Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on a Programme for the Modernisation of European Enterprise and Trade Statistics (MEETS)
Date: 2007-07-19
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU statistics, economic statistics, information system, trade statistics, type of business

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 19.7.2007 
COM(2007) 433 final 

2007/0156 (COD) 

Proposal for a  

DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL 

on a Programme for the Modernisation of European Enterprise and Trade Statistics 
(MEETS) 

(presented by the Commission) 

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EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 

1. 

CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL 

– 

Grounds for and objectives of the proposal 

Business and trade statistics are faced with major challenges in the coming years: the 
strong integration of world markets is changing the structure of the economy and also 
European  integration  is  progressing  further.  Statistics  have  to  react  to  these  trends 
and have to describe new phenomena. At the same time, the administrative burden on 
businesses  must  be  reduced.  These  two  challenges  are  not  contradictory  to  each 
other.  The  need  for  new  types  of  indicators  can  go  hand  in  hand  with  efforts  to 
modernise  the  production  system.  New  types  of  indicators  providing  the  needed 
information  could  be  obtained  by  using  new  sources  of  information  and  by  linking 
already  existing  types  of  business  statistics  without  the  necessity  to  increase  the 
reporting  burden  on  the  enterprises.  But  an  investment  is  needed  to  exploit  the 
potential synergies efficiently, this is the main reason for this programme. 

– 

General context 

The Commission has made a commitment to ensure a better policy on regulation, to 
cut  unnecessary  red-tape  and  over-regulation.  As  outlined  in  the  Commission 
Communication  on  Better  Regulation  for  Growth  and  Jobs  in  the  European  Union 
(COM (2005) 97 final of 16 March 2005), simplification of existing EU legislation 
(and  hence  a  reduction  in  the  burden  on  business)  is  one  of  the  core  issues  of  this 
policy initiative. This commitment was more specifically targeted to statistics in the 
Commission  Communication  on  the  Reduction  of  response  burden,  simplification 
and priority setting in the field of Community statistics (COM (2006) 693 final of 14 
November 2006). 

European companies operate under conditions of globalisation with an important role 
for  multinational  companies.  Globalised  markets  lead  to  increased  international 
competition on markets for goods and services, but also on factor markets, to which 
the business sector has to react in order to maintain and strengthen its position. The 
subject of Europe having to move up a gear economically was recently highlighted in 
the European Commission's 2006 Annual Progress Report on Growth and Jobs. 

Globalisation and the reaction of businesses is closely interconnected and next to the 
internal  efforts  of  companies  to  increase  their  performance  it  can  have  the  form  of 
relocation of industry, outsourcing of activities, foreign direct investment and other 
forms of foreign operations. 

Economic  statistics  and  business  statistics  in  particular  should  be  able  to  portray 
these  processes  appropriately  and  to  provide  timely  and  high  quality  statistical 
information  on  the  structural  changes  in  the  European  economy  and  its  business 
sector.  These  statistics  should  also  be  appropriate  for  monitoring  the  impact  of  EU 
policies. On the other hand, any new statistics should not put any additional burden 
on business. These targets should be achieved with this programme. 

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– 

Existing provisions in the area of the proposal 

There are three basic legal acts in this area. 

Firstly, the main Regulation concerning business statistics: Council Regulation (EC, 
Euratom) No 58/97 of 20 December 1996 concerning structural business statistics. 

Secondly,  the  Regulation  on  business  registers:  Council  Regulation  (EEC)  No 
2186/93  of  22  July  1993  on  Community  coordination  in  drawing  up  business 
registers for statistical purposes. 

Both legislations set out the main principles of business statistics and maybe subject 
to revision aiming at a more efficient data collection and treatment. 

For  objective  4,  the  main  reference  is  the  Regulation  on  Intrastat:  European 
Parliament  and  Council  Regulation  (EC)  No  638/2004  of  31  March  2004.  The 
MEETS  programme  may  lead  to  amendments  of  this  Regulation  aiming  at 
simplifications to achieve a less burdensome data collection for enterprises. 

– 

Consistency with the other policies and objectives of the Union 

The deepening of European integration in a number of areas, including the Monetary 
Union and the European Customs System, creates new statistical needs related to the 
role  of  the  euro  in  international  transactions  and  leads  to  the  necessity  of  adjusting 
the statistical system. 

The proposal is consistent with the Commission priorities and the initiative focussed 
on better regulation, and on cutting unnecessary red-tape and over-regulation which 
were mentioned above. 

2. 

CONSULTATION  OF 
ASSESSMENT 

INTERESTED 

PARTIES  AND 

IMPACT 

– 

Consultation of interested parties 

Consultation methods, main sectors targeted and general profile of respondents 

There have been intensive consultations in the framework of the European Statistical 
System on a technical level in the relevant working groups and also on the level of the 
heads  of  the  Statistical  Offices.  Secondly,  there  have  been  consultations  within  the 
Commission with the relevant Directorates General. 

Summary of responses and how they have been taken into account 

Member States face similar problems. First of all, a changing economic environment 
implies  changes  of  the  statistical  needs expressed  by  policy  makers.  Information  on 
phenomena  like  globalisation  or  areas  with  increased  importance  like  the  services 
sector  is  highly  required  by  all  stakeholders.  At  the  same  time  Member  States  face 
strong  restrictions  to  further  increase  the  burden  on  business.  On  the  contrary,  the 
burden on business should be lowered. The consequence is that some Member States 
have already started reforming their business and trade statistics fundamentally. The 

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general response was that synergies should be exploited, coherent approaches should 
be  worked  out  to  avoid  inefficient  overlapping  uncoordinated  initiatives  on  national 
level  which  would  lead  to  a  differentiation  of  statistical  treatment  of  the  new 
phenomena rather then to a harmonised approach. 

– 

Collection and use of expertise 

There was no need for external expertise. 

– 

Impact assessment 

Option  1  (Baseline  option,  i.e.  no  Community  involvement).  To  fully  exploit  the 
opportunities  of  providing  the  EU  with  better  and  relevant  business  and  trade 
statistics and at the same time ensure a reduced burden on businesses emanating from 
statistics,  an  investment  is  needed  before  a  renewed  system  would  become 
operational.  With  no  Community  involvement,  only  a  limited  number  of  countries 
would  make  that  investment,  the  comparability  of  European  statistics  would  be 
weakened and the opportunities for burden reduction would not be fully exploited. 

Option 2 (Community involvement as proposed). The MEETS programme will avoid 
duplication  of  efforts.  New  and  more  cost-effective  data  collection  systems  can  be 
tested  in  few  Member  States  and  become  applicable  in  all.  Therefore,  sharing 
experiences and best practices is the core of this programme. Efforts to harmonise, 
streamline,  and  regulate  can  best  be  initiated  at  community  level  at  which  such 
projects can be carried out with optimal efficienc. 

3. 

LEGAL ELEMENTS OF THE PROPOSAL 

– 

Summary of the proposed action 

Firstly,  it  will  be  important  to  identify  and  agree  on  the  new  areas  that  are  to  be 
portrayed. Together with all stakeholders, target sets of indicators need to be defined 
and  underpinned  by  methodological  agreements,  so  that  comparable  data  can  be 
produced.  It  goes  without  saying  that  a  changing  environment  does  not  only  create 
new requirements, but also the need for a permanent review of old requirements. 

Secondly,  all  statistics  related  to  business  should  be  streamlined,  i.e.  efforts  are 
needed  to  enforce  the  integration  of  concepts  and  methods  in  business statistics. In 
addition, the focus might shift from a national perspective to a European perspective. 
This  integration  will  include:  co-ordination  of  the  legal  acts,  harmonisation  of  the 
methodologies,  work  on 
linking  of  statistical 
classifications, work on the further integration and linking of business registers and 
related sources, the appropriate inclusion of multinational enterprise groups into the 
business register and the set up of the reporting on multinational enterprise groups.  

integration  and 

the  further 

Thirdly,  on  the  side  of  data  collection  and  treatment,  integration  is  needed  as  well. 
By  either  integrating  all  collected  data  into  a  single  system,  or  by  techniques  of 
micro-data linking, a much more effective use of already existing information will be 
possible. The second pillar of the reform of the production system is the support of 
the  use  of  administrative  data.  Governments  collect  quite  a  number  of  data  for  all 
kinds of purposes, tax reasons, labour market policy etc. It would be highly efficient 

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if  statistical  offices  did  not need  to  collect  the  same  data  again.  But  a  considerable 
effort is needed to guarantee data quality, because very often the administrative data 
are not available in the form needed. The third issue is to make sure that the data that 
still  needs  to  be  collected  can  be  obtained  easily  from  the  company  accounts.  The 
harmonisation  of  the  accounting  standards  will  help  to  achieve  this  target.  Finally, 
standard estimation techniques have to be developed to lessen the burden on business 
wherever possible, e.g. these techniques could be applied to estimate the information 
needed for the SMEs, without burdening them. To provide comparable data, a set of 
standards and conventions is necessary. 

Fourthly,  some  statistical  areas  were  already  identified  where  simplifications  are 
necessary.  An  example  is  Intrastat.  Simplifications  to  the  Intrastat  system  will 
continue to be carried out along the traditional lines (thresholds, ICT improvements, 
nomenclatures etc.). Furthermore the potential will be investigated of switching to a 
single  flow  system.  This  could  reduce  the  burden  considerably,  while  at  the  same 
time maintaining the most important information. To make sure that such a transition 
is carried out in the most effective way and that quality of statistical information is 
ensured, a careful steering of this transition is needed. The effects of such a change 
and  its  full  implementation  in  Member  States  should  therefore  also  be  one  of  the 
objectives of the new programme. 

– 

Legal basis 

Article 285 EC Treaty. 

– 

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). 

Some Member States would have invested in the modernisation of business and trade 
statistics in an uncoordinated way producing results that are not comparable to other 
EU  Member  States  and  where  the  aggregation  to  European  aggregates  would  be 
problematic. Some Member States would not have taken appropriate actions, lagging 
behind  in  modern  developments  in  areas  like  globalisation,  and  would  therefore  be 
missing in the European picture. Efforts would be duplicated, similar exercises would 
be  carried  out  in  several  Member  States,  mistakes  would  be  repeated.  If  some 
Member  States  had  successfully  modernised  their  system  of  business  and  trade 
statistics,  the  marginal  costs  to  implement  the  same  system  in  other  Member  States 
are  much  smaller  than  developing  a  completely  new  system,  an  uncoordinated 
approach would result in a situation, where potential savings were not realised. 

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

To  fully  exploit  the  opportunities  of  providing  the  EU  with  better  and  relevant 
business  and  trade  statistics  and  at  the  same  time  ensure  a  reduced  burden  on 
businesses  emanating  from  statistics,  an  investment  is  needed  before  a  renewed 

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system would become operational. The MEETS programme will avoid duplication of 
efforts.  New  and  more  cost-effective  data  collection  systems  can  be  tested  in  few 
Member States and become applicable in all. Therefore, sharing experiences and best 
practices is the core of this programme. Efforts to harmonise, streamline, and regulate 
can best be initiated at community level at which such projects can be carried out with 
optimal efficiency. 

The  main  purpose  of  this  programme  is  that an investment is needed such that new 
statistical  requirements  can  be  taken  on  board  with  less  burden  on  enterprises  by  a 
more efficient use of data and processes. The adaptation of the statistical requirements 
to both new and to outdated needs of EU statistics  indicates  the achievement of the 
first  aspect.  In  some  areas  of  trade  and  business  statistics  there  are  already  burden 
measurements available. EU wide indicators would show the decrease of the burden 
ceteris paribus.  

The  proposal  is  limited  to  exploiting  synergies  and  avoiding  double,  and  therefore 
inefficient efforts. The regular statistical data production will be not be supported by 
this  programme,  but  the  "re-engineering"  of  business  and  trade  statistics  will  be 
supported to guarantee a co-ordinated and efficient approach. 

The proposal therefore complies with the subsidiarity principle. 

– 

Proportinality principle 

Proportionality principle 

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

The  proposed  Decision  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  is 
providing a framework for the main objectives and the actions related to the 
programme.  The  concrete  annual  work  programme  will  be  voted  upon  by 
Member  States  via  comitology.  In  many  cases  the  support  of  the  individual 
actions will be given in form of grants to Member States, therefore Member 
States have control of the actions. 

There is the financial burden on the Community as indicated in the budget of 
the  programme,  there  will  be  administrative  burden  on  Commission  services 
and  national  statistical  offices.  There  is  no  additional  burden  on  business 
foreseen. At the end of the programme statistical data should be collected in 
an even less burdensome way. 

– 

Choice of instruments 

Proposed instruments: other. 

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

The programme should have as basis a Decision of the European Parliament 
and of the Council, setting the framework. The annual work programme will 
be adopted by the Commission after being subject to comitology. 

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4. 

BUDGETARY IMPLICATION 

The following amounts will be used during the programme (in million EUR): 
2008 (5.00), 2009 (6.50), 2010 (11.50), 2011 (9.00), 2012 (6.50), 2013 (4.00). 
Over 2008-2013 the programme will have a budget of 42.50 million €. 

5. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 

– 

European Economic Area 

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

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2007/0156 (COD) 

Proposal for a  

DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL 

on a Programme for the Modernisation of European Enterprise and Trade Statistics 
(MEETS) 

(Text of 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, 

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

Whereas: 

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

(4) 

(5) 

The Commission has made a commitment in its Communication on Better Regulation 
for Growth and Jobs in the European Union1to ensure a better policy on regulation, to 
cut unnecessary red-tape and over-regulation.  

The Commission has published in November 2006 a Communication on reduction of 
the  response  burden,  simplification  and  priority  setting  in  the  field  of  Community 
statistics2  which  sets  out  a  strategic  approach  to  continue  reducing  the  statistical 
burden on enterprises.  

Business and trade statistics are faced with a major challenge in the coming years. To 
underpin  Community  policy  initiatives,  they  have  to  be  capable  of  reflecting 
phenomena  in  the  changing  Community  economy  such  as  globalisation,  emerging 
trends in entrepreneurship, the information society, innovation, shifting trade patterns 
and competitiveness in the light of the renewed Lisbon strategy. 

A  key  element  driving  the  needs  for  enterprise  and  trade  statistics  is  the  renewed 
Lisbon  strategy  with  the  objective  to  foster  the  competitiveness  of  the  European 
economy and achieve high and sustainable growth.  

The deepening of European integration in a number of economic areas, including the 
European Monetary Union and the European Customs System, creates new statistical 
needs  related  to  the  role  of  the  euro  in  international  transactions  and  leads  to  the 

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2 

COM(2005)97 
COM(2006)693 

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necessity  of  adjusting  the  statistical  system.  Enterprise  and  trade  statistics  should  be 
able  to  portray  these  processes  appropriately  and  to  provide  timely  and  high  quality 
statistical  information  on  the  structural  changes  in  the  European  economy  and  its 
business sector.  

Business  and  trade  statistics  services  will  have  to  re-engineer  the  methods  for  the 
production of statistics so that the burden on enterprises can be reduced and so that all 
available sources and new technologies can be used in a fully effective way. 

The need for new types of indicators can go hand in hand with efforts to modernise the 
statistical  production  system.  New  types  of  indicators  providing  the  needed 
information  could  be  obtained  by  linking  together  already  existing  types  of  business 
statistics without the necessity to increase the reporting burden on the enterprises. New 
sources and access by electronic means will make data collection less burdensome and 
at the same time provide more information. The potential of business statistics should 
be exploited in a more efficient way and the quality of statistical information should 
increase.  

An ex-ante evaluation has been performed in accordance with the principle of sound 
financial management, in order to focus the programme on the need for effectiveness 
in  achieving  the  objectives  and  to  incorporate  budgetary  constraints  from  the  design 
phase of the programme onwards. 

This  Decision  establishes  a  financial  framework  for  the  entire  duration  of  the 
programme which is to be the principal point of reference for the budgetary authority, 
within  the  meaning  of  point  37  of  the  Inter-institutional Agreement  of 17 May 2006 
between  the  European  Parliament,  the  Council  and  the  Commission  on  budgetary 
discipline and sound financial management3. 

(6) 

(7) 

(8) 

(9) 

(10)  Since  the  objective  of  this  Decision,  namely  to  establish  a  Programme  for  the 
modernisation  of  European  enterprise  and  trade  statistics,  cannot  be  sufficiently 
achieved by the Member States (because uncoordinated modernisation would lead to 
duplication of efforts, repetition of mistakes and higher costs) it should therefore, for 
reasons  of  the  scale  of  these  statistics,  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 Decision does not go beyond what is necessary in order 
to achieve those objectives. 

(11)  The Statistical Programme Committee, established by Council Decision 89/382/EEC, 

Euratom4, has been consulted in accordance with Article 3 of that Decision. 

(12)  Council  Regulation  (EC)  No  322/97  of  17  February  1997  on  Community  Statistics 

provides a reference framework for the provisions of this Decision.5 

3 

4 

5 

OJ C 139, 14.6.2006, p. 1. 
OJ L 181, 28.6.1989, p. 47 
OJ L 146, 5.6.197 

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(13)  The measures necessary for the implementation of this Decision 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 Commission.6 

HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:  

Article 1 

Establishment of the Programme 

1. 

2. 

1. 

2. 

A  Programme  for  the  Modernisation  of  European  Enterprise  and  Trade  Statistics, 
(hereinafter referred to as the "MEETS Programme") is hereby established. 

The MEETS Programme shall start on 1 July 2008 and end on 31 December 2013. 

Article 2 

Field of application and general objectives 

The measures provided for by the MEETS Programme relate to the production and 
dissemination of enterprise and trade statistics within the European Community. 

The general objectives are as follows: 

(a) 

to develop target sets of indicators and to review priorities; (objective 1) 

(b) 

to achieve a streamlined framework of business related statistics; (objective 2) 

(c) 

(d) 

to  support  the  implementation  of  a  more  efficient  way  of  collecting  data; 
(objective 3) 

to modernise and simplify statistics on trade in goods between Member States 
(hereinafter referred to as Intrastat) (objective 4). 

Article 3 

Actions 

To  achieve  the  objectives  referred  to  in  Article  2,  a  set  of  actions  shall  be  implemented  in 
order to: 

(a) 

develop target sets of indicators and review priorities (objective 1) 

– 

Action 1.1: Development of new areas; 

6 

OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23. Decision as amended by Decision 2006/512/EC (OJ L 200, 22.7.2006, p. 
11) 

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– 

Action 1.2: Identification of areas that are of lesser importance; 

(b) 

streamline the framework of business related statistics (objective 2): 

– 

– 

– 

Action 2.1: Integration of concepts and methods within the legal framework; 

Action 2.2: Development of statistics on enterprise groups; 

Action 2.3: European surveys to minimise the burden on business. 

(c) 

support the implementation of a more efficient way of collecting data (objective 3): 

– 

– 

– 

Action 3.1: Make better use of data that already exist in the statistical system 
including the possibility of estimations; 

Action 3.2: Make better use of data that already exist in the economy; 

Action  3.3:  Develop  tools  for  a  more  efficient  extraction,  transmission  and 
treatment of data. 

(d) 

modernise and simplify the data collection system for Intrastat (objective 4): 

– 

– 

– 

Action  4.1:  Harmonisation  of  methods  to  improve  quality  under  a  simplified 
Intrastat system; 

Action 4.2: Make better use of administrative data; 

Action 4.3: Improve and facilitate the data exchange for Intrastat. 

These  actions  are  specified  in  the  annex  and  shall  be  further  detailed  in  the  annual  work 
programmes referred to in Article 4. 

Article 4 

Annual work programme 

An annual work programme, including the priorities for the actions under each objective and 
the  budgetary  allocations  under  this  Decision,  shall  be  adopted  in  accordance  with  the 
procedure referred to in Article 5(2). 

Article 5 

Committee 

The  Commission  shall  be  assisted  by  the  Statistical  Programme  Committee, 
established by Decision 89/382/EEC, Euratom. 

Where  reference  is  made  to  this  paragraph,  Articles  4  and  7  of  Decision 
1999/468/EC  shall  apply,  having  regard  to  the  provisions  of  Article  8  thereof.  The 

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period  laid  down  in  Article  4(3)  of  Decision  1999/468/EC  shall  be  set  at  three 
months. 

Article 6 

Evaluation 

The Commission shall, in cooperation with the Member States, regularly evaluate the 
activities carried out under the MEETS Programme, in order to ascertain whether the 
stated  objectives  have  been  attained  and  to  provide  guidelines  for  improving  the 
effectiveness of future actions.  

By  31  December  2011  at  the  latest,  the  Commission  shall  submit  to  the  European 
Parliament and the Council an interim report on the implementation of the MEETS 
Programme. 

By  31  July  2014  at  the  latest,  the  Commission  shall  submit  to  the  European 
Parliament  and  the  Council  a  final  report  on  the  implementation  of  the  MEETS 
Programme. This report shall assess, in the light of the expenditure incurred by the 
Community,  the  benefits  of  the  actions  accruing  to  the  Community,  the  Member 
States  and  providers  and  users  of  statistical  information,  to  identify  areas  for 
potential improvement. 

Article 7 

Financing 

The  financial  framework  for  the  implementation  of  this  programme  for  the  period 
2008-2013 is set at EUR 42.50 million. 

The annual appropriations shall be authorised by the budgetary authority within the 
limits of the financial framework. 

1. 

2. 

1. 

2. 

Article 8 

Entry into force 

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

Done at Brussels, […] 

For the European Parliament 
The President 
[…] 

For the Council 
The President 
[…] 

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ANNEX Breakdown of the actions listed in Article 3  

Objective 1:  The development of target sets of indicators and a review of priorities 

Action 1.1:  Development of new areas 

– 

– 

– 

– 

In  a  changing  economic  environment  it  is  important  to  define  priority 
areas for statistics like globalisation and entrepreneurship and to agree on 
Community  level  on  a  target  set  of  indicators  for  each  of  the  priority 
areas. These indicators need to be harmonised with international statistics 
to the extent possible. 

The  statistics  have  to  be  compiled  in  an  efficient  way  and  need  to  be 
comparable.  Therefore  work  has  to  be  carried  out  within  the  European 
Statistical System to achieve harmonised definitions of newly identified 
characteristics and indicators. 

After  having  agreed  on  target  sets  of  indicators  and  harmonised 
definitions for them, Member States need to develop and test their ways 
of collecting the statistics in the priority areas in a harmonised manner. 

The  new  areas  will  be  developed  by  means  of  studies,  by  organising 
seminars and by financially supporting projects to develop methods and 
ways to collect new statistics. 

Action 1.2:  Identify the areas of lesser importance 

– 

In  a  changing  world  not  only  new  statistical  needs  emerge,  but  other 
needs will become obsolete. Therefore, regular reviews of priorities will 
be  conducted  in  order  to  identify  areas  and  characteristics  which  have 
become  less  important  and  consequently  can  be  deleted  from  the  legal 
requirements. The reviews require external studies to be launched by the 
Commission.  

– 

The collection of statistical indicators linked to ongoing policy initiatives 
will be ensured. 

Objective 2:  A streamlined framework of business-related statistics 

Action 2.1:  Integration of concepts and methods within the legal framework 

– 

European  statistics  are  compiled  according  to  European  legislation, 
which has developed over several years. An overhaul of the consistency 
between the legal acts is needed in order to ensure that all relevant pieces 
are consistent. Therefore it is planned to review the existing legal acts to 
provide a harmonised legal framework for the different areas of business 
and  trade  statistics.  This  will  require  external  studies  to  be  launched  by 
the Commission. 

– 

There  are  cross-cutting  issues  in  statistics,  e.g.  several  statistical  areas 
report  on  employment  and  in  some  cases  the  same  phenomenon  is 

EN 

13 

   EN 

 
described from different angles. To ensure a better harmonisation studies 
shall  be  initiated  to  achieve  harmonisation  of  methodologies  among  the 
relevant  statistical  areas.  This  will  require  financial  support  to  Member 
States. 

– 

It  is  important  to  guarantee  consistency  between  areas  of  business  and 
trade statistics. For that purpose studies on consistency will be launched. 
This  consistency  could  refer  to  trade  in  goods  statistics  and  balance  of 
payments  statistics,  but  also  between  structural  business  statistics  and 
trade  statistics  This  will  require  external  studies  to  be  launched  by  the 
Commission and financial support to Member States' projects in this area. 

Action 2.2:  Development of statistics on enterprise groups 

– 

– 

An  initiative  to  establish  a  Community  register  of  multinational 
enterprise groups has been started by the Commission. This register is a 
crucial basis for the production of harmonised statistics on globalisation 
of  the  economy.  The  activities  under  this  action  will  be  devoted  to 
complete this register, by means of external studies to be launched by the 
Commission. 

It is not sufficient to create such a register, but financial support shall be 
given  to  actions  in  Member  States  to  develop  more  efficient  data 
collection  methods  for  enterprise  groups  and  illustrate  their  importance 
for international trade. 

–  When  it  will  come  to  the  exploitation  of  the  Community  register  of 
multinational  enterprise  groups,  European  statistics  will  have  to  take  a 
new  perspective,  so  it  will  become  important  to  set  up  specific 
Community  surveys  on  enterprise  groups.  This  will  require  external 
studies  to  be  launched  by  the  Commission  and  financial  support  to 
Member States' projects in this area. 

Action 2.3:  European surveys to minimise the burden on business 

– 

– 

To  highlight  new  and  emerging  needs  of  Community  statistics,  specific 
Community surveys will be conducted on an ad-hoc basis. Such surveys 
will  be  set  up  by  means  of  external  studies  to  be  launched  by  the 
Commission or financial support to Member States. 

To  exploit  the  potential  savings  of  Community  sampling  schemes  in 
regular  statistics,  studies  will  be  made  to  identify  areas  where 
Community aggregates would be sufficient and to develop new methods 
for data collection in these areas. Financial support will also be given to 
Member  States  to  adjust  their  data  collection  systems.  There  is  not  a 
standard type of Community sampling schemes; they have to be specific 
to the circumstances. 

– 

National surveys will be kept in statistical areas that feed benchmarking 
exercises. 

EN 

14 

   EN 

 
Objective 3:  The implementation of a more efficient way of collecting data 

Action 3.1:  Make  better  use  of  data  that  already  exist  in  the  statistical  system, 

including the possibility of estimates 

– 

The ultimate aim of this action is to create fully integrated data sets for 
business and trade statistics at micro level – a "data warehouse" approach 
to statistics. To achieve that, Member States will be financially supported 
in  order  to  link  data  or  micro-data  sets  from  different  areas  of  business 
and trade statistics, such as trade and business registers; linking structural 
business statistics to research and development statistics and information 
society statistics. 

–  Methodological  studies  shall  be  carried  out  on  new  work  processes  to 
improve  the  use  made  of  ongoing  data  collections,  e.g.  with  a  view  to 
assessing  the  impact  of  information  and  communication  technology  on 
business outcome by linking data from different sources. 

– 

– 

The more efficient way of data collection aims at reducing the burden on 
businesses.  It  has  to  be  assured  that  statistical  offices  make  the  most 
efficient use of collected information. Therefore financial support will be 
given  to  methodological  studies  for  optimal  allocation  of  sample  sizes 
and  their  combined  use  with  other  sources  and  related  estimation 
methods.  This  may  also  relate  to  quality  studies  in  cases  where  some 
enterprises (e.g. SMEs) are excluded from statistical surveys, and to the 
development of appropriate, harmonised estimation methods. 

The  need  of  reducing  the  burden  for  businesses  and  in  particular  for 
SMEs should not endanger the collection of relevant information for the 
monitoring of policy initiatives. 

Action 3.2:  Make better use of data that already exist in the economy 

– 

information 

is  sometimes  collected 

Statistical 
for 
administrative  purposes,  like  taxes,  and  then  for  statistical  purposes  in 
surveys.  This  double  burden  shall  be  avoided  to  the  largest  extent 
possible. Therefore, this programme will financially support projects on 
the use of administrative data for statistical purposes, including company 
accounts, by helping countries to change over from statistical surveys to 
use of administrative data while ensuring high data quality. 

twice.  Once 

–  Within  enterprises  it  makes  sense  to  promote  the  integration  of 
accounting systems and statistical reporting, so that data can be delivered 
for statistics in a simplified manner. This requires external studies to be 
launched  by  the  Commission  and  financial  support  to  Members  States' 
projects in this area. 

Action 3.3:  Develop  tools  for  the  more  efficient  extraction,  transmission  and 

processing of data 

EN 

15 

   EN 

 
– 

– 

– 

New  information  technology  (IT)  offers  opportunities  of  simplified 
reporting.  Measures  will  be  taken  to  financially  support  actions  that 
facilitate  data  transfer  from  enterprises  to  the  national  statistical 
authorities.  This  can  be  done  by  using  company  accounts  and  other 
financial  reports  drawn  up  according  to  international  accounting 
standards, and appropriate technical standards for such reports, including 
eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL). 

A  more  efficient  use  of  IT  tools  should  be  supported  to  facilitate  the 
exchange of information between the Commission and the national level. 
In  addition  to  that,  there  needs  to  be  further  development  of  tools  for 
validation,  error  detection,  correction,  analysis  and  editorial  work.  This 
will require financial support to projects in this area. 

Taking into consideration the ongoing developments in the simplification 
of  customs  formalities  on  export  and  import,  measures  shall  financially 
support  actions  aimed  at  facilitating  the  exchange,  processing  and 
dissemination of high-quality and detailed trade statistics. 

Objective 4:  The modernisation and simplification of Intrastat 

Action 4.1:  Harmonisation  of  methods  to  improve  quality  under  a  simplified

 Intrastat system 

–  Measures  shall  provide  financial  support  to  actions  in  Member  States 
aiming  at  developing  tools  and  methods  for  maintaining  and  improving 
data quality within a simplified collection system. 

– 

Financial  support  shall  be  given  to  actions  in  Member  States  that  are 
aimed  at  reducing  asymmetries  by  avoiding  misclassifications,  by 
harmonising  the  estimation,  the  collection  and  processing  systems,  the 
rules for the handling of confidential data, the thresholds and methods for 
adjustment. 

Action 4.2:  Better use of administrative data 

– 

The re-use of administrative data being reported by enterprises for other 
purposes (in particular Value Added Tax reports and accounting) shall ne 
encouraged. Measures shall be taken to financially support that, including 
the development of IT tools and procedures. 

Action 4.3:  Improve and facilitate the data exchange for Intrastat 

– 

The further development of tools and methods for data exchange within a 
centralised  system  is  vital.  Tools  for  validation,  error  detection, 
correction,  analysis  and  editorial  work  in  the  field  of  intra-Community 
trade  statistics  need  to  be  developed.  In  addition  actions  shall  be 
financially supported that focus on the legal and technical aspects of data 
exchange between Member States. 

EN 

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LEGISLATIVE FINANCIAL STATEMENT  

1. 

NAME OF THE PROPOSAL: 

Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision establishing a Programme 
for the Modernisation of European Enterprise and Trade Statistics (MEETS) 

2. 

ABM / ABB FRAMEWORK 

Policy Area(s) concerned and associated Activity/Activities: Statistics (Production of 
Statistical Information; Policy Strategy and Coordination; Administrative Support) 

3. 

BUDGET LINES 

3.1. 

Budget  lines  (operational  lines  and  related  technical  and  administrative 
assistance lines (ex- B.A. lines) including headings: 

29.02.04 - Modernisation of European Enterprise and Trade Statistics (MEETS) 

29.0104.04 - Modernisation of European Enterprise and Trade Statistics (MEETS) - 
expenditure on administrative management  

3.2. 

Duration of the action and of the financial impact: 

Six years; 2008-2013 

3.3. 

Budgetary characteristics: 

Budget 
line 

Type of expenditure 

New 

EFTA 
contribution 

Contributions 
from applicant 
countries 

Heading in 
financial 
perspective 

29.02.04 

DNO 

29.0104.04 

DNO 

DA7  

NDA8 

NO 

NO 

YES 

YES 

NO 

NO 

Heading 1A 

Heading 1A 

7 

8 

Differentiated appropriations 
Non-differentiated appropriations hereafter referred to as NDA 

EN 

17 

   EN 

 
                                                 
4. 

SUMMARY OF RESOURCES 

4.1. 

Financial Resources 

4.1.1. 

Summary of commitment appropriations (CA) and payment appropriations (PA) 

EUR million (to 4 decimal places) 

Expenditure type 

Section 
no. 

Year 
2008 

2009 

2010 

2011 

2012 

2013 and 
later 

Total 

Operational expenditure9 

Commitment Appropriations 
(CA) 

8.1. 

Payment 
(PA) 

Appropriations 

a 

b 

4,650 

6,045 

10,695 

8,370 

6,045 

3,720 

39,525 

0,558 

7,1145 

8,370 

9,5325 

7,2075 

6,7425 

39,525 

Administrative expenditure within reference amount10 

Technical  &  administrative 
assistance (NDA) 

8.2.4. 

c 

TOTAL REFERENCE AMOUNT 

Commitment 
Appropriations 

Payment Appropriations 

a+
c 

b
+c 

0,350 

0,455 

0,805 

0,630 

0,455 

0,280 

2,975 

5,000 

6,500 

11,500 

9,000 

6,500 

4,000 

42,500 

0,908 

7,5695 

9,175 

10,1625 

7,6625 

7.0225 

42,500 

Administrative expenditure not included in reference amount11 

Human 
associated 
(NDA) 

resources 

and 
expenditure 

8.2.5. 

d 

0,224 

0,341 

0,341 

0,341 

0,341 

0,341 

1,929 

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

costs, 

8.2.6. 

e 

0,006 

0,006 

0,006 

0,006 

0,006 

0,006 

0,036 

Total indicative financial cost of intervention 

TOTAL CA including cost 
of Human Resources 

a+
c+
d
+e 

5,230 

6,847 

11,847 

9,347 

6,847 

4,347 

44,465 

9 

10 

11 

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

18 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
1,138 

7,9165 

9,522 

10,5095 

8,0095 

7,3695 

44,465 

TOTAL  PA  including  cost 
of Human Resources 

b
+c
+
d
+e 

Co-financing details 

The proposal involves, as far as the grants are concerned, co-financing by Member 
States  according  to  the  prevailing  rules.  The  grant  amounts  foreseen  are  in  EUR 
million (to 3 decimal places): 3.900 in 2008 - 4.795 in 2009 - 9.545 in 2010 - 7,770 
in 2011 – 4.745 in 2012 and 3.070 in 2013. 

EUR million (to 3 decimal places) 

Co-financing body 

2008 

2009 

2010 

2011 

2012 

Total 

2013 
and 
later 

1,671  2,055 

4,090 

3,330 

2,033 

1,315 

14,494 

Member States 

Other bodies (EFTA, Switzerland: 
to be added) 

TOTAL  CA 
financing 

including 

co-

f 

f 

a+c+
d+e+
f 

4.1.2.  Compatibility with Financial Programming 

X 

Proposal is compatible with existing financial programming. 

(cid:133) 

(cid:133) 

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

Proposal  may  require  application  of  the  provisions  of  the  Interinstitutional 
Agreement12 (i.e. flexibility instrument or revision of the financial perspective). 

4.1.3.  Financial impact on Revenue 

X 

Proposal has no financial implications on revenue 

(cid:133) 

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

12 

See points 19 and 24 of the Interinstitutional agreement. 

EN 

19 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
4.2. 

Human Resources FTE (including officials, temporary and external staff) – see 
detail under point 8.2.1. 

Annual requirements 

2008 

2009 

2010 

2011 

2012 

2013 

Total  number  of  human 
resources 

2,5 

3,5 

3,5 

3,5 

3,5 

3,5 

5. 

CHARACTERISTICS AND OBJECTIVES 

5.1. 

Need to be met in the short or long term 

Business and trade statistics are faced with major challenges in the coming years: the 
strong integration of world markets is changing the structure of the economy and also 
European  integration  is  progressing  further.  Statistics  have  to  react  to  these  trends 
and have to describe new phenomena. At the same time, the administrative burden on 
business  must  be  reduced.  These  two  challenges  should  not  be  contradictory.  The 
need for new types of indicators can go hand in hand with efforts to modernise the 
production system. In fact, new types of indicators providing the needed information 
could  be  obtained  by  using  new  sources  of  information  and  by  linking  already 
existing  types  of  business  statistics  without  the  necessity  to  increase  the  reporting 
burden  on  the  enterprises.  But  an  investment  is  needed  to  exploit  the  potential 
synergies efficiently; this is the main reason for this programme. 

5.2. 

Value-added  of  Community  involvement  and  coherence  of  the  proposal  with 
other financial instruments and possible synergy 

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

Some Member States would have invested in the modernisation of business and trade 
statistics in an uncoordinated way producing results that are not comparable to other 
EU  Member  States  and  where  the  aggregation  to  European  aggregates  would  be 
problematic. Some Member States would not have taken appropriate actions, lagging 
behind  in  modern  developments  in  areas  like  globalisation,  and  would  therefore  be 
missing in the European picture. Efforts would be duplicated, similar exercises would 
be  carried  out  in  several  Member  States  and  mistakes  would  be  repeated.  If  some 
Member  States  had  successfully  modernised  their  system  of  business  and  trade 
statistics,  the  marginal  costs  to  implement  the  same  system  in  other  Member  States 
are  much  smaller  than  developing  a  completely  new  system,  an  uncoordinated 
approach would result in a situation, where potential savings were not realised. 

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

To  fully  exploit  the  opportunities  of  providing  the  EU  with  better  and  relevant 
business  and  trade  statistics  and  at  the  same  time  ensure  a  reduced  burden  on 
businesses generated by statistics, an investment is needed before a renewed system 
would become operational. The MEETS programme will avoid duplication of efforts. 
New  and  more  cost-effective  data  collection  systems  can  be  tested  in  a  number  of 

EN 

20 

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Member States and become applicable in all. Therefore, sharing experiences and best 
practices is the core of this programme. Efforts to harmonise, streamline, and regulate 
can  best  be  initiated  at  Community  level  at  which  such  projects  can  be  carried  out 
with optimal efficiency. 

The  main  purpose  of  this  programme  is  that an investment is needed such that new 
statistical  requirements  can  be  taken  on  board,  with  less  burden  on  enterprises  by  a 
more efficient use of data and processes. The adaptation of the statistical requirements 
to both new and to outdated needs of EU statistics  indicates  the achievement of the 
first  aspect.  In  some  areas  of  trade  and  business  statistics  there  are  already  burden 
measurements available. EU wide indicators would show the decrease of the burden 
ceteris paribus.  

The  proposal  is  limited  to  exploiting  synergies  and  avoiding  double  and  therefore 
inefficient efforts. The regular statistical data production will not be supported by this 
programme, but the "re-engineering" of business and trade statistics will be supported 
to guarantee a co-ordinated and efficient approach. 

5.3. 

Objectives, expected results and related indicators of the proposal in the context 
of the ABM framework 

The general objectives and related actions of the programme are the following: 

Objective 1: The development of target sets of indicators and a review of priorities  

Action 1.1: Define priority areas and define target set of indicators; 

Action 1.2: Identification of areas that are of lesser importance; 

Objective 2: Streamline the framework of business related statistics  

Action 2.1: Integration of concepts and methods within the legal framework; 

Action 2.2: Development of statistics on enterprise groups; 

Action 2.3: European surveys to minimise the burden on business. 

Objective 3: Implementation of a more efficient way of collecting data  

Action  3.1:  Make  better  use  of  data  that  already  exist  in  the  statistical  system 
including the possibility of estimations; 

Action 3.2: Make better use of data that already exist in the economy; 

Action 3.3: Develop tools for a more efficient extraction, transmission and treatment 
of data. 

Objective 4: Modernise and simplify Intrastat  

Action 4.1: Harmonisation of methods to improve quality under a simplified Intrastat 
system; 

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21 

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Action 4.2: Make better use of administrative data; 

Action 4.3: Improve and facilitate the data exchange for Intrastat. 

5.4.  Method of Implementation (indicative) 

X 

Centralised Management 

X 

directly by the Commission 

(cid:133) 

indirectly by delegation to: 

(cid:133) 

executive Agencies 

(cid:133) 

bodies set up by the Communities as referred to in art. 185 of the 
Financial Regulation 

(cid:133) 

national public-sector bodies/bodies with public-service mission 

(cid:133) 

Shared or decentralised management 

(cid:133)  with Member states 

(cid:133)  with Third countries 

(cid:133) 

Joint management with international organisations (please specify) 

6. 

MONITORING AND EVALUATION 

6.1.  Monitoring system 

Article  3  of  the  proposed  Decision  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council 
specifies that the Commission shall adopt an annual work programme, including the 
priorities  for  action  under  each  objective  and  the  budgetary  allocations  under  this 
Decision.  These  programmes,  together  with  their  corresponding  financing,  will  be 
the matter of Commission Decisions detailing the outputs and the results (objectives 
and  indicators)  to  be  achieved  during  the  reference  period.  The  monitoring  will  be 
ensured through regular reports on the consumption of resources and on the progress 
made on the achievement of objectives. 

6.2. 

Evaluation 

6.2.1.  Ex-ante evaluation 

The proposed Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council has been the 
subject  of  an  ex-ante  evaluation  carried  out  according  to  the  procedure  laid  out  by 
DG Budget. This ex-ante evaluation is attached to this document. 

EN 

22 

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6.2.2.  Measures taken  following  an intermediate/ex-post evaluation (lessons learned from 

similar experiences in the past) 

The  MEETS  programme  is  the  logical  successor  to  the  Edicom  I  (1996-2000)  and 
Edicom II (2001-2005) programmes. 

The  first  Edicom  programme  focused  on  the  Intrastat  (statistics  on  intra-EU  trade) 
reporting  obligations  and  more  particularly  on  the  development  of  the  operational 
framework,  i.e.  electronic  data  collection  and  dissemination.  The  programme 
achieved  its  objectives  by  assisting  the  Member  States  in  developing  and 
implementing this framework for the transmission, compilation and re-dissemination 
of data.  

The Edicom II  programme had  a broader focus, which included the stabilisation of 
the  statistical  system  for  external  trade  statistics  (intra  and  extra  EU),  the  further 
development of IT tools, modernisation and simplification. The programme has been 
particularly  successful  in  improving  the  quality  and  timeliness  of  external  trade 
statistics, in further developing web-based transmission and dissemination tools, and 
in  integrating  the  trade  statistics  of  the  10  Member  States  which  acceded  to  the 
European Union in 2004.  

The main lesson to be learned from the past concerns the internal organisation of the 
programme.  The  two  Edicom  programmes  were  structured  according  to  separate 
objectives, and within each objective a number of actions was defined. Each action 
was carried out by means of a number of projects. A project leader was assigned to 
each  project,  while  at  the  same  time  the  overall  organisation  and  financial 
management was centralised. This combination of centralisation and decentralisation 
of  different  aspects  of  the  programme  proved  to  be  very  effective  in  enabling  the 
programme to focus in appropriate detail on particular issues, while at the same time 
maintaining  overall  internal  coherence.  The  experience  from  past  programmes  also 
illustrates  the  need  to  be  careful,  particularly  in  the  case  of  grants,  to  avoid 
overlapping  or  parallel  implementation  of  similar  activities  and  to  achieve 
complementarities. 

6.2.3.  Terms and frequency of future evaluation 

Article  6  of  the  proposed  Decision  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council 
specifies  that  the  Commission  shall,  in  cooperation  with  the  Member  States, 
regularly  evaluate  the  actions  financed  under  this  Decision,  in  order  to  ascertain 
whether  the  stated  objectives  have  been  attained  and  to  provide  guidelines  for 
improving the effectiveness of future actions. 

Moreover,  by  the  end  of  December  2011,  the  Commission  shall  submit  to  the 
European  Parliament  and the Council a report on the activities financed in the  first 
three years under the new programme so as to enable, if appropriate, a review of the 
actions implemented under this Decision to be carried out.  

Finally, six months after the end of the programme the Commission shall submit to 
the  European  Parliament  and  the  Council  a  report  on  the  implementation  of  this 
Decision,  accompanied,  if  appropriate,  by  proposals  for  new  actions.  This  report 
shall seek to assess, in the light of the expenditure incurred by the Community, the 

EN 

23 

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benefits of the actions accruing to the Community, the Member States and providers 
and users of statistical information, to identify areas for potential improvement and to 
verify synergy with other Community activities 

7. 

ANTI-FRAUD MEASURES  

Annual  monitoring  of  progress  with  implementation  and  effectiveness  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. 

Rules  and  procedures  are  in  place  for  the  principal  budgetary  processes:  calls  for 
tender,  grants,  commitments,  contracts,  payments.  The  manuals  of  procedures  are 
made  available  to  all  those  intervening  in  financial  acts  with  a  view  to  clarifying 
responsibilities,  simplifying  workflows,  indicating  key  control  points.  Training  is 
provided on their use. The manuals are subject to regular review and updating. 

The Commission may have an audit of the use made of the grant carried out either 
directly by its own staff or by any other qualified outside body of its choice. These 
audits may be carried out throughout the lifetime of the contract and for a period of 
five years from the date of payment of the balance of the grant. Where appropriate, 
the audit findings may lead the Commission to seek recovery of sums paid. 

Commission  staff  and  outside  persons  authorised  by  the  Commission  must  be 
granted appropriate access to the offices of the beneficiary and to all the information, 
including information in electronic format, needed in order to conduct such audits.  

The Court of Auditors and the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) must enjoy the 
same  rights,  especially  of  access,  as  the  Commission.  The  Commission  may  also 
undertake  in  situ  inspections  pursuant  to  Council  Regulation  (Euratom,  EC)  No 
2185/96  of  11  November  1996  concerning  on-the-spot  checks  and  inspections 
carried  out  by  the  Commission  in  order  to  protect  the  European  Communities' 
financial interests against fraud and other irregularities. 

EN 

24 

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8. 

DETAILS OF RESOURCES 

8.1. 

Objectives of the proposal in terms of their financial cost 

Commitment appropriations in EUR million (to 3 decimal places) 

Type of output 

Av. 
cost 

Year 2008 

Year 2009 

Year 2013 

Year 2011 

Year 2012 

Year 2013 and 
later 

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 

of 

(Headings 
Objectives, 
and 
actions 
outputs should be 
provided) 

OPERATIONAL 
OBJECTIVE  1  : 
The  development 
of  target  sets  of 
indicators  and  a 
review 
of 
priorities 

Action 1.1. Define 
priority 
areas 
and  define  target 
set of indicators; 

0,05 

1 

0,050 

4 

0,200 

5 

0,250 

0,04 

1 

0,040 

4 

0,160 

1 

0,040 

4 

0,160 

10 

0,400 

- Output 1  Seminars on the 
areas 

priority 
organised 

- Output 2  Member States 
have organised 
task forces in 
the priority 
areas 

EN 

25 

EN 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
- Output 3   Statistics  in  the 
areas 
priority 
have 
been 
developed  and 
tested 
a 
in 
harmonised 
way. 

Action 
1.2. 
Identification  of 
areas  that  are  of 
lesser importance 

- Output 1  Areas 

of 
that 
statistics 
are  of 
lesser 
importance  and 
where 
areas, 
EU 
sampling 
would  make 
sense have been 
identified. 

Sub-total 
Objective 1 

0,500 

1 

0,500 

4 

2,000 

1 

0,500 

1 

0,500 

1 

0,500 

8 

4,000 

2008 

2008 

2009 

2009 

2010 

2010 

2011 

2011 

2012 

2012 

2013 

2013 

0,350 

1 

0,350 

OUTP
UTS 

SUM 

1 

0,350 

0,208 

0,400 

0,740 

2,160 

0,500 

0,540 

0,660 

24 

5,000 

EN 

26 

EN 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2008 

2008 

2009 

2009 

2010 

2010 

2011 

2011 

2012 

2012 

2013 

2013 

OUT
PUTS 

SUM 

0,150 

1 

0,150 

1 

0,150 

2 

0,300 

0,200 

2 

0,400 

3 

0,600 

5 

1,000 

OPERATIONAL 
OBJECTIVE  2  : 
streamlined 
A 
framework 
of 
business  related 
statistics 

2.1. 
Action 
of 
Integration 
concepts 
and 
methods  within 
legal 
the 
framework 

- Output 1  Existing 

legal 
acts  have  been 
to 
reviewed 
provide 
a 
harmonised 
legal 
framework  for 
different 
the 
of 
areas 
business 
and 
trade statistics. 

the 

- Output 2  Member  States 
have 
that 
volunteered 
to 
lead 
take 
made 
have 
proposals 
on 
the 
harmonisation 
of 
methodology. 
Study groups or 
forces 
task 
be 
could 
organised 
by 
these countries. 

the 

EN 

27 

EN 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
- Output 3  Methodology  f 

0,350 

1 

0,350 

1 

0,350 

reconciliation 
tables  has  been 
developed 

- Output 4  Reconciliation 

0,100 

1 

0,100 

1 

0,100 

1 

0,100 

1 

0,100 

1 

0,100 

5 

0,500 

2008 

2008 

2009 

2009 

2010 

2010 

2011 

2011 

2012 

2012 

2013 

2013 

OUT
PUTS 

SUM 

1,000 

1 

1,000 

1 

1,000 

1 

1,000 

1 

1,000 

1 

1,000 

5 

5,000 

have 
tables 
been  created  in 
the  Member 
States  

Action 2.2. 
Development of 
statistics on 
enterprise groups 

- Output 1  Member  States 
have  developed 
better 
data 
collection 
methods 
enterprise 
groups 
and 
have  illustrated 
their 
importance  for 
international 
trade 

for 

EN 

28 

EN 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Action 2.3. 
European 
surveys to 
minimise the 
burden on 
business 

- Output 1  Specific 

EU 
surveys  on  an 
ad-hoc 
basis 
have  been  set 
as 
and 
up 
European 
sample  scheme 
have 
been 
established. 

Sub-total 
Objective 2 

2008 

2008 

2009 

2009 

2010 

2010 

2011 

2011 

2012 

2012 

2013 

2013 

OUT
PUTS 

SUM 

1,000 

1 

1,000 

1 

1,000 

1 

1,000 

1 

1,000 

4 

4,000 

0,507 

1,350 

1,250 

2,650 

2,700 

2,100 

1,100 

22 

11,150 

EN 

29 

EN 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OPERATIONAL 
OBJECTIVE  3  : 
Implementation 
of 
more 
a 
efficient  way  of 
collecting data 

Action 3.1. Better 
use  of  data  that 
in 
already  exist 
the 
statistical 
system  including 
the  possibility  of 
estimations 

- Output 1  Micro-data  sets 
from  different 
of 
areas 
business 
and 
trade  statistics 
have 
been 
linked.  

- Output 2  A 

knowledge 
for  data 
has 

base 
linking 
been created 

2008 

2008 

2009 

2009 

2010 

2010 

2011 

2011 

2012 

2012 

2013 

2013 

OUT
PUTS 

SUM 

0,600 

1 

0,600 

1 

0,600 

1 

0,600 

3 

1,800 

0,150 

1 

0,150 

1 

0,150 

EN 

30 

EN 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
- Output 3  Some  Member 
States 
have 
taken  the  lead 
in 
methodological 
studies 
for 
optimal 
of 
allocation 
sample 
sizes, 
their  combined 
use  with  other 
and 
sources 
related 
estimation 
methods 
and 
best 
practices 
have 
been 
with 
shared 
other  Member 
States.  

Action 3.2. Make 
better use of data 
that already exist 
in the economy 

0,1956 

3 

0,500 

3 

0,600 

3 

0,600 

3 

0,600 

3 

0,635 

15 

2,.935 

2008 

2008 

2009 

2009 

2010 

2010 

2011 

2011 

2012 

2012 

2013 

2013 

OUT
PUTS 

SUM 

- Output 1  Use 

of 

1,250 

1 

1,000 

1 

1,000 

1 

1,500 

1 

1,500 

4 

5,000 

has 
by 

to 
from 

administrative 
data 
increased 
supporting 
countries 
change 
statistical 
surveys 
towards 
administrative 
data  and  ensure 
data quality 

EN 

31 

EN 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
0,150 

- Output 2  A 

knowledge 
base for the use 
of 
administrative 
data  has  been 
created 

1 

0,150 

1 

0,150 

0,3633 

1 

0,350 

1 

0,370 

1 

0,370 

3 

1,090 

0,150 

1 

0,150 

1 

0,150 

- Output 3  The  integration 
the 
of 

and 

inside 
enterprises 
statistical 
reporting, 
management 
information 
systems 
enterprise 
resource 
planning  have 
been  promoted, 
e.g.  by  the  use 
of 
financial 
reports 
established 
under 
international 
accounting 
standards; 

- Output 4  A 

knowledge 
base  for  a  good 
use 
of 
accounting 
standards 
been created 

has 

EN 

32 

EN 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2008 

2008 

2009 

2009 

2010 

2010 

2011 

2011 

2012 

2012 

2013 

2013 

OUT
PUTS 

SUM 

0,500 

1 

0,500 

1 

0,500 

2 

1,000 

Action 3.3. 
Development of 
tools for a more 
efficient 
extraction, 
transmission and 
treatment of data 

- Output 1  Actions  aiming 
at  data  transfer 
from 
the 
enterprise to the 
NSIs have been 
facilitated.  This 
could  be  done 
by  the  use  of 
company 
accounts 
and 
other  financial 
reports 
established 
under 
international 
accounting 
standards,  and 
appropriate 
standards 
such 
notably XBRL 

for 
reports, 

EN 

33 

EN 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2008 

2008 

2009 

2009 

2010 

2010 

2011 

2011 

2012 

2012 

2013 

2013 

OUT
PUTS 

SUM 

0,5337 

1 

0,335 

1 

0,600 

1 

0,600 

1 

0,600 

4 

2,135 

- Output 2  The  exchange, 
and 

treatment 
dissemination 
of  high  quality 
trade  statistics 
data  at  detailed 
level  have  been 
facilitated, 
taking 
consideration 
the 
developments 
simplifying 
in 
and 
export 
import Customs 
formalities. 

ongoing 

into 

Sub-total 
Objective 3 

0,423 

1,500 

2,700 

3,885 

3,670 

1,905 

0,750 

34 

14,410 

EN 

34 

EN 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2008 

2008 

2009 

2009 

2010 

2010 

2011 

2011 

2012 

2012 

2013 

2013 

OUT
PUTS 

SUM 

0,3333 

1 

0,600 

1 

0,400 

1 

0,400 

1 

0,400 

1 

0,100 

1 

0,100 

6 

2,000 

OPERATIONAL 
OBJECTIVE  :  4 
Modernisation 
and 
simplification  of 
Intrastat 

Action 
4.1. 
Harmonisation  of 
methods 
to 
improve  quality 
a 
under 
simplified 
Intrastat system 

- Output 1:  

Studies 
have 
been  performed 
by 
Member 
States  which 
aim 
the 
at 
development  of 
and 
tools 
methods 
for 
maintaining  or 
improving  data 
quality  under  a 
single 
flow 
collection 
system. 

EN 

35 

EN 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
0,1925 

1 

0,300 

1 

0,255 

1 

0,200 

1 

0,200 

1 

0,100 

1 

0,100 

6 

1,155 

- Output 2 :  

have 
Studies 
been  performed 
by 
Member 
States  which 
the  a 
aim  at 
reduction 
of 
asymmetries  by 
avoiding 
misclassificatio
ns, 
by 
harmonising 
collection  and 
processing 
systems, 
harmonising 
rules 
for 
treatment 
confidential 
data 
harmonising 
thresholds  and 
by  harmonising 
for 
methods 
CIF-FOB 
adjustment 

etc,  by 

the 
of 

by 

EN 

36 

EN 

 
  
Action 4.2. Better 
use 
of 
administrative 
data 

-Output 1:  

- Output 2:  

4.3. 
Action 
and 
Improve 
facilitate  the  data 
exchange 
for 
Intrastat 

Study  work  has 
been  performed 
European 
at 
level 
the 
into 
better  reuse  of 
administrative 
being 
data 
reported 
for 
other  purposes 
by  enterprises 
(VAT,  VIES, 
accounting)  

Study  work  has 
been  performed 
by  the  Member 
States  into  the 
better  reuse  of 
administrative 
being 
data 
reported 
for 
other  purposes 
by  enterprises 
(VAT,  VIES, 
accounting 

2008 

2008 

2009 

2009 

2010 

2010 

2011 

2011 

2012 

2012 

2013 

2013 

OUT
PUTS 

SUM 

0,200 

2 

0,400 

2 

0,500 

1 

0,100 

5 

1,000 

0,100 

1 

0,100 

1 

0,100 

1 

0,100 

1 

0,100 

1 

0,100 

1 

0,100 

6 

0,600 

2008 

2008 

2009 

2009 

2010 

2010 

2011 

2011 

2012 

2012 

2013 

2013 

OUT
PUTS 

SUM 

EN 

37 

EN 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
and 
Tools 
methods 
for 
data  exchange 
within 
a 
centralised 
system, 
validation, error 
detection, 
correction, 
analysis 
and 
editorial  work 
been 
have 
further 
developed 

Studies 
have 
been  performed 
which  focus  on 
legal 
and 
technical 
aspects  of  data 
exchange 
between 
Member States: 

- Output 1:  

- Output 2:  

Sub-total 
Objective 4 

TOTAL COST 

0,2675 

2 

0,500 

2 

0,500 

2 

0,500 

4 

1,000 

2 

0,710 

12 

3,210 

0,200 

1 

0,100 

1 

0,300 

1 

0,200 

1 

0,200 

1 

0,200 

5 

1,000 

0,2241 

1,400 

1,355 

2,000 

1,500 

1,500 

1,210 

40 

8,965 

AVG. 
OUT 
PUT 

0,3293
75 

2008 

2008 

2009 

2009 

2010 

2010 

2011 

2011 

2012 

2012 

2013 

2013 

OUT
PUTS 

SUM 

4,650 

6,045 

10,695 

8,370 

6,045 

3,720 

120 

39,525 

EN 

38 

EN 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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) 

2008 

2009 

2010 

2011 

2012 

2013  

Officials or 
temporary 
staff13 (XX 01 
01) 

A*/AD 

0,5 

B*, 
C*/AST 

1 

1 

Staff  financed14  by  art. 
XX 01 02 

Other  staff15  financed by 
art. XX 01 04/05 

1 

1,5 

1 

1 

1,5 

1 

1 

1,5 

1 

1 

1,5 

1 

1 

1,5 

1 

TOTAL 

2,5 

3,5 

3,5 

3,5 

3,5 

3,5 

8.2.2.  Description of tasks deriving from the action 

AD  and  END:  general  management  of  programme,  coordination  with  Member  States, 
other Commission DGs, coordination of calls for tender and calls for proposals. 

AST administrative support and financial follow-up, payments. 

8.2.3. 

Sources of human resources (statutory) 

X 

(cid:133) 

(cid:133) 

X 

(cid:133) 

Posts  currently  allocated  to  the  management  of  the  programme  to  be  replaced  or 
extended (1,5 FTE officials in 2008 and 2,5 FTE officials in the remaining years) 

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) 1 END post 

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

13 

14 

15 

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 

39 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
8.2.4.  Other Administrative expenditure included in reference amount (29.0104.04– Expenditure on 

administrative management) 

Budget line(number and heading) 

2008 

2009 

2010 

2011 

2012 

2013  TOTAL 

EUR million (to 3 decimal places) 

Technical 

1 
and 
assistance (including related staff costs) 

administrative 

0,250  0,355 

0,705 

0,530 

0,355 

0,180 

2,375 

Executive agencies16 

Meetings & Conferences 

0,100  0,100  0,100 

0,100 

0,100 

0,100 

0,600 

Other 

technical 

and 

administrative 

assistance 

- intra muros * 

0,250  0,355 

0,705 

0,530 

0,355 

0,180 

2,375 

- extra muros 

Total  Technical  and  administrative 
assistance 

0,350  0,455 

0,805 

0,630 

0,455 

0,280 

2,975 

*:  intra-muros  technical  and  administrative  assistance  to  be  commissioned  via  calls  for 
tender. 

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

amount 

Type of human resources 

2008 

2009 

2010 

2011 

2012 

2013 

EUR million (to 3 decimal places) 

0,175 

0,292 

0,292 

0,292 

0,292 

0,292 

0,049 

0,049 

0,049 

0,049 

0,049 

0,049 

Officials  and  temporary  staff 
(XX 01 01) 

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

(specify budget line) 

cost 

Total 
of  Human 
Resources  and  associated 
in  reference 
costs 
amount) 

(NOT 

0,224 

0,341 

0,341 

0,341 

0,341 

0,341 

16 

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

EN 

40 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
Calculation– Officials and Temporary agents 

Officials 

EUR 117.000 per year  

Calculation – Staff financed under art. XX 01 02  

END  EUR 48.678 per year 

8.2.6. Other administrative expenditure not included in reference amount 

EUR million (to 3 decimal places)

2008 

2009 

2010 

2011 

2012 

2013  TOTAL 

XX 01 02 11.01 – Missions 

0,006 

0,006 

0,006 

0,006 

0,006 

0,006 

0,036 

XX 01 02 11 02 – Meetings & Conferences 

XX 01 02 11 03 – Committees17  

XX 01 02 11 04 – Studies & consultations 

XX 01 02 11 05 - Information systems 

2 

Total 

Other  Management 

Expenditure (XX 01 02 11) 

3  Other 

expenditure 

administrative 
including reference to budget line) 

nature 

of 

an 
(specify 

expenditure, 
than  human  resources  and 
in 

Total  Administrative 
other 
associated  costs  (NOT 
reference amount) 

included 

0,006 

0,006 

0,006 

0,006 

0,006 

0,006 

0,036 

17 

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

EN 

41 

   EN