Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council setting up a European Advisory Committee on Community Statistical Information Policy
Date: 2006-11-03
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU statistics, advisory committee (EU), economic statistics, statistics

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 3.11.2006 
COM(2006) 653 final 

2006/0217 (COD) 

Proposal for a 

DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL 

setting up a European Advisory Committee on Community Statistical Information 
Policy  

(presented by the Commission) 

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EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 

1)  CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL 

110 

Grounds for and objectives of the proposal 

The creation of CEIES (the European Advisory Committee on Statistical Information 
in the Economic and Social Spheres) was proposed by Jacques Delors, then President 
of  the  European  Commission,  and  Henning  Christophersen,  then  Vice-President, 
during  the  seminar  of  April  1989  on  the  future  of  the  European  Statistical  System 
(ESS). Because of the changes which would take place in economic and social fields as 
a  result  of  the  European  Single  Act,  the  need  was  felt  for  a  committee  which  would 
reflect the opinion of the European society at large on Community statistics. The aim 
was to create a structure for dialogue and consultation between producers and users of 
statistics and to situate this dialogue at Community level, thus complementing existing 
national user-producer consultation authorities, which were obviously more focused on 
national preoccupations.  

The  need  for  profound  reform  of  the  functioning  and  composition  of  CEIES,  in 
particular after enlargement of the EU to 25 Member States, is widely perceived in the 
ESS.  The  CEIES  Bureau  itself  called  for  reflection  on  reform  as  early  as  2002.  The 
reform issues identified mainly centred on the need for a smaller, more efficient body 
which should have a more strategic role with regard to the development of European 
statistical information policies. 

In  addition  to  the  reform  issues  identified  above,  a  more  general  re-drawing  of  the 
European  Statistical  landscape  as  outlined  in  the  Commission  Communication  and 
Commission Recommendation on the independence, integrity and accountability of the 
national  and  Community  statistical  authorities  (COM(2005)  217  final)  added  to  the 
reform requirements: the Communication envisages a new external advisory body that 
would be entrusted with overseeing implementation of the Code of Practice by the ESS 
as  a  whole,  in  addition  to  advising  at  European  level  on  statistical  priorities.  The 
ECOFIN  Council,  in  its  conclusions  of  8 November  2005,  indicated  the  need  for  the 
reformed  CEIES  and  the  future  high  level  advisory  body  to  remain  two  separate 
bodies. 

With its proposal for a European Parliament/Council Decision on a European Advisory 
Committee  on  the  Community  Statistical  Information  Policy,  the  Commission 
addresses the issues for reform of the existing CEIES identified in the conclusions of 
the Task Force mentioned below and the Council conclusions of 8 November 2005. 

120 

•  General context 

The  Statistical  Programme  Committee  (SPC)  decided  to  create  a  small  Task  Force 
comprising SPC and CEIES members to carry out an in-depth reflection on the future 
of  the  CEIES  and  in  particular  on  the  CEIES’  remit,  tasks  and  composition,  and 
relation to the SPC. The Task Force met twice, on 26 March and 14 May 2004. Based 
on  the  work  of  the  Task  Force,  Eurostat  presented  the  broad  outlines  of  a  reformed 
CEIES  body  in  an  orientation  paper  to  the  54th  meeting  of  the  SPC  on  17-18 
November  2004.  The  document  highlighted  the  need  for  a  smaller  body,  with  a 
maximum of 20 members (currently 79) and a more strategic role, which should assist 

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the  Council,  the  European  Parliament  and  the  Commission  with  coordination  of  the 
objectives and priorities of the Community's statistical information policy.  

With regard to the CEIES in particular, the Council, in its conclusions of 8 November 
2005:  

–  noted the Commission's intention to propose a major reform of the CEIES so as to 

have a smaller and more efficient body; 

–  stated  that  “a  reformed  CEIES  would  contribute  to  the  improvement  of  the 
governance  of  the  European  Statistical  System  and  to  the  enhancement  of  the 
quality of Community statistics”; 

–  stated  that  “the  reformed  CEIES  should  be  given  the  task  to  voice  the  interests  of 
non-government  users  and  respondents  to  European  statistics.  With  regard  to 
composition  it  must  be  in  a  position  to  give  representation  to  all  stakeholders  of 
European statistics”. 

130 

•  Existing provisions in the area of the proposal 

According  to  the  Council  Decision  of  1991  (91/116/EEC)  setting  up  the  European 
Advisory  Committee  on  Statistical  Information  in  the  Economic  and  Social  Spheres 
(CEIES), the task of the Committee is to: “assist the Council and the Commission in 
the  coordination  of  the  objectives  of  the  Community's  statistical  information  policy, 
taking  into  account  user  requirements  and  the  costs  borne  by  the  information 
producers”.  In  practical  terms,  this  means  that  CEIES  should  give  its  opinion  on  the 
relevance of the Community statistical programme, on the way in which it is monitored 
and  on  the  associated  costs  incurred  by  the  Community,  the  National  Statistical 
Institutes  and  the  providers.  As  advice  from  users,  respondents  and  producers  on  the 
objectives of the Community's statistical information policy would be obtained through 
the new Committee, it is proposed to repeal Council Decision 91/116/EEC.  

For  the  fulfilment  of  its  tasks,  the  reformed  CEIES  could  also  rely  on  the  work  of 
groups  of  experts  in  charge  of  assisting  the  Commission  for  identifying  the  need  for 
data  in  specific  domains,  such  as  the  group  on  policy  needs  for  data  on  crime  and 
criminal  justice,  established  by  the  Commission  Decision  2006/581/EC  of  7  August 
2006. 

141 

•  Consistency with the other policies and objectives of the Union 

Not applicable. 

2)  CONSULTATION OF INTERESTED PARTIES AND IMPACT ASSESSMENT 

•  Consultation of interested parties 

211 

Consultation methods, main sectors targeted and general profile of respondents 

The  proposal  was  drafted  in  the  light  of  consultation  of  the  members  of  the  existing 
European Advisory Committee on Statistical Information in the Economic and Social 

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spheres and of the Statistical Programme Committee.  

212 

Summary of responses and how they have been taken into account 

The consultation process showed the need for a smaller body with a maximum of 20 
members  (currently  79)  and  a  more  strategic role  to  assist  the  Council,  the  European 
Parliament  and  the  Commission  with  coordination  of  the  objectives  and  priorities  of 
the Community's statistical information policy. The current proposal reflects and takes 
into account the reform issues identified. 

•  Collection and use of expertise 

There was no need for external expertise. 

. 

3)  LEGAL ELEMENTS OF THE PROPOSAL 

•  Summary of the proposed action 

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The  proposal  aims  at  the  setting  up  of  the  European  Advisory  Committee  on 
Community Statistical Information Policy. The Committee will assist the Council, the 
European Parliament and the Commission by ensuring that user requirements and the 
costs  borne  by  information  providers  and  producers  are  taken  into  account  in 
coordinating  the  strategic  objectives  and  priorities  of  the  Community's  statistical 
information policy. 

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•  Legal basis 

The  proposal  is  based  on  Article  285  of  the  Treaty,  which  is  the  legal  basis  for 
measures  adopted  by  the  European  Parliament  and  the  Council  on  the  production  of 
Community statistics and defining the principles which they should follow. 

•  Proportionality principle 

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

The proposal relates to advice from users, respondents and producers on the objectives 
of  the  Community's  statistical  information  policy  and  does  not  affect  the  roles  of 
similar bodies at national level. 

The proposal should reduce any existing burden on Community and national operators 
by streamlining existing procedures. 

•  Choice of instruments 

Proposed instruments: 

In  its  Staff  Working  Paper  of  27  July  2005  (C(2005)2817)  on  a  "Framework  for 
Commission's  expert  groups:  horizontal  rules  and  public  register",  the  Commission 

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concluded  that,  from  an  institutional  point  of  view,  expert  groups,  i.e.  groups 
comprising  national  and/or  private  sector  experts  who  assist  the  Commission  in 
exercising its power of initiative and in its tasks of monitoring and coordination with 
Member Sates, should be created by a Commission Decision.  

In this case, however, the Commission had to take into account the fact that the current 
committee (CEIES) was based on a Council Decision which would have to be repealed 
and  that  the  objective  of  the  new  committee  would  be  to  assist  not  only  the 
Commission  but  also  the  Council  and  the  European  Parliament  in  coordinating  the 
strategic objectives and priorities of the Community's statistical information policy 

Therefore, given the objective and content of the proposal, a Decision of the European 
Parliament and of the Council is the most appropriate instrument. 

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4)  BUDGETARY IMPLICATION 

The budgetary implications of the proposal relate to holding meetings and conducting 
any  studies  needed.  Given  the  budgetary  and  human  resources  arrangements  for  the 
CEIES, the proposal should have no net budgetary impact. 

5)  ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 

•  Repeal of existing legislation 

The adoption of the proposal will lead to the repeal of existing legislation. 

•  European Economic Area 

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

•  Detailed explanation of the proposal 

–  The essential changes with regard to the existing CEIES are as follows: 

–  Name  changed  to  European  Advisory  Committee  on  Community  Statistical 
Information Policy (Article 1(1)) and focus on user requirements in the coordination 
of  strategic  objectives  and  priorities  of  the  Community's  statistical  information 
policy (Article 1(2)).  

–  Stronger position in the preparation of the Community statistical programme and the 

annual statistical work programme of the Commission (Article 2(1)). 

–  Committee  may  also  advise  on  better  meeting  the  quality  needs  of  users  (Article 

2(2)). 

–  Commission  has  to  report  back  annually  on  how  it  has  taken  the  Committee's 

opinions into account (Article 3(2)).  

–  Membership  is  reduced  from  the  current  79  to  25  (Article  4).  The  new  committee 

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will be composed of members reflecting civil society, institutional users of statistics 
and the Director-General of Eurostat.  

–  Temporary working parties may be set up to report back to the Committee (Article 

6(3)). 

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2006/0217 (COD) 

Proposal for a 

DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL 

setting up a European Advisory Committee on Community Statistical Information 
Policy  

(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 thereof, 

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 

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

Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions, 

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

Whereas: 

(1) 

(2) 

Consultation  of  users  and  producers  of  statistical  information  and  respondents  to 
requests  for  such  information  is  essential  to  preparing  and  developing  Community 
Statistical Information Policy. 

The  European  Advisory  Committee  on  Statistical  Information  in  the  Economic  and 
Social Spheres set up by Council Decision 91/116/EEC1 currently assists the Council 
and  the  Commission  in  the  coordination  of  the  objectives  of  the  Community’s 
statistical  information  policy,  taking  into  account  user  requirements  and  the  costs 
borne by information providers and producers.  

(3)  While the European Advisory Committee on Statistical Information in the Economic 
and  Social  Spheres  has  proved  useful,  changes  which  have  taken  place  in  the 
Community,  especially  its  enlargement  to  25  Member  States,  require  a  number  of 
changes to be made as regards its role, mandate, composition and procedures. In the 
interests of clarity, it is appropriate to replace the Committee by a new Committee. 

(4) 

The new Committee should contribute to improving the governance of the European 
Statistical System and to enhancing the quality of Community statistics. To this effect, 
close collaboration  should be maintained with the Statistical Programme Committee, 

1 

OJ L59, 6.3.1991, p. 21. Council Decision as amended by Council Decision (EC) No 255/97 (OJ L 102, 
19.4.1997, p.32). 

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established  by  Council  Decision  89/382/EEC/Euratom,  and  with  the  Committee  on 
Monetary,  Financial  and  Balance  of  Payments  Statistics,  established  by  Council 
Decision 91/115/EEC. 

A balance must be achieved between the need to reduce membership in order to enable 
the  Committee  to  work  efficiently  in  an  enlarged  Community  and  the  need  to  allow 
representation of all stakeholders in Community statistics, as requested by the Council 
in its conclusions of 8 November 2005. 

The need to better assess and balance the benefits and costs of Community statistical 
requirements  and  to  rebalance  and  reduce  the  burden  of  Community  statistical 
legislation,  so  facilitating  compliance  with  increasing  demand,  means  that  the 
Committee should play a stronger role in preparing and implementing the Community 
statistical programme. 

The new Committee should serve as a channel for advice from users, respondents and 
producers  of  statistical  information  on  the  objectives  of  the  Community’s  statistical 
information policy. Decision 91/116/EEC should therefore be repealed. 

(5) 

(6) 

(7) 

HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOW: 

1. 

2. 

3. 

1. 

Article 1  

Advisory Committee 

The  European  Advisory  Committee  on  Community  Statistical  Information  Policy 
(hereinafter “the Committee”) is hereby established. 

The  Committee  shall  assist  the  European  Parliament,  the  Council  and  the 
Commission by ensuring that user requirements and the costs borne by information 
providers  and  producers  are  taken  into  account  in  coordinating  the  strategic 
objectives and priorities of the Community’s statistical information policy. 

This  assistance  shall  cover  all  statistical  domains  relevant  to  the  Community’s 
statistical information policy. 

Article 2 

Tasks 

The  Committee  shall  be  consulted  by  the  Commission  at  an  early  stage  in  the 
preparation  of  the  Community  statistical  programme.  It  shall  deliver  an  opinion 
addressing in particular: 

(a)  the  relevance  of  the  Community  statistical  programme  to  the  requirements  of 
European integration and development, as expressed by the Community institutions, 
national  and  regional  authorities,  the  various  economic  and  social  categories  and 
scientific circles; 

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(b) the relevance of the Community statistical programme in relation to the activities 
of the Community, taking into account economic, social and technical developments; 

(c) the balance (priorities and resources) between different areas in the Community 
statistical programme and the annual statistical work programme of the Commission; 

(d)  the  resources  needed  to  implement  the  Community  statistical  programme, 
including the costs directly incurred both by the Community and national authorities; 

(e)  the  costs  related  to  the  provision  of  statistical  information  by  information 
providers; 

The Committee shall also draw the Commission's attention to areas in which it may 
be  necessary  to  develop  new  statistical  activities  and  shall  advise  the  Commission 
how  the  quality  needs  of  users  can  better  be  met,  taking  into  account  the  costs  for 
information providers and producers. 

Article 3  

Relations with European institutions and other bodies 

At  the  request  of  the  European  Parliament,  the  Council  and  the  Commission,  the 
Committee  shall  deliver  an  opinion  on  matters  relating  to  user  requirements  in  the 
development  of  the  Community’s  statistical  information  policy,  priorities  of  the 
Community  statistical  programme,  the  evaluation  of  existing  statistics,  data  quality 
and dissemination policy. 

The Committee shall deliver opinions and present reports on user requirements and 
the costs borne by data providers in the production and dissemination of Community 
statistics to the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission whenever it 
considers this necessary for the fulfilment of its task.  

The  Commission  shall  report  on  a  yearly  basis  on  how  it  has  taken  account  of  the 
Committee’s opinions. 

In  order  to  accomplish  its  task,  the  Committee  shall  cooperate  with  the  Statistical 
Programme  Committee  and  the  Committee  on  Monetary,  Financial  and  Balance  of 
Payments  Statistics.  It  shall  send  copies  of  its  opinion  and  reports  to  those  two 
committees. 

2. 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

The Committee shall establish relations with national statistical user councils. 

Article 4 

Composition and procedure for appointment 

1. 

The Committee shall consist of 25 members. 

Fourteen  members  of  the  Committee  shall  be  appointed  by  the  Commission,  after 
consultation  of  the  European  Parliament  and  the  Council.  With  a  view  to  the 

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appointment  of  these  members,  each  Member  State  shall  provide  the  Commission 
with  a  list  of  two  candidates  with  a  well-established  qualification  in  the  field  of 
statistics.  The  Commission  shall  endeavour  to  ensure  that  the  composition  of  the 
membership  fairly  reflects  civil  society,  including  the  scientific  community,  and 
adequately  covers  the  various  statistical  domains  covered  by  the  Community 
statistical programme. 

Ten  members  shall  be  directly  appointed  by  the  bodies  to  which  they  belong,  as 
follow: 

–  (a) one representative of the European Parliament, 

–  (b) one representative of the Council, 

–  (c) one representative of the European Economic and Social Committee; 

–  (d) one representative of the Committee of the Regions, 

–  (e) one representative of the European Central Bank, 

–  (f) two representatives from the Statistical Programme Committee, 

–  (g) one member representing the Union of Industrial Employers’ Confederation of 

Europe (UNICE), 

–  (h) one member representing the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), 

–  (i)  one  member  representing  the  European  Association  of  Craft  Small  and 

Medium-sized Enterprises (UEAPME). 

The Director-General of Eurostat shall be an ex-officio member of the Committee. 

The list of members shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union, 
C series. 

Article 5  

Duration of mandate 

1. 

2. 

Members  of  the  Committee  shall  be  appointed  for  a  term  of  four  years,  renewable 
once. On expiry of their term of office, members shall remain in office until they are 
replaced or their appointments are renewed. 

If a member resigns before the expiry of his term of office, he shall be replaced for 
the remainder of the term by a member appointed in accordance with Article 4. 

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Article 6  

Structure and operation of the Committee 

The  Committee  shall  elect  its  chair  from  among  the  members  appointed  by  the 
Commission. The Chair shall be appointed for a term of four years, renewable once.  

The  Chair  shall  convene  the  Committee  at  least  once  a  year,  either  on  his  own 
initiative or at the request of at least one third of the members. 

For  preparing  opinions  on  highly  complex  statistical  matters,  the  Committee  may 
propose  that  the  Commission  set  up  temporary  working  parties  to  be  chaired  by  a 
Committee  member.  Each  working  party  shall  be  made  up  of  experts  providing  an 
appropriate balance of professional backgrounds and geographical distribution.  The 
Chairs  of  these  working  parties  shall  present  the  results  of  their  proceedings  in  the 
form of a report at a meeting of the Committee. 

Representatives  of  any  Commission  departments  concerned  may  participate  in  the 
meetings of the Committee and the working parties as observers.  

The Chair may authorise other observers to attend meetings of the Committee. 

Secretarial services shall be provided for the Committee and the working parties by 
the Commission. 

Article 7 

Decision-making procedures 

An  opinion  delivered  by  the  Committee  shall be valid if two  thirds of  its members 
are  present  in  person  or  by  other  means  to  be  specified  in  the  internal  rules  of 
procedure.  

Only members may vote. A member may delegate his vote to another member. No 
member may receive more than two delegations.  

An opinion delivered by the Committee shall state the reasons on which it is based. It 
shall be delivered by a simple majority of the votes. In the event of a tied vote, the 
Chair shall have an additional casting vote. 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

1. 

2. 

3. 

Article 8  

Confidentiality 

Without prejudice to Article 287 of the Treaty, Committee members shall be required not to 
disclose information to which they have gained access through Committee or working party 
proceedings if the Commission informs them that the opinion requested or the question raised 
is of a confidential nature. 

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Article 9  

Internal Rules of Procedure 

After consulting the Commission, the Committee shall adopt its rules of procedure. The rules 
of procedure shall be transmitted for information purposes to the European Parliament and the 
Council. 

Decision 91/116/EEC is repealed.  

Article 10 

Repeal 

Article 11  

Entry into force 

This Decision shall enter into force on []. 

Done at Brussels,  

For the European Parliament 
The President 

For the Council 
The President 

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