  employment  policies  of  the  Member  States, 
endorsed  by  the  Council  on  12  July  20057,  aim  to  contribute  better  to  the  Lisbon 
strategy and to establish comprehensive lifelong learning strategies. 

3 
4 
5 
6 
7 

OJ C […], […], p. […]. 
OJ C […], […], p. […]. 
OJ C 374, 30.12.1994, p. 4-6. 
Doc. 7619/05, paragraph 34. 
OJ L 205, 6.8.2005 p. 21–27. 

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(4) 

(5) 

(6) 

(7) 

(8) 

The adoption in February 2001 of the Council Report "Objectives of the education and 
training systems" and the adoption in February 2002 of the work programme for this 
decade  on  the  follow-up  of  this  report  constitute  an  important  step  in  taking  on  the 
commitment  to  modernise  and  improve  the  quality  of  the  education  and  training 
systems  of  the  Member  States.  Indicators  and  reference  levels  of  European  average 
performance  ("benchmarks")  are  among  the  instruments  of  the  open  method  of  co-
ordination  which  are  important  for  the  "Education  &  Training  2010"  work 
programme8. The Ministers of Education took a decisive step in May 2003 by agreeing 
on  five  European  benchmarks  to  be  attained  by  2010,  while  stressing  they  do  not 
define national targets nor prescribe decisions to be taken by national governments9. 

The Council has adopted in June 2005 Conclusions on «New indicators in Education 
and Training”10. In these Conclusions the Council invites the Commission to present 
to the Council strategies and proposals for the development of new indicators in nine 
particular areas of education and training. 

The  Council  has  also  adopted  in  November  2004  Conclusions  on  European 
cooperation  in  vocational  education and training,  and  agreed  that  priority  should  be 
given at European level to “the improvement of the scope, precision and reliability of 
vocational education and training statistics in order to enable evaluation of progress”11. 

information  at  Community 

Comparable  statistical 
the 
development  of  education  and  lifelong  learning  strategies  and  for  the  monitoring  of 
progress  in  their  implementation.  Statistical  production  should  be  based  on  a 
framework of coherent concepts and comparable data in view of the establishment of 
an  integrated  European  Statistical  Information  System  on  education,  training  and 
lifelong learning. 

is  essential  for 

level 

The  Commission  (Eurostat)  is  collecting  data  on  vocational  training  in  enterprises 
according  to  the  "Regulation  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  on  the 
statistics  relating  to  vocational  training  in  enterprises"12.  However  a  broader  legal 
framework  is  necessary  to  ensure  the  sustainable  production  and  development  of 
statistics on education and lifelong learning, covering at least all relevant existing and 
planned activities. The Commission (Eurostat) is collecting annual data on education 
from the Member States on a voluntary basis, through a joint action carried out with 
the  OECD  and  the  UNESCO  Institute  for  Statistics  (UIS),  usually  referred  to  as  the 
"UOE  data  collection".  The  Commission  (Eurostat)  is  also  collecting  data  on 
education,  training  and  lifelong  learning  through  other  household  sources  like  the 
European Union Labour Force Survey13 and the European Union Statistics on Income 
and Living Conditions14 as well as through their ad hoc modules. 

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14 

The  March  2003  Brussels  European  Council  stressed  the  relevance  of  "benchmarks  to  identify  best 
practice and to ensure efficient and effective investment in human resources". 
Council Conclusions of 5 May 2003 on reference levels of European average performance in education 
and training (benchmarks). OJ C 134 of 7.6.2003. 
OJ 141, 10.6.2005, p. 7-8. 
13832/04/EDUC 204 SOC 499,p .6 
OJ L 255, 30.9.2005, p. 1. 
Commission regulation (EC) No 2104/2002, OJ L 324, 29/11/2002, p. 14.  
Commission Regulation (EC) No 1983/2003, OJ L298, 17.11.2003, p. 34.  

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(9) 

Since  the  objectives  of  this  Regulation,  namely  the  creation  of  common  statistical 
standards  that  permit  the  production  of  harmonised  data  cannot  be  sufficiently 
achieved  by  the  Member  States  and  can  therefore  be  better  achieved  at  Community 
level,  the  Community  may  adopt  measures,  in  accordance  with  the  principle  of 
subsidiarity as  set out in  Article 5 of  the Treaty. In accordance with the principle of 
proportionality, as set out in that Article, this Regulation does not go beyond what is 
necessary to achieve those objectives. 

(10)  The  production  of  specific  Community  statistics  is  governed  by  the  rules  set  out  in 

Council Regulation (EC) No 322/97 of 17 February 1997 on Community Statistics15. 

(11)  The transmission of data subject to statistical confidentiality is governed by the rules 
set  out  in  Council  Regulation  (EC)  No 322/97  and  in  Council  Regulation  (Euratom, 
EEC)  No 1588/90  of  11 June 1990  on  the  transmission  of  data  subject  to  statistical 
confidentiality to the Statistical office of the European Communities16. 

(12)  Commission Regulation (EC) No 831/2002 of 17 May 2002 implementing Regulation 
(EC) No 322/97  concerning  access  to  confidential  data  for  scientific  purposes17 
established the conditions pursuant to which access to confidential data transmitted to 
the Community authority may be granted. 

(13)  The Statistical Programme Committee has been consulted in accordance with Article 3 
of Council Decision 89/382/EEC, Euratom of 19 June 1989 establishing a Committee 
on the Statistical Programmes of the European Communities. 

HAVE ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 

Article 1 

Subject matter 

This  Regulation  establishes  a  common  framework  for  the  systematic  production  of 
Community statistics in the field of education and lifelong learning.  

Article 2 

Definitions 

For the purpose of this Regulation: 

(a) 

'Community statistics' means Community statistics as defined in the first indent of 
Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 322/97; 

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16 
17 

OJ L 52, 22.2.1997, p. 61. 
OJ L 151, 15.6.1990, p. 1, Regulation as amended by Regulation (EC) No. 322/97. 
OJ L 133, 18.5.2002, p. 7. 

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(b) 

(c) 

(d) 

(e) 

'production  of  statistics'  means  production  of  statistics  as  defined  in  the  second 
indent of Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 322/97; 

'national  authorities'  means  national  authorities  as  defined  in  the  third  indent  of 
Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 322/97; 

'education' means organized and sustained communication designed to bring about 
learning18; 

'lifelong  learning'  means  all  learning  activity  undertaken  throughout  life,  with  the 
aim of improving knowledge, skills and competences within a personal, civic, social 
and/or employment-related perspective19. 

Article 3 

Domains 

This Regulation shall apply to the production of statistics in three domains:  

(a) 

Domain 1 shall cover statistics on education and training systems; 

(b) 

Domain 2 shall cover statistics on participation of adults in lifelong learning; 

(c) 

Domain 3 shall cover other statistics on education and lifelong learning, such 
as  statistics  on  human  capital,  social  and  economic  benefits  of  education,  not 
covered by Domains 1 and 2. 

The  production  of  statistics  in  those  domains  shall  be  carried  out  in  accordance  with 
the Annex. 

Article 4 

Statistical actions 

1. 

The  production  of  Community  statistics  in  the  field  of  education  and  lifelong 
learning shall be implemented by individual statistical actions as follows: 

- 

the  regular  delivery  of  statistics  on  education  and  lifelong  learning  by  the 
Member States, within specified deadlines for the Domains 1 and 2; 

18 
19 

According to the 1997 version of the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED). 
Council resolution of 27/06/2002 on lifelong learning OJ 2002/C 163/01, p. 1. 

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- 

- 

- 

- 

the  use  of  other  statistical  information  systems  and  surveys,  to  provide 
additional  statistical  variables  and  indicators  on  education  and  lifelong 
learning, corresponding to Domain 3; 

the  development,  improvement  and  updating  of  standards  and  manuals  on 
statistical frameworks, concepts and methods. 

the  improvement  of  data  quality,  specifically  comparability,  accuracy  and 
timeliness. 

the  improvement  of  the  dissemination,  accessibility  and  documentation  of 
statistical information. 

Available capacities within the Member States for data collection and processing and 
development of concepts and methods will be taken into account by the Commission. 

Where appropriate, special attention and consideration shall be given to regional and 
gender dimensions of the data collected. 

Whenever  possible,  the  Commission  (Eurostat)  shall  seek  cooperation  with  the 
Organisation  for  Economic  Cooperation  and  Development  (OECD),  the  UNESCO 
Institute  for  Statistics  (UIS)  and  other  international  organisations  with  a  view  to 
ensuring  international  comparability  of  data  and  to  avoid  duplication  of  efforts,  in 
particular  as  regards  the  development  and  improvements  of  statistical  concepts  and 
methods and the delivery of statistics by the Member States. 

Whenever  significant  new  data  requirements  or  insufficient  quality  of  data  are 
identified  and  before  any  data  collection,  the  Commission  (Eurostat)  shall  institute 
pilot studies to be completed on a voluntary basis by the Member States. Such pilot 
studies  shall  be  carried  out  in  order  to  assess  the  feasibility  of  the  relevant  data 
collection,  taking  into  consideration  the  benefits  of  the  availability  of  the  data  in 
relation to the collection costs and the burden on respondents. 

2. 

3. 

Article 5 

Transmission of microdata of individuals 

When necessary for the production of Community statistics, Member States shall transmit the 
micro data of individuals to the Commission (Eurostat) in accordance with the provisions on 
transmission  of  data  subject  to  confidentiality  set  out  in  Regulation  (EC)  No  322/97  and  in 
Regulation (Euratom, EEC) No 1588/90. Member States shall ensure that the transmitted data 
do not permit the direct identification of the statistical units (individuals). 

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Article 6 

Implementing measures 

1. 

2. 

The  measures  necessary  for  the  implementation  of  this  Regulation,  including 
measures  to  take  account  of  economic  and  technical  developments  concerning  the 
collection,  transmission  and  processing  of  the  data,  shall  be  adopted  in  accordance 
with the procedure referred to in Article 7 (2). 

The implementing measures concerning the statistical actions provided for in Article 
4 (1) shall concern: 

a) 

the  selection  and  specification,  adjustment  and  modification  of  subjects 
covered by the domains and their characteristics; 

b) 

the breakdowns of characteristics; 

c) 

the periodicity and deadlines for transmission of results, 

3. 

When those measures are adopted, particular account shall be taken of the following:  

a) 

b) 

c) 

for Domain 1, the latest agreements between UIS, OECD and the Commission 
(Eurostat) on concepts, definitions, data collection format and data processing;  

for Domain 2, the results from the first implementation of the Adult Education 
Survey in 2005-2007 and further developments; 

for Domain 3, the specific context of implementation of the sources used after 
due  examination  of  need  and  non-availability  of  the  statistics  required  in 
existing sources. 

Article 7 

Committee 

1. 

2. 

The Commission shall be assisted by the Statistical Programme Committee. 

Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 5 and 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC  
shall apply, having regard to the provisions of Article 8 thereof.  

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

3. 

The Committee shall adopt its Rules of Procedure. 

EN 

13 

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Article 8 

Entry into force 

This Regulation shall enter into force on the 20th 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 

EN 

14 

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ANNEX 

Domains 

DOMAIN 1: EDUCATION AND TRAINING SYSTEMS 

1. 

Aim 

The  aim  of  this  data  collection  is  to  provide  comparable  data  on  key  aspects  of 
education  and  training  systems,  specifically  on  the  participation  and  completion  of 
education  programmes,  as  well  as  on  the  cost  and  type  of  resources  dedicated  to 
education and training. 

2. 

Scope 

The data collection shall cover all domestic educational activities regardless of their 
ownership  or  sponsorship  by  the  institutions  concerned  (whether  public  or  private, 
national or foreign) and of the education delivery mechanism. Correspondingly, the 
coverage of the data collections shall extend to all student types and age groups. 

3. 

Subjects covered 

Data  shall  be  collected  on  students,  personnel  and  expenditure  allowing  the 
calculation  of  indicators  on  the  input,  process  and  output  of  the  education  and 
training systems. 

Appropriate  information  (metadata)  shall  be  transmitted  by  Member  States, 
describing  specificities  of  national  education  and  training  systems  and  their 
correspondence  to  international  classifications  as  well  as  any  deviations  from  the 
specifications of the data request and any other information which is essential for the 
interpretation of data and the compilation of comparable indicators. 

4. 

Periodicity 

Data and metadata shall be supplied annually, if not otherwise specified, within the 
deadlines agreed between the Commission (Eurostat) and the national authorities. 

DOMAIN 2: PARTICIPATION OF ADULTS IN LIFELONG LEARNING 

1. 

Aim 

The aim of this data collection shall be to provide comparable data on participation 
and non participation of adults in lifelong learning. 

2. 

Scope 

The statistical unit shall be the individual, covering at least the population age range 
of 25-64 years. In the case of the collection of information through a survey, proxy 
answers should be avoided, wherever possible. 

EN 

15 

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3. 

Subjects covered 

Microdata  shall  be  transmitted  to  the  Commission  (Eurostat)  on  participation  in 
learning  activities  and  on  the  characteristics  of  these  learning  activities.  Socio-
demographic information shall also be collected. Information on self-reported skills 
and participation in social and cultural activities shall also be collected primarily as 
explanatory  variables  useful  for  further  analysis  of  the  participants  and  non 
participants’ profiles. 

4. 

Periodicity 

Data shall be provided every five years. 

DOMAIN 3: OTHER STATISTICS ON EDUCATION AND LIFELONG LEARNING 

1. 

Aim 

The  aim  of  this  data  collection  shall  be  to  provide  further  comparable  data  on 
education  and  lifelong  learning  to  support  specific  policies  at  the  Community  level 
not included in domains 1 and 2. 

2. 

Scope 

Other  statistics  on  education  and  lifelong  learning  could  in  particular  refer  to  the 
following aspects: 

(a) 

(b) 

(c) 

statistics  on  education  and  economy,  required  at  the  Community  level  for 
monitoring policies on education, research, competitiveness and growth; 

statistics on education and the labour market, required at the Community level 
for monitoring employment policies; 

statistics  on  education  and  social  inclusion,  required  at  the  Community  level 
for monitoring policies on poverty and social inclusion. 

For  the  domains  listed  in  this  section,  the  necessary  data  will  mostly  be  acquired  through 
existing statistical or other data sources (e.g. in the area of social or economic statistics). 

EN 

16 

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LEGISLATIVE FINANCIAL STATEMENT 

1. 

NAME OF THE PROPOSAL 

Proposal  for  a  regulation  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council 
concerning  the  production  and  development  of  statistics  on  education  and 
lifelong learning. 

2. 

ABM / ABB FRAMEWORK 

Policy Area(s) concerned and associated Activity/Activities: 

Education and Culture 

Education 

Employment and social affairs  Employment and European Social Fund 

Statistics 

Production of statistical information 

3. 

BUDGET LINES 

3.1.  Budget  lines  (operational  lines  and  related  technical  and  administrative 

assistance lines (ex- B.A. lines)) including headings: 

29 02 01 – Statistical information policy 

3.2.  Duration of the action and of the financial impact: 

The proposal does not foresee a termination of the action. It foresees the 
annual  production  of  statistics  on  education  and  training  systems  and  the 
production of statistics on participation of adults to lifelong learning every 
five years, starting in 2011. Grants for Members States are limited to the 
first  implementation  of  the  survey  on  participation  of  adults  to  lifelong 
learning. 

EN 

17 

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3.3.  Budgetary characteristics (add rows if necessary): 

Budget line  Type of expenditure 

New 

EFTA 
contribution 

Contributions 
from applicant 
countries 

Heading in 
financial 
perspective 

29 0201 

29 0101 

29 0102 

Non-
comp 

Non-
comp 

Non-
comp 

Diff 

NO 

YES 

Non-Diff 

NO 

NO 

Non-Diff 

NO 

NO 

4. 

SUMMARY OF RESOURCES 

4.1.  Financial Resources 

NO 

NO 

NO 

No 3 – 
internal 
policies 
No 3 – 
internal 
policies 
No 3 – 
internal 
policies 

Indicative  financial  statement.  The  amount  of  the  resources  required  is 
included  in  the  five  year  statistical  programme  of  the  Commission 
(Decision  no  2367/2002/EC  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the 
Council  of  16  December  2002  on  the  Community  statistical  programme 
2003 to 2007, OJ L358, p. 1). 

4.1.1. Summary  of  commitment  appropriations  (CA)  and  payment 

appropriations (PA) 

Expenditure type 

Section 
no. 

Operational expenditure20 

EUR million (to 3 decimal places) 

2007 

2008 

2009 

2010 

2011 

2012 

Total 

Commitment 
Appropriations (CA) 

Payment  Appropriations 
(PA) 

8.1 

a 

0.200  0.300 

0.300 

0.200 

4.200 

0.200 

5.400 

b 

0.100  0.250 

0.300 

0.250 

2.125 

2.375 

5.400 

20 

Expenditure that does not fall under Chapter xx 01 of the Title xx concerned. 

EN 

18 

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Administrative expenditure within reference amount21 

Technical 
& 
administrative  assistance 
(NDA) 

8.2.4 

c 

TTOOTTAALL  RREEFFEERREENNCCEE  AAMMOOUUNNTT  

0 

Commitment 
Appropriations 

Payment 
Appropriations 

a+c 

0.200  0.300 

0.300 

0.200 

4.200 

0.200 

5.400 

b+c 

0.100  0.250 

0.300 

0.250 

2.125 

2.375 

5.400 

Administrative expenditure not included in reference amount22 

Human 
associated 
(NDA) 

resources  and 
expenditure 

Administrative  costs,  other 
than  human  resources  and 
not 
associated 
included 
reference 
in 
amount (NDA) 

costs, 

8.2.5 

d 

1.134  1.134 

1.134 

1.134 

1.134 

1.134 

6.804 

8.2.6 

e 

0.085  0.085 

0.085 

0.085 

0.085 

0.085 

0.510 

Total indicative financial cost of intervention 

TOTAL  CA  including 
cost 
Human 
of 
Resources 

TOTAL  PA  including 
Human 
of 
cost 
Resources 

Co-financing details 

a+c+
d+e 

b+c+
d+e 

1.419  1.519 

1.519 

1.419 

5.419 

1.419 

12.714 

1.319  1.469 

1.519 

1.469 

3.344 

3.594 

12.714 

If  the  proposal  involves  co-financing  by  Member  Sates,  or  other  bodies  (please  specify 
which),  an  estimate  of  the  level  of  this  co-financing  should  be  indicated  in  the  table 
below (additional lines may be added if different bodies are foreseen for the provision of 
the co-financing): 

Co-financing body 

2007 

2008 

2009 

2010 

2011 

2012 

Total 

Member Sates 

F 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

4.000 

0.000 

4.000 

TOTAL  CA  including  co-
financing 

a+c+d
+e+f 

1.419 

1.519 

1.519 

1.419 

9.419 

1.419 

16.714 

EUR million (to 3 decimal places) 

21 
22 

Expenditure within article xx 01 04 of Title xx. 
Expenditure within chapter xx 01 other than articles xx 01 04 or xx 01 05. 

EN 

19 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
4.1.2. Compatibility with Financial Programming 

(cid:58) 

(cid:133) 

(cid:133) 

Proposal  is  compatible  with  existing  financial  programming 
and with next financial programming (Commission’s February 
2004 Communication on the financial perspectives 2007-2013 
COM (2004) 101). 

Proposal will entail reprogramming of the relevant heading in 
the financial perspective. 

Proposal  may  require  application  of  the  provisions  of  the 
Interinstitutional  Agreement23  (i.e.  flexibility  instrument  or 
revision of the financial perspective). 

4.1.3. Financial impact on Revenue 

(cid:58) 

(cid:133) 

Proposal has no financial implications on revenue 

Proposal  has  financial  impact  –  the  effect  on  revenue  is  as 
follows: 

NB: All details and observations relating to the method of calculating 
the effect on revenue should be shown in a separate annex. 

Budget line 

Revenue 

EUR million (to one decimal place) 

Situation following action 

2007  2008  2009  2010  2011  2012 

Prior to
action 
[Year
n-1] 

a) Revenue in absolute terms 

b) Change in revenue 

 ∆ 

(Please  specify  each  revenue  budget  line  involved,  adding  the  appropriate 
number of rows to the table if there is an effect on more than one budget line.) 

4.2.  Human Resources FTE (including officials, temporary and external staff) 

– see detail under point 8.2.1. 

Annual requirements 

2007 

2008 

2009 

2010 

2011 

2012 

Total  number  of  human 
resources 

10.5 

10.5 

10.5 

10.5 

10.5 

10.5 

23 

See points 19 and 24 of the Interinstitutional agreement. 

EN 

20 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
5. 

CHARACTERISTICS AND OBJECTIVES 

Details  of  the  context  of  the  proposal  are  required  in  the  Explanatory 
Memorandum.  This  section  of  the  Legislative  Financial  Statement  should 
include the following specific complementary information: 

5.1.  Need to be met in the short or long term 

To meet the need of the Commission policy making and monitoring by the 
production of statistics on education and lifelong learning 

5.2.  Value-added  of  Community  involvement  and  coherence  of  the  proposal 

with other financial instruments and possible synergy 

Without Community involvement, these statistics would not be produced 

5.3.  Objectives,  expected  results  and  related  indicators  of  the  proposal  in  the 

context of the ABM framework 

1-  Annual production of statistics on educations systems 

2- 

3- 

Production every 5 years of statistics on adult learning 

Production  of  other  statistics  on  education  and  lifelong  learning 
relevant for EU policies 

5.4.  Method of Implementation (indicative) 

Centralised Management, Directly by the Commission 

6. 

MONITORING AND EVALUATION 

6.1.  Monitoring system 

The  implementation  of  this  regulation  will  be  treated  in  a  Comitology 
procedure foreseen in article 6 of the regulation. 

As proper monitoring system, data produced will be the subject of regular 
standardised  quality  reports,  that  will  describe  the  data  according  to  the 
main  quality  dimensions:  Relevance,  Accuracy,  Timeliness  and 
punctuality, Accessibility and clarity Comparability Coherence as well as 
Cost and burden, a complementary and indissociable aspect of quality. 

EN 

21 

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6.2.  Evaluation 

6.2.1. Ex-ante evaluation 

Objective  2  (production  of  statistical  data  on  adult  education)  has 
been  the  subject  of  an  ex-ante  evaluation,  carried  out  internally  by 
Eurostat  during  2004.  The  main  conclusions  were  that  a  data 
collection  on  adult  education  is  desirable  and  feasible,  that  a  pilot 
should start in 2005-2007, an evaluation carried out in 2008 in order 
to  prepare  the  2011  data  collection.  Furthermore,  the  ex-ante 
evaluation concluded that in the mid-term, the data collection should 
be framed with a proper regulation. 

The  two  other  objectives  are  the  continuation  of  existing  actions, 
currently done on a voluntary basis by the Member Sates for the data 
collection  on  education  systems  (objective  1),  and  done  in  the 
context of other existing regulation (objective 3). 

6.2.2. Measures 

taken  following  an 

intermediate/ex-post  evaluation 

(lessons learned from similar experiences in the past) 

N/A 

6.2.3. Terms and frequency of future evaluation 

The  pilot  decided  to  prepare  objective  2  (production  of  statistical 
data  on  adult  education)  will  be  evaluated  in  2008,  in  order  to 
prepare the next data collection, and will describe the data according 
to  the  main  quality  dimensions:  Relevance,  Accuracy,  Timeliness 
and  punctuality,  Accessibility  and  clarity  Comparability  Coherence 
as  well  as  Cost  and  burden,  a  complementary  and  indissociable 
aspect of quality. 

As  said  under  6.1  data  produced  will  be  the  subject  of  regular 
(every 4-5 years) standardised quality reports, that will describe the 
data according to the main quality dimensions: Relevance, Accuracy, 
Timeliness  and  punctuality,  Accessibility  and  clarity  Comparability 
Coherence  as  well  as  Cost  and  burden,  a  complementary  and 
indissociable aspect of quality. 

EN 

22 

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7. 

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 capacity. 

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. 

EN 

23 

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8. 

DETAILS OF RESOURCES 

8.1.  Objectives of the proposal in terms of their financial cost 

(Headings of Objectives, actions 
and outputs should be 
provided) 

OPERATIONAL  OBJECTIVE 
No.  1  –  Annual  production  of 
statistics on educations systems 

IT  maintenance - development of 
a structure 

Type of 
output 

Av. 
cost 

2007 

2008 

2009 

2010 

2011 

2012 

TOTAL 

No. 
outputs 

Total 
cost 

No. 
outputs 

Total 
cost 

No. 
outputs 

Total 
cost 

No. 
outputs 

Total 
cost 

No. 
outputs 

Total 
cost 

No. 
outputs 

Total 
cost 

No. 
outputs 

Total 
cost 

Commitment appropriations in EUR million (to 3 decimal places) 

Software 

0.100 

1 

0.100 

1 

0.100 

1 

0.100 

3 

0.300 

Feasibility studies 

Report 

0.100 

1 

0.100 

1 

0.100 

1 

0.100 

3 

0.300 

OPERATIONAL  OBJECTIVE 
No. 2 – Production every 5 years 
of statistics on adult learning 

In depth quality report 

Report 

0.100 

1 

0.100 

Methodological refinement 

Report 

0.100 

1 

0.100 

0.100 

1 

0.100 

Subvention 
NSIs 

to  Member  Sates 

Grants 

0.160 

25 

4.000 

25 

4.000 

OPERATIONAL  OBJECTIVE 
No.  3  –  Production  of  other 
statistics 
and 
lifelong  learning  relevant  for  EU 
policies 

education 

on 

Feasibility studies 

Report 

0.100 

1 

0.100 

1 

0.100 

1 

0.100 

1 

0.100 

1 

0.100 

1 

0.100 

6 

0.600 

TOTAL COST 

0.200 

0.300 

0.300 

0.200 

4.200 

0.200 

5.400 

EN 

24 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
8.2.  Administrative Expenditure 

The  needs  for  human  and  administrative  resources  shall  be  covered  within  the 
allocation granted to the managing service in the framework of the annual 
allocation procedure. 

8.2.1. Number and type of human resources 

Types of 
post 

Staff to be assigned to management of the action using existing and/or additional 
resources (number of posts/FTEs) 

2007 

2008 

2009 

2010 

2011 

2012 

Officials24 
(29 01 01) 

A*/AD 

B*, 
C*/AST 

Staff  financed25  by  art. 
29 01 02 
Other  staff26  financed  by 
art. 29 01 04/05 

3 

3.5 

4 

0 

3 

3.5 

4 

0 

3 

3.5 

4 

0 

3 

3.5 

4 

0 

3 

3.5 

4 

0 

3 

3.5 

4 

0 

TOTAL 

10.5 

10.5 

10.5 

10.5 

10.5 

10.5 

The posts included in the table exist and are currently allocated to the tasks 

covered by the proposed regulation. 

8.2.2. Description of tasks deriving from the action 

The tasks are the classical tasks of statistical production that include: 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

Methodological development in order to ensure comparability 
of concept 

Pilot and feasibility studies 

Design of questionnaire and guidelines 

Data collection from the Member States 

Data check and validation 

Data dissemination and publication 

Quality analysis 

24 
25 
26 

Cost of which is NOT covered by the reference amount. 
Cost of which is NOT covered by the reference amount. 
Cost of which is included within the reference amount. 

EN 

25 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
8.2.3. Sources of human resources (statutory) 

(When more than one source is stated, please indicate the number of 
posts originating from each of the sources) 

(cid:58) 

(cid:133) 

(cid:133) 

(cid:133) 

(cid:133) 

Posts currently allocated to the management of the programme 
to be replaced or extended 

Posts pre-allocated within the APS/PDB exercise for year n 

Posts to be requested in the next APS/PDB procedure 

Posts  to  be  redeployed  using  existing  resources  within  the 
managing service (internal redeployment) 

Posts  required  for  year  n  although  not  foreseen  in  the 
APS/PDB exercise of the year in question 

8.2.4. Other  Administrative  expenditure  included  in  reference  amount 

(XX 01 04/05 – Expenditure on administrative management) 

Budget line 
(number and heading) 

EUR million (to 3 decimal places) 

Year 
n 

Year 
n+1 

Year 
n+2 

Year 
n+3 

Year 
n+4 

Year 
n+5 
and 
later 

TOTAL 

1  Technical 

and 

administrative 
assistance  (including  related  staff 
costs) 
Executive agencies27 

technical  and  administrative 

Other 
assistance 

intra muros  

extra muros 

Total Technical and administrative 
assistance 

27 

Reference  should  be  made  to  the  specific  legislative  financial  statement  for  the  Executive 
Agency(ies) concerned. 

EN 

26 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
8.2.5. Financial cost of human resources and associated costs not included 

in the reference amount 

EUR million (to 3 decimal places) 

Type of human resources 

2007 

2008 

2009 

2010 

2011 

2012 

Officials  and  temporary  staff 
(29 01 01) 

Staff financed by Art 29 01 02 
(auxiliary, END, contract 
staff, etc.) 

Total cost of Human 
Resources and associated 
costs (NOT in reference 
amount) 

0.702 

0.702 

0.702 

0.702 

0.702 

0.702 

0.432 

0.432 

0.432 

0.432 

0.432 

0.432 

1.134 

1.134 

1.134 

1.134 

1.134 

1.134 

Calculation – Officials and Temporary agents 

Reference should be made to Point 8.2.1, if applicable 

An average of 0.108 EUR million per person and per year 

Calculation – Staff financed under art. XX 01 02 

Reference should be made to Point 8.2.1, if applicable 

An average of 0.108 EUR million per person and per year 

EN 

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8.2.6. Other administrative expenditure not included in reference amount 

EUR million (to 3 decimal places) 

2007 

2008 

2009 

2010 

2011 

2012  TOTAL 

29 01 02 11 01  Missions 

0.025 

0.025 

0.025 

0.025 

0.025 

0.025 

0.150 

29 01 02 11 02  Meetings & Conferences 

0.060 

0.060 

0.060 

0.060 

0.060 

0.060 

0.360 

29 01 02 11 03 

Committees28  

29 01 02 11 04 

Studies & consultations 

29 01 02 11 05 

Information systems 

2.  Total Other Management 

Expenditure (XX 01 02 11) 

3  Other expenditure of an 

administrative nature (specify 
including reference to budget line) 

Total Administrative expenditure, other 
than human resources and associated 
costs (NOT included in reference 
amount) 

0.085 

0.085 

0.085 

0.085 

0.085 

0.085 

0.510 

Calculation - Other administrative expenditure not included in reference amount 

28 

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

EN 

28 

   EN