93/704/EC: Council Decision of 30 November 1993 on the creation of a Community database on road accidents

COUNCIL DECISION of 30 November 1993 on the creation of a Community database on road accidents (93/704/EC)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 213 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),
Whereas the European Parliament has adopted a resolution on the adoption of common measures to reduce road accidents (2);
Whereas the Council and the representatives of the Governments of the Member States meeting within the Council of 21 June 1991 adopted a resolution requesting the Commission to draw up and implement a Community programme of practical measures designed  to put into effect new common initiatives and compare existing national experience in the areas of action and research relating to the campaign on road accidents and the consequences thereof for the victims (3);
Whereas the creation of a Community database on road accidents is one of the priorities selected by the high-level group of representatives of the Governments of the Member States;
Whereas, in its White Paper on the Future Development of the Common Transport Policy and its communication for an action programme on road safety, the Commission considers that, bearing in mind the significant differences in the levels of road safety in  different Member States, a major priority in this area should be to promote the exchange of information and experience by the setting up of a Community database;
Whereas the Member States gather statistics on road accidents that occur within their territories and centralize the data in computer files; whereas there is at present no common database allowing access to those individual files or use of the data  therein;
Whereas a database created and managed at Community level would make it possible to identify and quantify the problems, evaluate the efficiency of any measures taken and determine the relevance of any Community action;
Whereas the Member States acting separately cannot create and manage a database of that type; whereas the Community therefore, in line with the principle of subsidiarity, will intervene only to ensure that the data contained in the Member States'  statistical files are grouped together and to guarantee close coordination between the Member States with a view to the smooth operation of the Community database;
Whereas it is advisable to decide on the practical aspects of transmitting statistical data stored in the Member States to the Commission, particularly the intervals, the deadlines and the medium to be used for such transmission;
Whereas any analysis of road safety problems should concentrate foremost on accidents resulting in death or injury and should not include material damage, whereas, for the purpose of such an analysis, it is not necessary to identify the persons  involved;
Whereas the Commission should take steps to ensure that confidential statistics are protected,