Council Directive 87/287/EEC of 26 May 1987 on the synchronization of general population censuses in 1991

Council Directive
of 26 May 1987
on the synchronization of general population censuses in 1991
(87/287/EEC)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 213 thereof,
Having regard to the draft Directive submitted by the Commission,
Whereas the Commission needs to be in possession of sufficiently reliable, detailed and comparable data on population, employment and households, in order to fulfil the tasks assigned to it by the Treaty, in particular Articles 2, 3, 117, 118, 122 and 123 thereof ;
Whereas at present general population censuses do not necessarily provide data which are comparable at Community level either as regards classifications or tabulations since they are designed to meet national needs ;
Whereas periodic exhaustive surveys of the population and of the principal social, economic and family characteristics of individuals are indispensable for the study and definition of regional and social policies affecting particular sectors of the Community ;
Whereas, in order for the most judicious use possible to be made of the data in drawing comparisons between Member States, the dates to which such data refer should be close together ;
Whereas various international organizations, in particular the United Nations Organization and the Council of Europe, recommend that censuses should be organized at the beginning of every decade ;
Whereas a general population census requires lengthy preparations,