Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on the provision and quality of statistics for the macroeconomic imbalances procedure
Date: 2013-06-07
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU control, Eurostat, disclosure of information, economic disparity, economic sanctions, economic statistics, financial statistics, macroeconomics

EUROPEAN 
COMMISSION 

Brussels, 7.6.2013  
COM(2013) 342 final 

2013/0181 (COD) 

Proposal for a 

REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL 

on the provision and quality of statistics for the macroeconomic imbalances procedure 

EN 

   EN 

 
 
 
  
 
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 

1. 

CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL 

This initiative fits into the political context of improving of the economic governance of the 
Union. Together with the Union strategy for growth and jobs, the European semester for the 
coordination  of  economic  and budgetary  policies,  and the Stability and Growth Pact for the 
correction  of  government  excessive  deficits,  there  is  a  need  to  detect,  prevent  and  correct 
macroeconomic imbalances. 

For this purpose, Regulation (EU) No 1176/2011 set out detailed rules for the early detection, 
prevention and correction of macroeconomic imbalances which emerge or persist in the euro 
area and the EU (the Macroeconomic Imbalances Procedure or MIP).  

The MIP and its scoreboard of indicators require efficient statistical quality monitoring of the 
indicators and of the underlying statistical information. 

The  ECOFIN  Councils  of  8  November  2011  and  13  November  2012  underlined  the 
importance for the credibility of the MIP of having timely statistics of the highest quality for 
inclusion  in  the  scoreboard  and  invited  the  Commission  (Eurostat)  to  take  all  necessary 
initiatives  to  assure  a  reliable  procedure  for  the  compilation  of  these  statistics  as  well  as  a 
continuous improvement of the underlying statistical information. 

There is therefore a need to develop a robust statistical monitoring system for the MIP based 
on a Regulation of the European Parliament and  of the Council. This Regulation will cover 
the monitoring of data quality; the compilation and transmission of data and metadata; and the 
reporting/communication  on  the  data  to  the  different  stakeholders  and  to  the  European 
Parliament and the Council.  

The Regulation will introduce new tasks for the Commission (Eurostat) on the following main 
aspects: validating the quality of the MIP relevant data in relation to quality criteria that either 
exist already or will be further specified in certain areas; structuring, collecting and analysing 
Member  States’  compilation  sources  and  methods;  developing  and  implementing  an 
improvement  action  plan.  The  work  on  the  MIP  relevant  data  will  need  to  be  supported  by 
good website publication and dissemination arrangements, as well as release actions. 

The  implementation  of  the  draft  Regulation  with  a  view  to  providing  high  quality  statistics 
will  require  close  cooperation  with  Member  States’  statistical  authorities  covering  both  the 
scoreboard data and the underlying statistical information. 

2. 

RESULTS  OF  CONSULTATIONS  WITH  INTERESTED  PARTIES  AND 
IMPACT ASSESSMENTS 

2.1. 

RESULTS OF CONSULTATIONS WITH INTERESTED PARTIES 

The need to have statistics of the highest quality for inclusion in the MIP scoreboard, and to 
develop  a  reliable  quality  monitoring  procedure  for  this  purpose,  has  been  stressed  by  the 
ECOFIN Council. 

Extensive discussions with Member States on quality and comparability issues relating to the 
MIP  relevant  data  have  taken  place  in  the  Economic  Policy  Committee.  In  particular  some 
areas for improvements were identified in the 2012 EPC Report on requirements for structural 
statistics. 

There  have  been  contacts  with  other  Directorates  General,  in  particular  the  Economic  and 
Financial affairs DG. 

EN 

2 

   EN 

Several  improvement  actions  relating  to  underlying  statistical  information  have  been 
undertaken  in  cooperation  with  the  European  Central  Bank  and  other  international 
organisations. 

2.2. 

IMPACT ASSESSMENTS 

The successful implementation of this Regulation will mainly require close cooperation from 
Member States’ statistical authorities with a view to improving the quality of the MIP relevant 
data and the underlying statistical information. No additional data collection mechanisms are 
foreseen.  

If a robust and legally binding quality monitoring procedure were not adopted, the quality and 
comparability  of  the  MIP  relevant  data  would  not  be  assured,  as  required  by  Commission 
policy. This could in turn affect the credibility and efficiency of the MIP system.  

3. 

LEGAL ELEMENTS OF THE PROPOSAL 

This Regulation sets out the rules governing the way the statistical data that are relevant for 
the macroeconomic imbalances procedure are provided. These rules relate to the compilation, 
quality monitoring and release of the indicators in the macroeconomic imbalances procedure 
scoreboard.  The  main  objective  of  the  Regulation  is  to  develop  a  robust  quality  monitoring 
procedure in order to ensure the highest quality of the MIP relevant data. 

Article 338 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union provides the legal basis 
for  European  statistics.  Acting  in  accordance  with  the  ordinary  legislative  procedure,  the 
European Parliament and the Council adopt measures for the production of statistics,  where 
necessary, on how the Union conducts its activities. It sets out the requirements for European 
statistics,  stating  that  they  must  conform  to  standards  of  impartiality,  reliability,  objectivity, 
scientific independence, cost-effectiveness and statistical confidentiality. 

The proposal complies with both the subsidiarity and the proportionality principles. 

Concerning  the  subsidiarity  principle,  the  objectives  of  the  proposal  do  not  fall  within  the 
exclusive  competence  of  the  European  Union  and  at  the  same  time  cannot  be  sufficiently 
achieved by the Member States. 

The Member States cannot satisfy the central quality concern to the necessary extent without 
a  clear  European  framework,  i.e.  European  legislation  laying  down  a  common  quality 
monitoring procedure for the MIP relevant data.  

The objectives of the proposal can be better achieved at European Union level on the basis of 
a  European  level  act,  because  only  the  Commission  can  develop  and  apply  a  harmonised 
quality monitoring procedure for the MIP relevant data at European Union level. On the other 
hand,  successful  implementation  of  this  procedure  requires  close  cooperation  with  Member 
States’ statistical authorities covering both the MIP relevant data and the underlying statistical 
information. The European Union may therefore take action to this end in accordance with the 
principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty. 

Concerning  the  proportionality  principle,  the  Regulation  confines  itself  to  the  minimum 
required to achieve its objective and does not go beyond what is necessary for that purpose. It 
does not specify an MIP relevant data collection mechanism for each Member State, nor does 
it duplicate existing procedures. It merely sets out a quality monitoring system in respect of 
the compilation, transmission and release of the scoreboard statistics and other MIP relevant 
data.  

EN 

3 

   EN 

The proposed legal instrument is a European Parliament and Council Regulation. A regulation 
is preferable because it lays down the same law throughout the European Union, leaving the 
Member States with no leeway to apply it incompletely or selectively. It is directly applicable, 
which means that it does not need to be transposed in national law. The use of a regulation is 
in line with other European statistical legal acts adopted since 1997. 

4. 

BUDGETARY IMPLICATION 

In  order  to  assure  the  high  quality  requirements  for  the  MIP-relevant  data  in  line  with  the 
Commission  standards  as  set  out  in  Communication  COM(2011)  211  final  ‘Towards  robust 
quality management for European Statistics’, additional resources are needed. This has meant 
introducing  a  staff  bid  for  21  posts  (12  posts  and  9  external  personnel)  to  cover  the  tasks 
required of the Commission (Eurostat). 

In addition, the Commission will need assistance from Member States’ experts in the context 
of  the  MIP  missions  mentioned  in  this  proposal,  and  would  share  with  Member  States  the 
related  costs.  This  assistance  includes  national  experts’  specific  expertise  and  experience 
during missions to other Member States, including for the purpose of complete transparency 
of the system. At this stage, it is difficult to indicate exactly how the costs to the Commission 
would be financed and to give a precise estimate of these, in particular because all possible 
synergies will be sought with Eurostat missions in related areas. 

5. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 

The proposed act does not concern an EEA matter. 

EN 

4 

   EN 

2013/0181 (COD) 

Proposal for a 

REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL 

on the provision and quality of statistics for the macroeconomic imbalances procedure 

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 338(1) 
thereof, 

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 

After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national parliaments, 

Having regard to the opinion of the European Central Bank, 

Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure, 

Whereas: 

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

(4) 

Regulation (EU) No 1176/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 November 
2011  on  the  prevention  and  correction  of  macroeconomic  imbalances1  sets  up  an  alert 
mechanism  to  facilitate  the  early  identification  and  the  monitoring  of  imbalances.  Under  this 
mechanism, the Commission is required to prepare an annual Alert Mechanism Report (AMR) 
containing a qualitative economic and financial assessment and identifying Member States that 
the  Commission  considers  may  be  affected  by,  or  may  be  at  risk  of  being  affected  by, 
imbalances. 

Regulation (EU) No 1174/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 November 
2011  on  enforcement  measures  to  correct  excessive  macroeconomic  imbalances  in  the  euro 
area2  lays  down  a  system  of  financial  sanctions  against  euro  area  Member  States  for  the 
effective correction of excessive macroeconomic imbalances. 

Reliable  statistical  data  are  the  basis  for  effective  surveillance  of  macroeconomic  imbalances. 
To  guarantee  sound  and  independent  statistics,  Member  States  should  ensure  the  professional 
independence of national statistical authorities, consistent with the European statistics code of 
practice  laid  down  in  Regulation  (EC)  No  223/2009  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the 
Council of 11 March 2009 on European statistics3. 

The  AMR,  which  is  based  on  a  scoreboard  with  a  set  of  indicators  the  values  of  which  are 
compared to their indicative thresholds, is an initial screening device whereby the Commission 
identifies Member States where it considers that developments warrant further in-depth analysis 
to determine whether imbalances exist or risk emerging. The AMR should include MIP relevant 
data. It is however in the following in-depth reviews that the driving forces behind the observed 
developments  are  analysed  in  detail  with  a  view  to  determining  the  nature  of  the  imbalances. 

1 
2 
3 

OJ L 306, 23.11.2011, p. 25 
OJ L 306, 23.11.2011, p. 8 
OJ L 87, 31.3.2009, p. 164 

EN 

5 

   EN 

                                                 
The scoreboard and the thresholds are not interpreted mechanically, but are subject to economic 
reading.  When  carrying  out  in-depth  reviews,  the  Commission  will  examine  a  broad  range  of 
economic  variables  and  additional  information  taking  due  account  of  country  specific 
circumstances.  For  these  reasons,  all  the  data  that  may  be  used  for  the  purpose  of  the 
macroeconomic imbalances procedure cannot be listed in advance in an exhaustive manner, but 
should be defined by reference to the procedures set out in Regulation (EU) No 1176/2011 for 
the  detection  of  macroeconomic  imbalances  as  well  as  the  prevention  and  correction  of 
excessive  macroeconomic  imbalances  within  the  Union.  In  implementing  the  macroeconomic 
imbalances  procedure,  the  Commission  and  the  Council  should  give  preference  to  statistics 
which  are  compiled  and  transmitted,  by  Member  States,  to  the  Commission  (Eurostat).  Other 
statistics,  which  are  not  compiled  and  transmitted  this  way,  should  only  be  used  when  the 
former statistics do not provide the required information, and taking due account of the quality 
of these other statistics. 

A  reliable  procedure  should  be  set  up  for  the  compilation,  monitoring  and  release  of  the  data 
relevant for the macroeconomic imbalances procedure (hereinafter referred to as “MIP relevant 
data”) as well as a continuous improvement of the underlying statistical information in line with 
the  Commission’s  quality  management  frameworks  for  European  statistics4.  The  Group  of 
Directors  of  Macroeconomic  Statistics  (DMES),  established  by  the  Commission,  is  an 
appropriate expert group to provide the Commission (Eurostat) with the required assistance for 
the application of a robust quality monitoring procedure for the MIP relevant data. 

It is essential that the statistical production necessary for the performance of the activities of the 
Union should only be based on reliable data. In the production of MIP relevant data, which is an 
essential  input  for  the  detection  of  macroeconomic  imbalances  as  well  as  the  prevention  and 
correction of excessive macroeconomic imbalances within the Union, unreliable data can have a 
significant impact on the interest of the Union. Additional measures to make the enforcement of 
the  production,  provision  and  quality  monitoring  of  MIP  relevant  data  more  effective  are 
necessary  for  the  performance  of  the  macroeconomic  imbalances  procedure.  Those  measures 
should  enhance  the  credibility  of  the  underlying  statistical  information  as  well  as  of  the 
provision  and  quality  monitoring  of  the  MIP  relevant  data.  In  order  to  deter  against 
misrepresentation,  whether  intentional  or  due  to  serious  negligence,  of  MIP  relevant  data,  a 
mechanism  of  financial  sanctions  should  be  established,  which  will  also  serve  the  purpose  of 
ensuring due diligence in the production of MIP relevant data. 

To  supplement  the  rules  on  calculating  the  fines  for  manipulation  of  statistics  as  well  as  the 
rules on the procedure to be followed by the Commission for the investigation of such actions, 
the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the 
European  Union  (“the  Treaty”)  should  be  delegated  to  the  Commission  in  respect  of  detailed 
criteria  for  establishing  the  amount  of  the  fine  and  for  conducting  the  Commission’s 
investigations.  It  is  of  particular  importance  that  the  Commission  carry  out  appropriate 
consultations  during  its  preparatory  work,  including  at  expert  level.  When  preparing  and 
drawing  up  delegated  acts,  the  Commission  should  ensure  the  simultaneous,  timely  and 
appropriate transmission of relevant documents to the European Parliament and the Council. 

(5) 

(6) 

(7) 

(8) 

Close  cooperation  and  on-going  dialogue  should  be  established  between  the  Commission  and 
Member  States’  statistical  authorities  in  order  to  ensure  the  quality  of  the  MIP  relevant  data 
reported by Member States and the underlying statistical information.  

4 

COM(2005)217 final and COM(2011)211 final. 

EN 

6 

   EN 

                                                 
(9) 

(10) 

Close cooperation between the European Statistical System and the European System of Central 
Banks should be ensured in relation to MIP relevant data, in line with Article 9 of Regulation 
(EC) No 223/2009, in order to minimise the reporting burden, guarantee coherence, improve the 
underlying statistics and ensure comparability. 

In order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of this Regulation, implementing 
powers  should  be  conferred  on  the  Commission  and  exercised  in  accordance  with  Regulation 
(EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 laying 
down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by Member States of 
the Commission’s exercise of implementing powers5. 

(11)  Since  the  objective  of  this  Regulation,  namely  to  set  up  a  reliable  common  procedure  for  the 
provision and quality monitoring of MIP relevant data as well as a continuous improvement of 
the underlying statistical information, cannot be achieved sufficiently by the Member States and 
can be better achieved at Union level, the Union may adopt measures, in accordance with the 
principle  of  subsidiarity  as  set  out  in  Article  5  of  the  Treaty  on  the  European  Union.  In 
accordance with the principle of proportionality, as set out in that Article, this Regulation does 
not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve that objective. 

(12)  Eurostat, as the statistical authority of the Union, should carry out the statistical tasks devolved 
to  the  Commission  under  this  Regulation.  These  tasks  should  be  performed  by  Eurostat  in 
conformity  with  the  statistical  principles  laid  down  in  Regulation  (EC)  No  223/2009  and  in 
accordance with Commission Decision 2012/504/EU of 17 September 2012 on Eurostat6, 

HAVE ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 

CHAPTER I 

SUBJECT MATTER 

Article 1 

1. 
This Regulation lays down the rules on the provision and quality monitoring of statistical data 
which  are  compiled  or  transmitted  for  the  purpose  of  the  procedures  for  the  detection  of 
macroeconomic  imbalances  as  well  as  the  prevention  and  correction  of  excessive  macroeconomic 
imbalances  within  the  Union  established  under  Articles  3  to  11  of  Regulation  (EU)  No  1176/2011 
(hereinafter referred to as the MIP relevant data). 

2. 
This  Regulation  shall  apply  to  the  MIP  relevant  data  compiled  and  transmitted  by  Member 
States,  irrespective  of  whether  the  Council  or  the  Commission  consider  that  an  imbalance  exists  and 
whether  an  excessive  imbalance  has  been  established  by  the  Council  pursuant  to  Article  7  of 
Regulation (EU) No 1176/2011. This Regulation shall apply also to the Member States for which the 
macroeconomic  imbalances  procedure  has  been  suspended  in  accordance  with  Article  xxxx  of 
Regulation xxxx (reference will be made to the 2-Pack Regulation when it is adopted). 

CHAPTER II 

TRANSMISSION OF DATA TO THE COMMISSION 

Article 2 

5 
6 

OJ L 55, 28.2.2011, p. 13 
OJ L 251, 18.9.2012, p. 49–52. 

EN 

7 

   EN 

                                                 
The MIP relevant data to be transmitted by the Member States shall cover the preceding year 

1. 
(n-1) and the previous nine years (n-2 to n-10). 

The deadlines for the transmission of the MIP relevant data shall be those laid down pursuant to 
2. 
the relevant basic acts or shall be communicated by the Commission in specific calendars taking into 
account the needs of the Union.  

The  Commission  shall  indicate  to  the  Member  States,  each  year,  the  timetable  of  the  annual 
3. 
Alert  Mechanism  Report  established  by  Article  3  of  Regulation  (EU)  No  1176/2011.  Based  on  this 
timetable  and  on  the  deadlines  and  calendars  referred  to  in  paragraph  2,  the  Commission  shall  also 
decide on and communicate, to the Member States, a cut-off date for their transmission of all the most 
up-to-date MIP relevant data. 

CHAPTER III 

QUALITY REPORTS 

Article 3 

1. 
When transmitting the MIP relevant data referred to in Article 1, Member States shall send, to 
the Commission (Eurostat), information showing how these data are calculated, including any changes 
in the sources and methods, in the form of a quality report. 

The quality criteria referred to in Article 12(1) of Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 shall apply to 

2. 
the data to be transmitted. 

3. 
The Commission shall adopt implementing acts with a view to defining the modalities, structure 
and periodicity of the quality reports. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the 
examination procedure referred to in Article 14(2). 

Article 4 

In the event of doubt regarding the correct implementation of the rules governing the compilation and 
transmission of the MIP relevant data, the Member State concerned shall request clarification from the 
Commission  (Eurostat).  The  Commission  shall  promptly  examine  the  issue  and  communicate  its 
clarification to the Member State concerned, to the relevant expert group on macroeconomic statistics 
established by the Commission, to all other Member States and to the public.  

CHAPTER IV 

QUALITY ASSESSMENT 

Article 5 

1. 
The  Commission  (Eurostat)  shall  regularly  assess  the  quality  of  the  MIP  relevant  data.  The 
assessments  shall  focus  mainly  on  areas  specified  in  the  inventories  referred  to  in  Article  6,  where 
applicable, and the quality reports of Member States.  The  quality assessments shall be carried out in 
conformity  with  the  statistical  principles  laid  down  in  Regulation  (EC)  No  223/2009.  The  quality 
assessments shall, as appropriate, make full use of the work carried out, and the results obtained, in the 
context of existing quality frameworks for MIP relevant data. 

Member States shall provide the Commission (Eurostat), as promptly as possible, with the data 
2. 
and  information  requested  for  the  purposes  of  the  data  quality  assessment,  without  prejudice  to  the 
provisions relating to statistical confidentiality of Regulation (EC) No 223/2009. 

The Commission (Eurostat) shall assess Member States’ MIP relevant data each year with the 

3. 
assistance of the relevant expert group on macroeconomic statistics. 

EN 

8 

   EN 

This assessment shall be carried out in accordance with the quality criteria referred to in Article 

4. 
3(2). The following elements in particular shall be considered in the assessment: 

(a) 

(b) 

the MIP relevant data transmitted by Member States; 

the quality reports and the inventories referred to in Article 6; 

reports  arising  from  missions  to  and  discussions  with  Member  States  in  relation  to  the  MIP 

(c) 
relevant data. 

INVENTORIES OF SOURCES AND METHODS USED TO COMPILE MIP RELEVANT DATA  

CHAPTER V 

Article 6 

1. 
Member  States  shall  transmit  to  the  Commission  (Eurostat)  a  complete  and  up-to-date 
description  of  the  sources  and  methods  (hereinafter  referred  to  as  ‘the  inventories’)  used  to  compile 
their MIP relevant data. 

2. 
Member  States  shall  establish  the  inventories  and  send  them  to  the  Commission  (Eurostat)  at 
the latest on […][nine months after the adoption of this Regulation– exact date to be inserted by OP 
upon publication]. The Commission shall adopt implementing acts with a view to defining the structure 
and the modalities for the updating of these inventories by […][within six months after the adoption of 
this Regulation– exact date to be inserted by OP upon publication]. Those implementing acts shall be 
adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 14(2). 

3. 

Member States shall make their inventories public. 

CHAPTER VI 

MISSIONS TO MEMBER STATES 

Article 7 

Where the Commission (Eurostat) identifies problems, in particular in the context of the quality 

1. 
assessment under Article 5, it may decide to carry out missions to the Member State concerned. 

2. 
The aim of such missions shall be to investigate in depth the quality of the MIP relevant data 
concerned.  The  missions  shall  concentrate  on  methodological  issues,  the  sources  and  methods 
described in the inventories, the data and supporting statistical processes with a view to assessing their 
compliance with the relevant accounting and statistical rules. 

The Commission (Eurostat) shall report to the Economic Policy Committee set up by Council 
3. 
Decision  74/122/EEC7  on  the  findings  of  these  missions,  including  any  comments  on  these  findings 
made  by  the  Member  State  concerned.  After  having  been  transmitted  to  the  Economic  Policy 
Committee,  these  reports,  along  with  any  comments  made  by  the  Member  State  concerned,  shall  be 
made  public,  without  prejudice  to  the  provisions  concerning  statistical  confidentiality  in  Regulation 
(EC) No 223/2009. 

4. 
Member States shall, at the request of the Commission (Eurostat), provide the assistance from 
experts  on  statistical  issues  related  to  the  macroeconomic  imbalances  procedure,  including  for  the 
preparation and carrying-out of the missions. In the exercise of their duties, these experts shall provide 
independent expertise. A list of those experts shall be constituted by (date to be fixed) on the basis of 

7 

OJ L 63, 5.3.1974, p.21 

EN 

9 

   EN 

                                                 
proposals  sent  to  the  Commission  (Eurostat)  by  the  national  authorities  responsible  for  the  MIP 
relevant data. 

The Commission (Eurostat) shall lay down the rules and procedures related to the selection of 
5. 
the  experts,  taking  into  account  an  appropriate  distribution  of  experts  across  Member  States  and  an 
appropriate rotation of experts between Member States, their working arrangements and the financial 
details.  The  Commission  (Eurostat)  shall  share  with  the  Member  States  the  full  cost  incurred  by  the 
Member States for the assistance from their national experts. 

6. 
The  Commission  (Eurostat)  shall  ensure  that  officials  and  experts  participating  in  these 
missions  meet  every  guarantee  as  regards  technical  competence,  professional  independence  and 
observance of confidentiality. 

PROVISION OF DATA BY THE COMMISSION (EUROSTAT) 

CHAPTER VII 

Article 8 

1. 
The  Commission  (Eurostat)  shall  provide  the  MIP  relevant  data  used  for  the  purposes  of  the 
macroeconomic imbalances procedure including by means of news releases and/or other channels as it 
considers appropriate.  

The Commission (Eurostat) shall not delay the provision of the MIP relevant data of Member 

2. 
States where a Member State has not transmitted its own data. 

3. 
The Commission (Eurostat) may express a reservation on the quality of a Member State's MIP 
relevant data. No later  than  three working  days before the planned publication date, the Commission 
(Eurostat)  shall  communicate  to  the  Member  State  concerned  and  to  the  President  of  the  Economic 
Policy  Committee  the  reservation  it  intends  to  express  and  make  public.  Where  the  issue  is  resolved 
after  publication  of  the  data  and  the  reservation,  withdrawal  of  the  reservation  shall  be  made  public 
immediately thereafter. 

The  Commission  (Eurostat)  may  amend  data  transmitted  by  Member  States  and  provide  the 
4. 
amended data and a justification of the amendment where there is evidence that the data reported by 
Member States do not comply with the requirements of Article 3(2). No later than three working days 
before the planned publication date, the Commission (Eurostat) shall communicate to the Member State 
concerned  and  to  the  President  of  the  Economic  Policy  Committee  the  amended  data  and  the 
justification for the amendment. 

SANCTIONS CONCERNING THE MANIPULATION OF STATISTICS 

CHAPTER VIII 

Article 9 

The  Council,  acting  on  a  proposal  by  the  Commission,  may  decide  to  impose  a  fine  on  a 

1. 
Member State that intentionally or by serious negligence misrepresents the MIP relevant data.  

2. 
The fine referred to in paragraph 1 shall be effective, dissuasive and proportionate to the nature, 
seriousness and duration of the misrepresentation. The amount of the fine shall not exceed 0.05% of the 
GDP of the Member State concerned. 

3. 
The  Commission  may  conduct  all  investigations  necessary  to  establish  the  existence  of  the 
misrepresentations  referred  to in  paragraph 1. It may  decide to initiate an  investigation  when it finds 
that there are serious indications of the existence of facts liable to constitute such a misrepresentation. 
In investigating the putative misrepresentations, the Commission shall take into account any comments 

EN 

10 

   EN 

submitted by the Member State concerned. In order to carry out its tasks, the Commission may request 
the  Member  State  to  provide  information,  and  may  conduct  on-site  inspections  and  access  the 
underlying  statistical  information  and  documents  related  to  the  MIP  relevant  data.  If  the  law  of  the 
Member State concerned requires prior judicial authorisation for on-site inspections, the Commission 
shall make the necessary applications. 

Upon  completion  of  its  investigation,  and  before  submitting  any  proposal  to  the  Council,  the 
Commission shall give the Member State concerned the opportunity of being heard in relation to the 
matters under investigation. The Commission shall base any proposal to the Council only on facts on 
which the Member State concerned has had the opportunity to comment. 

The  Commission  shall  fully  respect  the  rights  of  defence  of  the  Member  State  concerned  during  the 
investigations. 

The  Commission  shall  be  empowered  to  adopt  delegated  acts  in  accordance  with  Article  12 

4. 
concerning: 

(a) 

detailed criteria establishing the amount of the fine referred to in paragraph 1; 

detailed  rules  concerning  the  procedures  for  the  investigations  referred  to  in  paragraph  3,  the 

(b) 
associated measures and the reporting on the investigations; 

(c) 
detailed rules of procedure aimed at guaranteeing the rights of the  defence,  access to the file, 
legal representation, confidentiality and provisions as to timing and the collection of the fines referred 
to in paragraph 1. 

5. 
The  Court  of  Justice  of  the  European  Union  shall  have  unlimited  jurisdiction  to  review  the 
decisions of the Council imposing fines under paragraph 1. It may annul, reduce or increase the fine so 
imposed.  

CHAPTER IX 

NATURE AND BUDGET DISTRIBUTION OF THE SANCTIONS  

Article 10 

The sanctions imposed pursuant to Article 11 shall be of an administrative nature. 

Article 11 

The fines collected in accordance with Article 9shall constitute other revenue, as referred to in Article 
311 of the Treaty, and shall be assigned to the Union budget.  

CHAPTER X 

EXERCISE OF THE DELEGATION 

Article 12 

The power to adopt delegated acts is conferred on the Commission subject to the conditions laid 

1. 
down in this Article. 

The  power  to  adopt  delegated  acts  referred  to  in  Article  9(4)  shall  be  conferred  on  the 
2. 
Commission  for  a  period  of  three  years  starting  after  one  month  following  the  adoption  of  this 
Regulation. The Commission shall draw up a report in respect of the delegation of power not later than 
nine months before the end of that 3-year period. The delegation of power shall be tacitly extended for 
periods of an identical duration, unless the European Parliament or the Council opposes such extension 
not later than three months before the end of each period. 

EN 

11 

   EN 

3. 
The delegation of power referred to in Article 9(4) may be revoked at any time by the European 
Parliament  or  by  the  Council.  A  decision  to  revoke  shall  put  an  end  to  the  delegation  of  the  power 
specified in that decision. It shall take effect the day following the publication of the decision in the 
Official Journal of the European Union or at a later date specified therein. It shall not affect the validity 
of any delegated acts already in force. 

As  soon  as  it  adopts  a  delegated  act,  the  Commission  shall  notify  it  simultaneously  to  the 

4. 
European Parliament and to the Council. 

5. 
A delegated act adopted pursuant to Article 9(4) shall enter into force only if no objection has 
been  expressed  either  by  the  European  Parliament  or  the  Council  within  a  period  of  two  months  of 
notification  of  that  act  to  the  European  Parliament  and  the  Council  or  if,  before  the  expiry  of  that 
period, the European Parliament and the Council have both informed the Commission that they will not 
object. That period shall be extended by two months at the initiative of the European Parliament or of 
the Council. 

CHAPTER XI 

VOTE ON THE SANCTIONS 

Article 13 

For the measures referred to in Article 9 the Council shall act without taking into account the vote of 
the member of the Council representing the Member State concerned. 

CHAPTER XII 

GENERAL PROVISIONS 

Article 14 

1. 
The Commission shall be assisted by the European Statistical System Committee established by 
Regulation  (EC)  No  223/2009.  The  Committee  shall  be  a  committee  within  the  meaning  of  the 
Regulation (EU) No 182/2011. 

Where  reference  is  made  to  this  paragraph,  Article  5  of  Regulation  (EU)  No  182/2011  shall 

2. 
apply. 

Article 15 

In line with Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 223/2009, the national statistical institutes of the Member 
States (the NSI) shall ensure the required coordination on the MIP relevant data at national level. All 
other  national  authorities  shall  report  to  the  NSI  for  this  purpose.  The  Member  States  shall  take  the 
necessary measures to ensure the application of this provision.  

Article 16 

Member  States  shall  ensure  that  the  MIP  relevant  data  compiled  and  transmitted  to  the 
1. 
Commission  (Eurostat)  are  provided  in  accordance  with  the  principles  established  by  Article  2  of 
Regulation (EC) No 223/2009. 

Member  States  shall  take  appropriate  measures  to  ensure  that  institutions  and  officials 
2. 
responsible for the compilation and transmission of the MIP relevant data to the Commission (Eurostat) 
are accountable and act in accordance with the principles established by Article 2 of Regulation (EC) 
No 223/2009. 

EN 

12 

   EN 

The Commission (Eurostat) shall report regularly to the European Parliament and to the Council on the 
activities carried out by the Commission (Eurostat) for the purpose of implementing this Regulation. 

Article 17 

By  14  December  2014  and  every  five  years  thereafter,  the  Commission  shall  review  the 

1. 
application of this Regulation and report its findings to the European Parliament and the Council. 

Article 18 

2. 

(a) 

(b) 

The review shall, among other things, evaluate: 

the progress in ensuring the quality of MIP relevant data; 

the effectiveness of this Regulation and the applied monitoring process. 

Where appropriate, the review shall be accompanied by a proposal for amendments to this Regulation. 

Article 19 
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 

EN 

13 

   EN 

LEGISLATIVE FINANCIAL STATEMENT 

1. 

FRAMEWORK OF THE PROPOSAL/INITIATIVE  

1.1. 

Title of the proposal/initiative 

Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the provision and 
quality of statistics for the macroeconomic imbalances procedure 
Policy area(s) concerned in the ABM/ABB structure8  

1.2. 

Statistics  (3403  -  Production  of  statistical  information,  3480  -  Administrative  support  for 
Eurostat, 3481 Policy strategy and coordination for Eurostat) 

1.3. 

Nature of the proposal/initiative  

(cid:59) The proposal/initiative relates to a new action  

1.4. 

Objectives 

1.4.1.  The Commission’s multiannual strategic objective(s) targeted by the proposal/initiative  

Strengthened and integrated economic governance in the EU based on the 2011 Six Pack 

1.4.2. 

Specific objective(s) and ABM/ABB activity(ies) concerned  

Specific  objective  No.1:  Provide  statistical  information  to  support  the  development, 
monitoring  and  evaluation  of  Union  policies  with  specific  regard  to  the  Macroeconomic 
Imbalances Procedure (MIP) and its scoreboard of indicators based on Regulation 1176/2011, 
which  sets  out  rules  for  the  early  detection,  prevention  and  correction  of  macroeconomic 
imbalances which emerge or persist in the euro area and the EU. 

ABM/ABB activity(ies) concerned 

3403 - Production of statistical information 

1.4.3  Expected result(s) and impact 

Specify the effects which the proposal/initiative should have on the beneficiaries/groups targeted. 

The  Macroeconomic  Imbalances  Procedure  (MIP)  and  its  scoreboard  statistics  are  based  on 
Regulation  1176/2011,  which  sets  out  rules  for  early  detection,  prevention  and  correction  of 
macroeconomic imbalances which emerge or persist in the euro area and the EU. 

For the MIP to be effective, it is necessary to ensure efficient statistical monitoring of the MIP 
relevant  data.  The  Council  has  underlined  the  importance  for  the  credibility  of  the  MIP  of 
having  timely statistics  of  the  highest quality for  inclusion  in the  scoreboard  and invited the 
Commission  (Eurostat)  to take all necessary initiatives  to assure  a  reliable procedure for the 
compilation  of  these  statistics  as  well  as  a  continuous  improvement  of  the  underlying 
statistical information. 

Eurostat will therefore develop a robust statistical monitoring system for the MIP based on a 
Regulation. The results should ensure a solid statistical basis for the MIP related decisions, in 
the form of high quality indicators meeting the quality standards set by the Commission.  

1.4.4  Indicators of results and impact 

8 

ABM: Activity-Based Management – ABB: Activity-Based Budgeting. 

EN 

14 

   EN 

                                                 
Specify the indicators for monitoring implementation of the proposal/initiative. 

Eurostat will assess Member States’ data, in cooperation with a group of high level national 
experts  in  macroeconomic  statistics,  to  ensure  that,  for  each  Member  State,  the  weaknesses 
detected are properly addressed and the improvement actions identified are implemented. Each 
year, the results of this work will be discussed in the Economic Policy Committee, and will be 
presented  in  the  Commission’s  Alert  Mechanism  Report  in  the  context  of  the  European 
Semester. Also, there will be regular reporting to the European Parliament and the Council. 

1.5. 

Grounds for the proposal/initiative  

1.5.1.  Requirement(s) to be met in the short or long term  

The need to have statistics of the highest quality for inclusion in the MIP scoreboard and to 
develop a reliable quality monitoring procedure for this purpose has been emphasised by the 
Council. 

Extensive discussions with Member States on quality and comparability issues relating to the 
MIP  relevant  data  have  taken  place  in  the  context  of  the  Economic  Policy  Committee.  In 
particular  some  areas  for  improvements  were  identified  in  the  2012  EPC  Report  on 
requirements for structural statistics. A robust quality framework needs to be set up in order to 
provide quality assurance for these data. 

1.5.2.  Added value of EU involvement 

EU  involvement  is  necessary  to  develop  and  implement  a  harmonised  quality  monitoring 
procedure for the MIP relevant data at European level. This will draw on experience and best 
practices  from  all  Member  States  and  will  facilitate  the  sharing  of  such  experience  and 
practices. 

1.5.3.  Lessons learned from similar experiences in the past 

The  quality  monitoring  framework  envisaged  in  this  Proposal  draws  extensively  on  similar 
procedures that have been developed and applied for many years by Eurostat in the areas of 
statistics  for  EU  own  resource  and  for  the  excessive  deficit  procedure  respectively.  In  this 
regard, very significant improvements have been achieved in these two areas.  

1.5.4.  Coherence and possible synergy with other relevant instruments 

The  specific  quality  monitoring  framework  envisaged  in  this  Proposal  will  be  introduced  in 
the  relevant  areas  where  no  such  procedure  exists.  Extra  resources  are  needed  for 
implementing and maintaining this enhanced quality monitoring system. Without these extra 
resources, it will not be possible to achieve the required quality level. Naturally, in evaluating 
the  extra  resources  needed  utmost  care  has  been  taken  to  avoid  any  duplications,  and  all 
synergies  will  be  sought  systematically  with  similar  existing  quality  frameworks,  e.g.  in  the 
areas of gross national income and excessive deficit procedure statistics. 

EN 

15 

   EN 

1.6. 

Duration and financial impact  

(cid:59) Proposal/initiative of unlimited duration 

1.7.  Management mode(s) envisaged9  

(cid:59) Centralised direct management by the Commission 

2. 

MANAGEMENT MEASURES  

2.1.  Monitoring and reporting rules  

Specify frequency and conditions. 

Each year, the results of this work will be discussed in the Economic Policy Committee, and 
will be presented in the Commission’s Alert Mechanism Report in the context of the European 
Semester.  Also,  by  14  December  2014  and  every  five  years  thereafter,  the  Commission  will 
publish a report to the European Parliament and the Council on how the Regulation is being 
applied. 

2.2.  Management and control system  

2.2.1.  Risk(s) identified  

2.2.2.  Control method(s) envisaged  

2.3.  Measures to prevent fraud and irregularities  

Specify existing or envisaged prevention and protection measures. 

9 

Details  of  management  modes  and  references  to  the  Financial  Regulation  may  be  found  on  the  BudgWeb  site: 
http://www.cc.cec/budg/man/budgmanag/budgmanag_en.html 

EN 

16 

   EN 

                                                 
3. 

3.1. 

Heading of 
multiannual 
financial 
framework 

ESTIMATED FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THE PROPOSAL/INITIATIVE  

Heading(s)  of  the  multiannual  financial  framework  and  expenditure  budget  line(s) 
affected  

•  Existing expenditure budget lines  

In order of multiannual financial framework headings and budget lines. 

Budget line 

Type of  
expenditure

Contribution  

Number  
[Description………………………...……….] 

Diff./non-
diff. 
(10) 

from 
EFTA11 
countries 

from 
candidate 
countries12 

from third 
countries 

within the meaning 
of Article 18(1)(aa) 
of the Financial 
Regulation  

1 

1 

29.010405  (Union  Statistical  Programme 
2008 
to  2012  —  Expenditure  on 
administrative management) 

29.010401  (Support  expenditure  for  the 
European statistical programme) 

Diff. 

YES 

NO 

NO 

YES/NO 

Diff. 

YES 

NO 

NO 

YES/NO 

•  New budget lines requested  

In order of multiannual financial framework headings and budget lines. 

Heading of 
multiannual 
financial 
framework 

Budget line 

Type of 
expenditure

Contribution  

Number  
[Heading……………………………………..] 

Diff./non-
diff. 

from 
EFTA 
countries 

from 
candidate 
countries 

from third 
countries 

within the meaning 
of Article 18(1)(aa) 
of the Financial 
Regulation  

[XX.YY.YY.YY] 

Diff 

YES 

NO 

NO 

YES/NO 

10 
11 
12 

Diff. = Differentiated appropriations / Non-diff. = Non-Differentiated Appropriations 
EFTA: European Free Trade Association.  
Candidate countries and, where applicable, potential candidate countries from the Western Balkans. 

EN 

17 

   EN 

 
 
                                                 
3.2. 

Estimated impact on expenditure  

3.2.1. 

Summary of estimated impact on expenditure  

EUR million (to 3 decimal places) 

Heading of multiannual financial 
framework:  

Number 

2013 inclusive: Heading 1A - Competitiveness for growth and employment 
From 2014: Heading 1 - Smart and inclusive Growth (other...) 

DG: ESTAT 

2013 

2014 

2015 

2016 
and 
later 

… enter as many years as 
necessary to show the duration 
of the impact (see point 1.6) 

TOTAL 

(cid:121) Operational appropriations  

Number of budget line 

Number of budget line 

Appropriations 
administrative 
 from the envelope for specific programmes13  

an 

of 

Number of budget line 

TOTAL appropriations 
for DG ESTAT 

Commitments 

Payments 

Commitments 

Payments 

(1) 

(2) 

(1a) 

(2a) 

nature 

financed 

29.010405 

29.010401 

Commitments 

Payments 

(3) 

=1+1a 
+3 

=2+2a 

+3 

0.210 

0.210 

0.210 

0.210 

0.210 

0. 210 

0. 210 

0. 210 

0. 210 

0. 210 

0. 210 

0. 210 

0.840 

0.840 

0. 840 

13 

EN 

Technical and/or administrative assistance and expenditure in support of the implementation of EU programmes and/or actions (former "BA" lines), indirect 
research, direct research. 

18 

E

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
(cid:121) TOTAL operational appropriations  

Commitments 

Payments 

(cid:121)  TOTAL  appropriations  of  an  administrative  nature 
financed from the envelope for specific programmes  

(4) 

(5) 

(6) 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0.210 

0. 210 

0. 210 

0. 210 

TOTAL appropriations  
under HEADING 1A and 1 
of the multiannual financial framework 

Commitments 

=4+ 6 

0.210 

0. 210 

0. 210 

0. 210 

Payments 

=5+ 6 

0. 210 

0. 210 

0. 210 

0. 210 

0 

0 

0. 840 

0. 840 

0. 840 

If more than one heading is affected by the proposal / initiative: 

(cid:121) TOTAL operational appropriations  

Commitments 

Payments 

(cid:121)  TOTAL  appropriations  of  an  administrative  nature 
financed from the envelope for specific programmes  

(4) 

(5) 

(6) 

TOTAL appropriations  
under HEADINGS 1 to 4 
of the multiannual financial framework 
(Reference amount) 

Commitments 

=4+ 6 

Payments 

=5+ 6 

EN 

19 

E

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Heading of multiannual financial 
framework:  

EUR million (to 3 decimal places) 

5 

“ Administrative expenditure “ 

2013 

2014 

2015 

2016 
and later 

… enter as many years as 
necessary to show the duration 
of the impact (see point 1.6)  

TOTAL 

DG: ESTAT 

(cid:121) Human resources  
(cid:121) Other administrative expenditure  

2.016 

0.221 

2.016 

0.221 

2.016 

0.221 

2.016 

0.221 

TOTAL DG ESTAT 

Appropriations  

2.237 

2.237 

2.237 

2.237 

TOTAL appropriations 
under HEADING 5 
of the multiannual financial framework  

EUR million (to 3 decimal places) 

(Total 
= Total payments) 

commitments 

2.237 

2.237 

2.237 

2.237 

8.064 

0.884 

8.948 

8.948 

TOTAL appropriations  
under HEADINGS 1 to 5 
of the multiannual financial framework  

Commitments 

2.447 

2.447 

2.447 

2.447 

Payments 

2.447 

2.447 

2.447 

2.447 

9.788 

9.788 

2013 

2014 

2015 

2016 
and 
later 

… enter as many years as 
necessary to show the duration 
of the impact (see point 1.6) 

TOTAL 

EN 

20 

E

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3.2.2.  Estimated impact on operational appropriations  

–  (cid:59)  The proposal/initiative does not require the use of operational appropriations  

–  (cid:133)  The proposal/initiative requires the use of operational appropriations, as explained below: 

Commitment appropriations in EUR million (to 3 decimal places) 

Indicate 
objectives and 
outputs  

(cid:216) 

Year 
N 

Year 
N+1 

Year 
N+2 

Year 
N+3 

… enter as many years as necessary to show 
the duration of the impact (see point 1.6) 

TOTAL 

OUTPUTS 

Type 
of 
output
14 

Avera
ge 
cost  
of the 
output 

r
e
b
m
u
N

s
t
u
p
t
u
o

f
o

Cost 

r
e
b
m
u
N

s
t
u
p
t
u
o

f
o

Cost 

r
e
b
m
u
N

s
t
u
p
t
u
o

f
o

Cost 

r
e
b
m
u
N

s
t
u
p
t
u
o

f
o

Cost 

r
e
b
m
u
N

s
t
u
p
t
u
o

f
o

Cost 

r
e
b
m
u
N

s
t
u
p
t
u
o

f
o

Cost 

r
e
b
m
u
N

s
t
u
p
t
u
o

f
o

Cost 

Total 
numbe
r of 
output
s 

Total  
cost 

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE No 115… 

- Output 

- Output 

- Output 

Sub-total for specific objective N°1 

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE No 2… 

- Output 

Sub-total for specific objective N°2 

TOTAL COST 

14 
15 

Outputs are products and services to be supplied (e.g.: number of student exchanges financed, number of km of roads built, etc.). 
As described in Section 1.4.2. "Specific objective(s)…" 

EN 

21 

EN 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
3.2.3.  Estimated impact on appropriations of an administrative nature 

3.2.3.1.  Summary  

–  (cid:133)  The  proposal/initiative  does  not 

require 

the  use  of  administrative 

appropriations  

–  (cid:59)  The  proposal/initiative  requires  the  use  of  administrative  appropriations,  as 

explained below: 

EUR million (to 3 decimal places) 

2013 

2014 

2015 

2016 and 
later 

… enter as many years as necessary 
to show the duration of the impact 
(see point 1.6) 

TOTAL 

HEADING 5 
of the multiannual 
financial framework 

Human resources  

2.016 

2.016 

2.016 

2.016 

0.081 

0.081 

0.081 

0.081 

0.140 

0.140 

0.140 

0.140 

0.221 

0.221 

0.221 

0.221 

2.237 

2.237 

2.237 

2.237 

Other administrative 
expenditure – Missions 
(29 01 02 11 01) 

Other administrative 
expenditure – Meetings & 
Conferences (29 01 02 11 
02) 

Other administrative 
expenditure - Total 

Subtotal HEADING 5 
of the multiannual 
financial framework  

Outside HEADING 516 
of the multiannual 
financial framework  

Human resources  

0.210 

0.210 

0.210 

0.210 

Other expenditure  
of an administrative 
nature 

Subtotal  
outside HEADING 5 
of the multiannual 
financial framework  

0.210 

0.210 

0.210 

0.210 

TOTAL 

2.447 

2.447 

2.447 

2.447 

8.064 

0.324 

0.560 

0.884 

8.948 

0.840 

0.840 

9.788

16 

Technical  and/or  administrative  assistance  and  expenditure  in  support  of  the  implementation  of  EU 
programmes and/or actions (former "BA" lines), indirect research, direct research. 

EN 

22 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
3.2.3.2.   Estimated requirements of human resources  

–  (cid:133)  The proposal/initiative does not require the use of human resources  

–  (cid:59)  The proposal/initiative requires the use of human resources, as explained below: 

Estimate to be expressed in full time equivalent units 

2013 

2014 

2015 

2016 and later 

(cid:121) Establishment plan posts (officials and temporary agents) 

29 01 01 01 (Headquarters and Commission’s 
Representation Offices) 

XX 01 01 02 (Delegations) 

XX 01 05 01 (Indirect research) 

10 01 05 01 (Direct research) 

(cid:121) External personnel (in Full Time Equivalent unit: FTE)17 

29 01 02 01 (CA, INT, SNE from the “global 
envelope”) 

XX 01 02 02 (CA, INT, JED, LA and SNE in the 
delegations) 

29 01 04 05 18 

29 01 04 01 20 

- at Headquarters19 

- in delegations  
- at Headquarters21 

- in delegations  

XX 01 05 02 (CA, INT, SNE - Indirect research) 

10 01 05 02 (CA, INT, SNE - Direct research) 

Other budget lines (specify) 

TOTAL 

12 

12 

12 

12 

6 

3 

6 

3 

6 

3 

6 

3 

21 

21 

21 

21 

XX is the policy area or budget title concerned. 

The human resources required will be met by staff from the DG who are already assigned to management 
of  the  action  and/or  have  been  redeployed  within  the  DG,  together  if  necessary  with  any  additional 
allocation which may be granted to the managing DG under the annual allocation procedure and in the 
light of budgetary constraints. 

Description of tasks to be carried out: 

Officials and temporary agents 

The Macroeconomic Imbalances Procedure (MIP) and its scoreboard of indicators are 
based  on  Regulation  1176/2011,  which  sets  out  rules  for  the  early  detection, 
prevention  and  correction  of  macroeconomic  imbalances  which  emerge  or  persist  in 

17 

18 
19 

20 
21 

CA=  Contract  Agent;  INT=  agency  staff  ("Intérimaire");  JED=  "Jeune  Expert  en  Délégation"  (Young  Experts  in 
Delegations); LA= Local Agent; SNE= Seconded National Expert;  
Under the ceiling for external personnel from operational appropriations (former "BA" lines). 
Essentially  for  Structural  Funds,  European  Agricultural  Fund  for  Rural  Development  (EAFRD)  and  European 
Fisheries Fund (EFF). 
Under the ceiling for external personnel from operational appropriations (former "BA" lines). 
Essentially  for  Structural  Funds,  European  Agricultural  Fund  for  Rural  Development  (EAFRD)  and  European 
Fisheries Fund (EFF). 

EN 

23 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
the euro area and the EU. 

For the MIP to be effective, it is necessary to ensure efficient statistical monitoring of 
the MIP relevant data. The Council of 8 November 2011 and of 13 November 2012 
underlined the importance for the credibility of the MIP of having timely statistics of 
the  highest  quality  for  inclusion  in  the  scoreboard  and  invited  the  Commission 
(Eurostat)  to  take  all  necessary  initiatives  to  assure  a  reliable  procedure  for  the 
compilation of these statistics as well as a continuous improvement of the underlying 
statistical information. 

Eurostat  will  therefore  develop  a  robust  statistical  monitoring  system  for  the  MIP 
based  on  a  Regulation.  This  will  cover  mainly  the  compilation  and  transmission  of 
data  and  metadata  by  Member  States;  monitoring  of  data  quality  by  Eurostat;  and 
reporting/communication to the different stakeholders and to the European Parliament 
and the Council.  

The  Regulation  will  introduce  new  tasks  for  the  Commission  on  the  following  main 
aspects:  validating  the  quality  of  the  MIP  relevant  data  in  relation  to  quality  criteria 
that already exist or are to be defined/specified in certain areas (e.g. data of balance of 
payments statistics and net international investment position, nominal unit labour cost, 
deflated  house  prices,  private  sector  credit  flow  and  private  sector  debt, 
unemployment,  total  financial  sector  liabilities)  including  regular  and  more  in-depth 
visits  to  countries;  structuring,  collecting  and  analysing  Member  States’  compilation 
sources  and  methods;  developing  and  implementing  an  improvement  action  plan; 
regular reporting to the Economic Policy Committee on the results of this exercise. 

External personnel 

Support the officials and temporary agents in performing the above-mentioned tasks. 

3.2.4.  Compatibility with the current multiannual financial framework  

–  (cid:59)  Proposal/initiative is compatible the current multiannual financial framework. 

–  (cid:133)  Proposal/initiative  will  entail  reprogramming  of  the  relevant  heading  in  the  multiannual 

financial framework. 

Explain what reprogramming is required, specifying the budget lines concerned and the corresponding amounts. 

–  (cid:133)  Proposal/initiative  requires  application  of  the  flexibility  instrument  or  revision  of  the 

multiannual financial framework22. 

Explain what is required, specifying the headings and budget lines concerned and the corresponding amounts. 

3.2.5.  Third-party contributions  

–  (cid:59) The proposal/initiative does not provide for co-financing by third parties  

–  The proposal/initiative provides for the co-financing estimated below: 

22 

See points 19 and 24 of the Interinstitutional Agreement. 

EN 

24 

   EN 

 
                                                 
Appropriations in EUR million (to 3 decimal places) 

Year 
N 

Year 
N+1 

Year 
N+2 

Year 
N+3 

… enter as many years as 
necessary to show the duration 
of the impact (see point 1.6) 

Total 

Specify  the  co-financing 
body  

TOTAL appropriations 
cofinanced  

3.3. 

Estimated impact on revenue  

–  (cid:59)  Proposal/initiative has no financial impact on revenue. 

–  (cid:133)  Proposal/initiative has the following financial impact: 

(cid:133) 

(cid:133) 

on own resources  

on miscellaneous revenue  

EUR million (to 3 decimal places) 

Appropriation
s available for 
the ongoing 
budget year 

Budget revenue line: 

Article …………. 

Impact of the proposal/initiative23 

Year 
N 

Year 
N+1 

Year 
N+2 

Year 
N+3 

… insert as many columns as necessary 
in order to reflect the duration of the 
impact (see point 1.6) 

For miscellaneous assigned revenue, specify the budget expenditure line(s) affected. 

Specify the method for calculating the impact on revenue.  

23 

As regards traditional own resources (customs duties, sugar levies), the amounts indicated must be net amounts, i.e. 
gross amounts after deduction of 25% for collection costs. 

EN 

25 

   EN