Article 1 Objective
The objective of this Regulation is to establish a common framework for the systematic production of Community statistics on the steel industry for the reference years 2003-2009.
Article 2 Definitions
For the purpose of this Regulation, the terms ‘Community statistics’ and ‘production of statistics’ shall bear the meanings given to them by Regulation (EC) No 322/97.
Article 3 Scope
This Regulation shall cover data on the steel industry, which is defined as group 24.1 of the statistical classification of economic activities in the European Community (NACE Rev. 2). Where the value-added at factor cost of the enterprises in a Member State's steel industry represents less than 1 % of the Community total, the data on the characteristics need not be collected.
Article 4 Characteristics
The data supplied, which shall conform to the format set out in the Annex, shall relate to kind-of-activity unit characteristics as defined in Council Regulation (EEC) No 696/93 of 15 March 1993 on the statistical units for the observation and analysis of the production system in the Community ( 8 ) and to enterprises having 50 or more employees.
Article 5 Time reference and periodicity
Member States shall compile on an annual basis the data specified in the Annex for the first time for the year 2003 and for each year thereafter until 2009.
Article 6 Transmission of data
1. Member States shall transmit to the Commission (Eurostat) data and metadata on the steel industry aggregated over the units referred to in Article 4. The transmission shall include confidential data in accordance with the existing Community provisions on the transmission of data subject to confidentiality. 2. Member States shall transmit the data and metadata in electronic form. Transmission shall conform to an appropriate interchange standard approved in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 8(2). Eurostat shall make available detailed documentation in relation to approved standards and shall supply guidelines on how to implement these standards according to the requirements of this Regulation. 3. Member States shall transmit data and metadata within six months from the end of the reference year. However, in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 8(2), the Commission may extend this period to 12 months for the first transmission for those Member States who have difficulties implementing this Regulation.
Article 7 Implementing measures
1. The measures for the implementation of this Regulation concerning transmission formats and the first transmission period shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure referred to in Article 8(2). 2. The measures for the implementation of this Regulation concerning the updating of the list of characteristics, designed to amend non-essential elements of this Regulation, inter alia , by supplementing it, shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 8(3), provided that no significant additional burden is imposed upon the Member States.
Article 8 Procedure
1. The Commission shall be assisted by the Statistical Programme Committee, instituted by Article 1 of Decision 89/382/EEC, Euratom. 2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 5 and 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the provisions of Article 8 thereof. The period referred to in Article 5(6) of Decision 1999/468/EC shall be set at three months. 3. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Article 5a(1) to (4) and Article 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the provisions of Article 8 thereof.
Article 9 Reports
Within five years of the entry into force of this Regulation, the Commission shall submit a report to the European Parliament and the Council on its implementation. In particular, the report shall: (a) assess the benefits accruing to the Community, the Member States and the providers and users of statistical information of the statistics produced in relation to their costs; (b) assess the quality of the statistics produced; (c) verify synergy with other Community activities; (d) propose any changes considered necessary to improve the operation of this Regulation.
Article 10 Entry into force
This Regulation shall enter into force on the 20th 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.