Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on population and housing censuses
Date: 2007-02-23
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU Member State, EU regional policy, census, housing, population census

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 23.2.2007 
COM(2007) 69 final 

2007/0032 (COD) 

Proposal for a 

REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL 

on population and housing censuses 

(presented by the Commission) 

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EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 

CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL 

110 

•  Grounds for and objectives of the proposal 

International,  European  and  national  institutions  need  to  be  in  possession  of 
sufficiently  reliable  information  on  the  population  and  on  housing  in  the  European 
Union. In almost every policy area in which the EU is active, be it economic, social or 
environmental, high quality population data are required to help formulate operational 
objectives and to evaluate progress. Census data make valid comparisons between EU 
Member States possible. The data might be used directly (e.g. How many persons are 
affected  by  a  certain  problem/measure?)  or  as  a  'per  head'  denominator  to  achieve 
comparability. 

Moreover, census data that are comparable at the European level are the backbone of 
annual population estimates, sample surveys, and regional analysis. 

Finally, this proposal for a regulation  of  the European  Parliament and of  the Council 
sets the basis for the collection of data on housing that are comparable at the European 
level. 

1) The  data  to  be  provided  every  decade  on  the  basis  of  this  proposal  are  meant  to 
cover  an  appropriate  range  of  variables.  The  major  objective  is  to  give  a  sufficiently 
detailed picture of the structure and characteristics of the population that would allow 
the  in-depth  analysis  needed  for  planning,  administration  and  monitoring  in  many 
policy areas. Many  such  policies have  a European component, and the institutions of 
the  European  Union  as  well  as  Member  States  demand  reliable  comparisons  in  the 
European context.  

2) The  data  provided  according  to  this  proposal  help  to  maintain  a  high  quality  of 
annual  population  estimates.  Annual  population estimates  are  usually  based  either  on 
registers  or  other  demographic  counts  that  are  updated  on  the  basis  of  administrative 
acts.  It  is  widely  acknowledged  that  these  need  periodic,  census-based  verification/ 
adjustment  for  statistical  and  technical  errors.  The  interval  between  two  rounds  of 
census-based verification/adjustment of annual population estimates should not exceed 
about  ten  years.  The  data  collection  process  according  to  this  proposal  shall  have  a 
positive effect on the annual estimation of the population.  

The quality requirements for population data are very high, as the following examples 
demonstrate: 

- The  democratic  process  within  the  European  Union  calls  for  annual  population 
estimates of the highest possible quality. Article 11 (5) of the Rules of Procedure of the 
Council of the European Union defines the process for qualified majority voting within 
the  Council.  One  criterion  is  that  a  qualified  majority  shall  represent  Member  States 
comprising at least 62 % of the population of the Union.  

- The  European  Union  supports  the  development  of  its  less  prosperous  regions.  The 
"Convergence"  objective  of  the  Structural  Funds  is  the  main  priority  of  the  EU's 
cohesion policy. The areas lagging behind in their development are identified as those 

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whose Gross Domestic Product per head is less than 75 % of the Community (EU-25) 
average. To establish which regions are eligible, high quality regional level population 
data are needed. The quality of regional population estimates depends on a sufficiently 
detailed  regional  breakdown  of  the  source  on  which  these  estimates  are  based.  The 
current  legislative  framework  laying  down  the  general  provisions  for  the  Structural 
Funds is the Council Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006 of 11 July 2006. 

- Population data might indirectly affect the National Accounts. 

3) The  European  Union  has  competency  in  the  area  of  regional  cohesion  which  is 
regularly  one  of  the  largest  budgetary  items.  The  data  collection  according  to  this 
regulation  provides,  on  a  regional  level,  the  spectrum  of  population  data  needed  to 
evaluate the progress of regional cohesion. 

4) Many  important  sample  surveys  which  are  harmonized  within  the  EU  require 
statistical  data  on  the  structure  of  the  population  at  a  regional  level  to  draw  their 
samples  and  to  extrapolate  results  (e.g.  the  Labour  Force  Surveys).  The  statistical 
frame  has  to  be  harmonized  at  the  European  level  to  ensure  the  comparability  of  the 
survey  results.  The  data  collection  according  to  this  proposal  provides  this  statistical 
framework. 

5) The proposal sets the basis for the collection of high quality and comparable data on 
housing. The housing situation of the population has substantial implications.  

-  Access  to  decent  housing  is  a  major  concern  of  social  policy.  At  the  2001  Laeken 
European Council, Member State Governments stressed the need to develop common 
indicators  on  social  inclusion,  explicitly  referring  to  housing,  as  well  as  the  need  to 
reinforce  the  statistical  machinery  in  that  sense.  However,  there  is  still  a  lack  of 
indicators on housing at a European as well as national level. The ministers responsible 
for  housing  from  the  Member  States  have  repeatedly  confirmed  the  need  for 
comparable data on housing. 

-  Buildings  that  house  private  households  are  important  consumers  of  energy,  water, 
and other supplies and services that have an environmental component. 

- Housing has important economic significance (offer and demand for housing, finance, 
construction, refurbishment).  

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•  General context 

A failure to meet the objectives of this legislative proposal will entail serious negative 
consequences  for  many  parts  of  the  European  Statistical  System,  as  well  as  for  the 
fulfilment of legal obligations (e.g. Majority voting, Structural funds) and the quality of 
analysis and policy evaluation based on the respective statistics. 

The last Population and Housing Census in the European Union was conducted for the 
reporting  year  2001.  It  was  not  based  on  any  European  legislation,  but  instead  on  a 
"Gentlemen's agreement". It has clearly been shown that a Gentlemen's agreement does 
not sufficiently guarantee the quality needed for the purposes the data are supposed to 

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serve in the future.  

- The wide variation in reference dates seriously reduced comparability: The reference 
dates spread over a period of 39 months, stretching from March 1999 (France) to May 
2002 (Poland); the data for Malta even refer to November 1995.  

- Punctuality was not ensured: Although the Gentlemen's agreement proposed that all 
data should be transmitted to Eurostat by 30 June 2003, the last data were received in 
mid 2005, leading to a publication in September 2005, i.e. 44 months after the end of 
the reference year.  

- The data initially provided were often incomplete, not fully validated or inconsistent. 
Numerous requests to recheck the data greatly delayed the production process. Given 
the important uses that are to be made of the census data, higher metadata and quality 
assurance standards are required. 

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•  Existing provisions in the area of the proposal 

There are no existing provisions in the area of the proposal. 

•  Consistency with other policies and objectives of the Union 

European  law  requires  Eurostat  to  provide  population  data  of  the  highest  possible 
quality (e.g. Majority voting, Structural funds; see above point 2) of "Grounds for and 
objectives for the proposal"). Moreover, many policy areas in which the EU is active 
require  population  and/or  housing  data  to  help  formulate  operational  objectives  and 
evaluate progress. The data have to be fully comparable at the European level, and are 
often requested at a level of regional detail, variable  breakdown and  in a quality that 
can only be guaranteed by European legislation on Population and Housing Censuses.  

2)  CONSULTATION OF INTERESTED PARTIES AND IMPACT ASSESSMENT 

•  Consultation of interested parties 

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Consultation methods, main sectors targeted and general profile of respondents 

A  draft  Regulation  on  Population  and  Housing  Censuses  in  the  European  Union  has 
been presented to the "Directors of Social Statistics" (from the national institutions that 
are  responsible  for  Census  activities)  on  28  September  2005,  as  well  as  to  the 
Statistical Programme Committee on 30 November 2005. There has been an intensive 
consultation within the UN ECE and the EU concerning the topics to be covered by a 
population  and  housing  census  in  this  region.  This  consultation  involved  numerous 
experts from European countries. Moreover, Eurostat has conducted a feasibility study 
about the topics to be covered and their level of regional detail. The study involved an 
enquiry at the National Statistical Institutes. 

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Summary of responses and how they have been taken into account 

The  Statistical  Programme  Committee  expressed  broad  support  for  the  legislative 
project and its approach. On the request of some EU Member States a comprehensive 
list of the topics to be covered has been added as an annex to the regulation. 

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•  Collection and use of expertise 

Scientific/expertise domains concerned 

Census methodology and technology; topics and characteristics of censuses. 

Methodology used 

Within the European Statistical System, it is good practice to take maximum account of 
the  Conference  of  European  Statisticians  Recommendations  for  the  Censuses  of 
Population and Housing (CES Recommendations), which reflect the main national and 
international, as well as Community requirements for population and housing data. The 
CES  Recommendations  lay  out  the  methodology  and  technology  of  census  taking  as 
well as the topics to be reported on. 

According  to  this  proposal,  the  list  of  topics  for  censuses  in  the  European  Union  is 
consistent  with  the  one  of  the  CES  Recommendations. These have  been  identified as 
essential following years of in-depth work and user consultations. The Member States 
recognized  the  data  according  to  the  CES  Recommendations  to  be  relevant  for  their 
national purposes. 

The  proposal  refers  explicitly  to  the  CES  Recommendations  to  make  certain  that 
decisions  will  be  based  on  appropriate  consultation  and  review.  The  CES 
Recommendations  are  prepared  by  a  great  number  of  experts  from  the  bodies 
responsible  for  Census  taking  and  analysis.  The  CES  Recommendations  result  from 
detailed discussion and exchanges of views via conferences, meetings, working groups, 
task forces and written consultation. 

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Main organisations/experts consulted 

Statistics  Division  of  the  United  Nations  (UN SD),  United  Nations  Economic 
Commission for Europe (UN ECE), National Statistical Offices. 

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Summary of advice received and used 

The absence of high quality census data on the EU population might create potentially 
serious  risks  with  irreversible  consequences  for  policy  formulation  and  evaluation, 
administration and financial management. 

The advice of the consultation is reflected in the CES Recommendations themselves, as 
well as in the results of the feasibility study within the Member States. 

Means used to make the expert advice publicly available 

The  current  version  of 
http://www.unece.org/stats/documents/ece/ces/ge.41/2006/zip.1.e.pdf 

the  CES  Recommendations  can  be 

found  under 

•  Analysis of consequences 

The following options were considered: 

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A) No harmonization of Population and Housing Censuses in the EU: In the medium 
term,  this  would  mean  that  comprehensive  and  comparable  population  and  housing 
data  were  not  available  in  the  EU.  This  would  have  serious  negative  consequences 
legally  (e.g.  Majority  voting,  Structural  funds)  as  well  as  politically  (e.g.  policy 
formulation and evaluation). 

B) A "Gentlemen's Agreement" on a Population and Housing Censuses in the EU: This 
would  result  in  low  quality  population  and  housing  data  in  the  EU.  Comparability 
could  not  be  guaranteed.  This,  too,  would  have  major  negative  consequences  legally 
and politically. 

C) A  directive  on  population  and  housing  censuses  in  the  EU.  There  is  a  significant 
risk of deviations  and  biases  when technical requirements are translated into national 
law, potentially leading to a substantial loss in comparability and hence major negative 
consequences legally and politically. 

D) European legislation on Population and Housing Censuses in the EU (Regulation of 
the  European  Parliament  and  the  Council  +  implementing  Commission  Regulation). 
The  legislation  shall  be  output  oriented,  not  input  oriented.  It  shall  clarify 
responsibilities and roles, as well as common requirements concerning the quality and 
transparency  of  results  and  methods.  This  would  guarantee  the  disponibility  of 
comparable,  high  quality  population  data  in  the  EU.  Legal  and  political  obligations 
could be met. 

E) European legislation on Population and Housing Censuses in the EU (Regulation of 
the  European  Parliament  and  the  Council  +  implementing  Commission  Regulation). 
The legislation shall be input oriented. It shall specify in detail what data sources the 
Member States have to use (questionnaires,  registers, etc), and how the required data 
have to be derived from these sources. The burden linked to this approach is potentially 
huge.  Member  States  have  to  adapt  all  registers  used  in  the  census,  particularly  all 
person  and  housing  registers.  Many  resident  persons  might  have  to  fill  in  question-
naires  which  might  involve  extensive  fieldwork  by  census  offices  and  interviewers. 
The financial implications of an EU intervention would be significant in the context of 
national budgets.  

The  preferred  option  is  option  D.  It  can  guarantee  census  results  that  are  reliable, 
transparent  and  sufficiently  comparable.  The  legislation  shall  be  output  oriented,  not 
input oriented, leaving Member States the choice on what data sources to use and how 
to derive the results. Even though Member States are free to choose the way they think 
is  best  to  conduct  censuses  in  their  country,  the  quality,  particularly  comparability, 
would be sufficiently guaranteed because the legislation would oblige Member States 
to  respect  key  standards  and  specific  quality  requirements.  The  methodology  and 
technology  used  will  have  to  be  clearly  described  in  order  to  render  transparent  the 
processes and results of the censuses held in the Member States. 

Option  D  minimises  the  additional  burden  resulting  from  the  intervention  at  the  EU 
level.  The  burden  is  limited  to  what  is  necessary  to  report  on  the  agreed  topics  and 
meet  the  common  quality  requirements,  as  well  as  a  certain  burden  on  the  statistical 
institutes  (writing  quality  reports  and  providing  metadata  and  other  explanatory 
documents). 

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3)  LEGAL ELEMENTS OF THE PROPOSAL 

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•  Summary of the proposed action 

The  proposal  clarifies  the  responsibilities  and  roles  in  the  decennial  provision  of 
comprehensive  data  on  the  population  and  on  housing,  as  well  as  common 
requirements  concerning  quality  and  transparency  of  results  and  methods.  It  leaves 
Member States free to produce the necessary data in the way they think is the best in 
their respective countries. This includes the choice of the source from which Member 
States wish to derive the data. At the same time, the proposal guarantees the quality of 
the data, notably comparability at the European level. In essence, the approach is not 
input oriented, but output oriented. 

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•  Legal basis 

Article 285  of  the  Treaty  establishing  the  European  Community  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. 

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•  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 reasons: 

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A central quality concern of any statistical data is comparability. Given that population 
and housing data are used to help to fulfil European legislation, to evaluate European 
policies  and/or  to  compare  the  results  of  national  policies  on  a  European  level,  it  is 
clearly  essential  that  the  underlying  data  are  comparable  at  a  European  level.  The 
Member States can not achieve this to the necessary extent without a clear European 
framework,  i.e.  European  legislation  fixing  common  statistical  features  and  quality 
requirements.  Moreover,  the  transparency  of  the  census  methodology  and  technology 
used in the different countries is a condition to achieve comparability. Transparency in 
turn  requires  European  legislation  and  structured  collaboration,  based  on  this 
legislation, between the responsible statistical bodies on the national and the European 
level. 

Past experience clearly shows that an informal understanding without an agreed, clear 
and supervised framework does not result in statistical output of the quality needed in 
the future.  

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Community action will better achieve the objectives of the proposal for the following 
reasons: 

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The proposed EU legislation is needed to guarantee quality, notably comparability. The 
regulation identifies common requirements to ensure this as well as transparency about 
the methodology and technology used in the Member States: 

- The  Member  States  are  obliged  to  ensure  the  quality  of  the  data  and  metadata 
transmitted,  and  that  the  chosen  data  sources  and  methodology  meet,  to  the  highest 
possible extent, the essential features of population and housing censuses, in particular 
individual  enumeration,  simultaneity,  universality  within  a  defined 
territory, 
availability of small-area data and defined periodicity. 

- The Member States have to report on the data sources used to fulfil the obligations, to 
explain  why  these  sources  were  selected  and  how  the  choice  of  data  source  might 
impact on the results they present. They shall report on the extent to which the chosen 
data  sources  and  methodology  meet  the  essential  features  of  population  and  housing 
censuses. 

- For all countries, the core topics to be covered will be identical.  

- For all countries, the date to which their data refer must fall in the same calendar year. 

- The data shall be transmitted within 24 months after the end of the reference year, in 
the technical format requested by the Commission (Eurostat). 

- The population shall cover all persons who have their usual residence in the country. 
The regulation defines this concept. 

- The regulation defines the concepts of "national" and "regional".  

- The  regulation  limits  itself  to  fixing  common  requirements  and  leaves  it  to  the 
Member  States  to  meet  these  requirements  in  the  way  they  think  is  best  in  their 
country. 

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4)  BUDGETARY IMPLICATION 

The proposal has no implication for the Community budget. 

5)  ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 

•  Simplification 

The  proposal  provides  for  simplification  of  administrative  procedures  for  public 
authorities (EU or national). 

The  common  requirements  set  out  in  the  draft  regulation  have  been  recognized  to 
represent  feasible  solutions  and  to  provide  clear  orientation  to  the  national  bodies 
conducting  the  census.  The  absence  of  any  ex-post  harmonization  of  the  statistical 
output  concerning  definitions  and  concepts  simplifies  the  administrative  procedures 
within the Statistical Offices. 

•  European Economic Area 

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

6)  ROAD MAP 

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It is difficult to propose a detailed road map for the adoption of the regulation and its 
implementing  measures  today,  as  future  activities  depend  on  the  outcome  of  the 
ongoing  negotiations  within  the  European  Commission,  in  the  Council  and  in  the 
European Parliament and on how fast the regulation is formally adopted. However, a 
tentative schedule could be as follows (this could be modified depending on the date of 
entry into force of the regulation): 

Second half of 2006 

The  draft  regulation  has  been  subject  to  an  Inter-Service  Consultation  within  the 
European  Commission.  Translation  of  official  legislative  proposal  of  the  European 
Commission into all official languages of the EU. 

First half of 2007 

Presentation  of  a  draft  proposal  to  the  College  for  formal  adoption.  Presentation  of 
official legislative proposal of the European Commission to the Council of the EU for a 
first reading. 

Second half of 2006 / all of 2007 

Task  force  meetings  on  the  technical  issues  related  to  the  regulation.  Specifications 
adding  to  the  UN ECE/Eurostat  Recommendations  for  Censuses.  Preparation  of  an 
implementing Commission Regulation. 

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2007/0032 (COD) 

Proposal for a 

REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL 

on population and housing censuses 

(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 Commission1, 

After consulting the Statistical Programme Committee (SPC) established by Council Decision 
89/382/EEC, Euratom2, 

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty3, 

Whereas: 

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

(4) 

The  Commission  needs  to  be  in  possession  of  sufficiently  reliable,  detailed  and 
comparable  data  on  the  population  and  on  households,  in  order  to  fulfil  the  tasks 
assigned to it, notably by Articles 2 and 3 of the Treaty. Sufficient comparability must 
be  ensured  at  Community  level  as  regards  methodology,  definitions  and  the 
programme of the statistical data and metadata; 

Periodic  statistical  data  on  the  population  and  on  the  main  family,  social,  economic 
and housing characteristics of individuals are necessary for the study and definition of 
regional and social policies affecting particular sectors of the community; 

In  order  for  the  most  judicious  use  possible  to  be  made  of  the  data  in  drawing 
comparisons  between  Member  States,  such  data  should  refer  to  a  given  year  to  be 
defined; 

In  accordance  with  Council  Regulation  (EC)  No  322/97  of  17  February  1997  on 
Community Statistics4 which constitutes the reference framework for the provisions of 
this regulation, it is necessary that the collection of statistics conforms to standards of 

1 
2 
3 
4 
Parliament and the Council (OJ L 284, 31.10.2003, p.1). 

OJ C , , p. . 
OJ L 181, 28.6.1989, p. 47. 
OJ C , , p. . 
OJ L 52, 22.2.1997 p. 1. Regulation amended by Regulation (EC) 1882/2003 of the European  

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(5) 

(6) 

(7) 

(8) 

impartiality,  reliability,  objectivity,  scientific  independence,  cost-effectiveness,  and 
statistical confidentiality; 

In the production and dissemination of Community statistics under this regulation, the 
national and Community statistical authorities should take account of the principles set 
out in the European Statistics Code of Practice adopted by the Statistical Programme 
Committee  on  24  February  2005  and  attached  to  the  Recommendation  of  the 
Commission  on  the  independence,  integrity  and  accountability  of  the  national  and 
Community statistical authorities5; 

Since the objectives of the action to be taken, namely the collection and compilation of 
comparable  and  comprehensive  community  statistics  on  population  and  housing, 
cannot  be  sufficiently  achieved  by  the  Member  States,  due  the  absence  of  common 
statistical  features  and  quality  requirements  as  well  as  a  lack  of  methodological 
transparency,  and  can  therefore,  by  reason  of  a  common  statistical  framework,  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 on Population and Housing Censuses does not go beyond what is necessary 
in order to achieve those objectives; 

The measures necessary for the implementation of this regulation should be adopted in 
accordance  with  Council  Decision  1999/468/EC  of  28  June  1999  laying  down  the 
procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission6; 

In particular, power should be conferred on the Commission to establish the conditions 
for the adaptation of definitions, the establishment of the further reference years and 
the  adoption  of  the  programme  of  the  statistical  data  and  metadata.  Since  those 
measures  are  of  general  scope  and  are  designed  to  amend  non-essential  elements  of 
this  regulation  they  should  be  adopted  in  accordance  with  the  regulatory  procedure 
with scrutiny provided for in Article 5a of Decision 1999/468/EC. 

HAVE ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 

Article 1 

Subject matter 

This regulation establishes common rules for the decennial provision of comprehensive data 
on the population and on housing. 

Article 2 

Definitions 

5 
6 
(OJ L 200, 22.7.2006, p. 11). 

COM (2005) 217 final. 
OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23. Decision as amended by Decision2006/512/EC 

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1. 

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

“population” means the national and regional population at its usual residence at the 

(a) 
reference date referred to in Article 5 (2); 

“housing” means housing units and buildings as well as the relationship between the 
(b) 
population  and  living  quarters  at  the  national  and  regional  levels  at  the  reference  date. 
“Buildings” means those buildings that actually or potentially contain housing units; 

(c) 
“usual residence” means the place at which a person normally spends the daily period 
of rest, regardless of temporary absences for purposes of recreation, holiday, visits to friends 
and  relatives,  business,  medical  treatment  or  religious  pilgrimage;  or,  if  not  available,  the 
place of legal or registered residence; 

the “reference date” is the date to which the data of the respective Member State refer, 

(d) 
in compliance with Article 5 (2) of this regulation; 

(e) 

“national” means on the territory of the Member States; 

(f) 
“regional” means at NUTS level 1, NUTS level 2 and NUTS level 3, as defined in the 
classification  of  territorial  units  for  statistics  (NUTS),  established  by  Regulation  (EC)  No 
1059/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council7 in its version valid at the reference 
date, as well as the level 2 of Local Administrative Units (LAU level 2); 

“essential 

(g) 
individual 
enumeration,  simultaneity,  universality  within  a  defined  territory,  availability  of  small-area 
data and defined periodicity; 

features  of  population  and  housing  censuses”  means 

(h) 
“anonymised  microdata”  means  individual  statistical  records  which  have  been 
modified  in  order  to  minimise,  in  accordance  with  current  best  practice,  the  risk  of 
identification of the statistical units to which they relate. 

Where necessary, the Commission may adapt the definitions referred to in paragraph 

2. 
1, in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 7 (3). 

Article 3 

Submission of data 

Member  States  shall  submit  to  the  Commission  (Eurostat)  data  on  the  population  and  on 
housing  covering  determined  demographic,  social,  economic  and  housing  characteristics  of 
individuals,  families,  households,  housing  units  and  buildings  at  the  national  and  regional 
levels as set out in the Annex. 

Article 4 

Data sources and quality 

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OJ L 154, 21.6.2003, p. 1. 

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1. 

Member States can base the statistics on different data sources, in particular on: 

(a) conventional census; 

(b) register-based census; 

(c) combination of conventional census and sample survey; 

(d) combination of register-based census and sample survey; 

(e) combination of register-based census and conventional census; 

(f) appropriate survey with rotating samples (rolling census). 

2. 
Member States shall ensure that the data sources and the methodology used to comply 
with the requirements of this regulation meet the essential features of population and housing 
censuses as defined in Article 2 (1) to the highest possible extent. 

3. 
Member States shall take all measures necessary to ensure the quality of the data and 
metadata  transmitted.  The  Commission  (Eurostat),  in  cooperation  with  the  competent 
international  organizations,  shall  provide 
authorities  of 
methodological recommendations and requirements designed to ensure the quality of the data 
and  metadata  produced, 
the  Conference  of  European  Statisticians 
Recommendations for the Censuses of Population and Housing. 

the  Member  States  and 

in  particular 

4. 
Member States shall report to the Commission (Eurostat) on the data sources used, the 
reasons for the selection of these sources and the effects of the selected data sources on the 
quality  of  the  statistics  (quality  report).  In  this  context,  Member  States  shall  report  on  the 
extent  to  which  the  chosen  data  sources  and  methodology  meet  the  essential  features  of 
population and housing censuses as defined in Article 2 (1). 

Member States shall inform the Commission (Eurostat) without delay of revisions and 
5. 
corrections to the statistics supplied under this regulation, and of any changes in the methods 
and data sources used. 

The  Commission  shall  define  the  contents  of  the  quality  report  as  well  as  quality 
6. 
criteria  for  the  production  and  dissemination  of  the  data  in  accordance  with  the  procedure 
referred to in Article 7 (3). 

Article 5 

Transmission of data 

Member  States  shall  provide  the  Commission  (Eurostat)  with  validated  data  and 

1. 
metadata as specified in this regulation, principally at the beginning of every decade.  

2. 
Each Member State shall determine a date to which its data refer (reference date). This 
reference date has to fall in a year specified on the basis of this regulation (reference year). 
The  first  reference  year  shall  be  the  year  2011.  The  Commission  shall  establish  subsequent 
reference years in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 7 (3).  

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3. 

The data shall be supplied within 24 months after the end of the reference year. 

4. 
The  Commission  shall  adopt  a  programme  of  the  statistical  data  and  metadata  to  be 
transmitted to fulfil the requirements of the data collection, in accordance with the procedure 
referred  to  in  Article  7  (3).  The  topics  to  be  covered  under  this  regulation  for  a  specific 
geographical level cannot exceed those listed in the Annex for that geographical level. 

The programme of the statistical data may comprise, in addition to aggregated data (in 

5. 
the form of a table programme), a sample of anonymised micro data. 

6. 
Member  States  shall  transmit  to  the  Commission  (Eurostat)  the  validated  data  and 
metadata in electronic form. The Commission shall adopt the appropriate technical format to 
be used for the transmission of the required data, in accordance with the procedure referred to 
in Article 7 (2). 

In  cases  of  revisions  or  corrections  according  to  Article  4  (5)  of  this  regulation,  the 

7. 
Member States shall transmit the modified data without delay to the Commission (Eurostat). 

Article 6 

Implementing measures 

The  following  measures  necessary  for  the  implementation  of  this  regulation  shall  be 

1. 
adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 7 (2): 

(a) 

the adoption of the appropriate technical format as provided for in Article 5 (6). 

The  following  measures  necessary  for  the  implementation  of  this  regulation  shall  be 

2. 
adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 7 (3): 

(a) 

the adaptation of the definitions as provided for in Article 2 (2); 

(b) 

the definition of the content of the quality report as provided for in Article 4 (6); 

(c) 

the definition of the quality criteria as provided for in Article 4 (6); 

(d) 

the reference years, as provided for in Article 5 (2); 

the adoption of the programme of the statistical data and metadata, as provided for in 

(e) 
Article 5 (4). 

3. 
Consideration  is  to  be  given  to  the  principle  that  the  benefits  of  updating  must 
outweigh  its  costs,  and  to  the  principle  that  additional  costs  and  burden  remain  within  a 
reasonable limit. 

Article 7 

Committee 

The  Commission  shall  be  assisted  by  the  Statistical  Programme  Committee, 

1. 
established by Decision 89/382/EEC, Euratom. 

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2. 
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 set at three months. 

Where  reference  is  made  to  this  paragraph,  Article  5a  (1)  to  (4)  and  Article  7  of 
3. 
Council  Decision  1999/468/EC  shall  apply,  having  regard  to  the  provisions  of  Article  8 
thereof.  

4. 

The Committee shall adopt its rules of procedure. 

Article 8 

Entry into force 

This regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of 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 

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ANNEX  

Topics to be covered in the Population and Housing Census 

1 

Population topics  

1.1  Obligatory topics for the geographical levels: NUTS 3, LAU 2 

1.1.1  Not derived topics 

- Place of usual residence 

- Sex 

- Age 

- Legal marital status 

- Country/place of birth 

- Country of citizenship 

- Previous place of usual residence and date of arrival in the current place or Place of usual 
residence one year prior to the census 

- Relationships between household members 

1.1.2  Derived Topics 

- Total population 

- Locality 

- Household status 

- Family status 

- Type of family nucleus 

- Size of family nucleus 

- Type of private household 

- Size of private household 

1.2  Obligatory topics for the geographical levels: National level, NUTS 1, NUTS 2 

1.2.1  Not derived topics 

- Place of usual residence 

- Location of place of work 

- Sex 

- Age 

- Legal marital status 

- Current activity status 

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- Occupation 

- Industry (branch of economic activity) 

- Status in employment 

- Educational attainment 

- Country/place of birth 

- Country of citizenship 

- Ever resided abroad and year of arrival in the country 

- Previous place of usual residence and date of arrival in the current place or Place of usual 
residence one year prior to the census 

- Relationships between household members 

- Tenure status of households 

1.2.2  Derived Topics 

- Total population 

- Locality 

- Household status 

- Family status 

- Type of family nucleus 

- Size of family nucleus 

- Type of private household 

- Size of private household 

1.3 

Recommended topics for the geographical levels:  

National level, NUTS 1, NUTS 2, NUTS 3, LAU 2 

1.3.1  The Member States are recommended to report on all topics that are obligatory for the 
regional level NUTS 2 also on all deeper regional levels, down to the deepest regional level 
available. 

1.3.2  Not derived topics 

- Location of school, college or university 

- Mode of transport to work 

- Mode of transport to school, college or university 

- Distance travelled to work and time taken 

- Distance travelled to school, college or university and time taken 

- De facto marital status 

- Total number of children born alive 

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- Date(s) of legal marriage(s) of ever married women: (i) first marriage and (ii) current 
marriage 

- Date(s) of the beginning of the consensual union(s) of women having ever been in 
consensual union: (i) first consensual union and (ii) current consensual union 

- Usual activity status 

- Providers of unpaid services, volunteers 

- Type of sector (institutional unit) 

- Informal employment 

- Type of place of work 

- Time usually worked 

- Time related underemployment 

- Duration of unemployment 

- Number of persons working in the local unit of the establishment 

- Main source of livelihood 

- Income 

- Educational qualifications 

- Field of study 

- School attendance 

- Literacy 

- Computer literacy 

- Country of previous usual residence abroad 

- Total duration of residence in the country 

- Place of usual residence five years prior to the census 

- Reason for migration 

- Country of birth of parents 

- Citizenship acquisition 

- Ethnicity 

- Language 

- Religion 

- Disability status 

- Single or shared occupancy 

- Rent 

- Durable consumer goods possessed by the household 

- Number of cars available for the use of the household 

- Availability of car parking 

- Telephone and internet connection 

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- Own-account agricultural production (household level) 

- Characteristics of all agricultural jobs during the last year (individual level) 

1.3.3  Derived Topics 

- Urban and rural areas 

- Socio economic groups 

- Persons with foreign/national background 

- Population groups relevant to international migration 

- Population with refugee background  

- Internally Displaced Persons 

- Same-sex partnerships 

- Extended family status 

- Type of reconstituted family 

- Type of extended family 

- Generational composition of private households 

2 

Housing variables  

2.1  Obligatory topics for the geographical levels: NUTS 3, LAU 2 

2.1.1  Not derived topics 

- Type of living quarters 

- Location of living quarters 

- Occupancy status of conventional dwellings 

- Number of occupants 

- Useful floor space and/or Number of rooms of housing units 

- Dwellings by type of building 

- Dwellings by period of construction 

2.1.2  Derived Topics 

- Density standard 

2.2  Obligatory topics for the geographical levels: National level, NUTS 1, NUTS 2 

2.2.1  Not derived topics 

- Housing arrangements 

- Type of living quarters 

- Location of living quarters 

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- Occupancy status of conventional dwellings 

- Type of ownership 

- Number of occupants 

- Useful floor space and/or Number of rooms of housing units 

- Water supply system 

- Toilet facilities 

- Bathing facilities 

- Type of heating 

- Dwellings by type of building 

- Dwellings by period of construction 

2.2.2  Derived Topics 

- Density standard 

2.3 

Recommended topics for the geographical levels:  

National level, NUTS 1, NUTS 2, NUTS 3, LAU 2 

2.3.1  The Member States are recommended to report on all topics that are obligatory for the 
regional level NUTS 2 also on all deeper regional levels, down to the deepest regional level 
available. 

2.3.2  Not derived topics 

- Availability and characteristics of secondary, seasonal and vacant dwellings 

- Occupancy by number of private households 

- Type of rooms 

- Hot water 

- Sanitary water heating 

- Type of sewage disposal system 

- Kitchen 

- Cooking facilities 

- Energy sources used for heating 

- Thermal insulation of dwelling 

- Availability of electricity 

- Production of electricity 

- Piped gas 

- Air-conditioning  

- Ventilation 

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- Position of dwelling in the building 

- Accessibility to dwelling 

- Lift 

- Dwellings by number of floors in the building 

- Dwellings by materials of which specified parts of the building containing the dwelling are 
constructed 

- Dwellings by state of repair of the buildings 

- Separation of waste in the household 

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