Changes from plenary report to adopted text

Removed(21) In the interest of increased timeliness at Union level, the Commission (Eurostat) should be allowed to disseminate Member States’ European statistics as soon as they have been published nationally, even if this was done ahead of the deadlines for providing the statistics that are set out in the relevant sectoral Union legislation.

Removed(21a) Lack of coordination may lead to inefficiencies and inconsistencies and raise issues of quality of European statistics. Union bodies and agencies should systematically consult the Commission (Eurostat) on statistical methodologies and data quality when developing new statistics in their fields of competence. Coordination should also extend to 'other statistics' that are key to informing policy-makers and citizens, in particular because the quality of such statistics could affect the reputation of European statistics.

Removed(22) Since the objective of this Regulation, namely the amendment of the legal framework for developing, producing and disseminating European statistics, cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States but can rather, for reasons of consistency and comparability, be better achieved at Union level, the Union may adopt measures to achieve that objective, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty on 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.

Removed(23) In order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of this Regulation, implementing powers should be conferred on the Commission in respect of the temporary statistical actions to be undertaken, including the relevant timespan, frequency and quality requirements, of the general technical arrangements for making privately held data available to the NSIs and the Commission (Eurostat) and of the technical aspects of data sharing between the statistical authorities. Those powers should be exercised in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council.

Removed(24) The European Data Protection Supervisor was consulted in accordance with Article 42(1) of Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council and delivered an opinion on 6 September 2023.

Removed(25) The European Statistical System (ESS) Committee was consulted,

RemovedHAVE ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

RemovedRegulation (EC) No 223/2009 is amended as follows:

Removed(1) Article 3 is amended as follows:

Removed(a) the following points 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d and 4e are inserted:

Removed‘4a. ‘data’ means any digital or non-digital representation of acts, facts and information;

Removed4b. ‘metadata’ means any data that defines and describes other data and processes, or is used in this way;

Removed4c. ‘data holder’ means a legal or natural person who has the right, in accordance with applicable Union or national legislation implementing Union law, or the ability, to make available certain data;

Removed4d. ‘reuse of data’ means the use by national statistical authorities and the Commission (Eurostat) of data held and made available by data holders for the development, production and dissemination of European statistics;

Removed4e. ‘data sharing’ means the provision of data or the permission of data reuse by a statistical authority to another statistical authority for the purpose of joint or individual use of such data for statistical purposes;’;

Removed(b) the following points 5a, 5b and 5c are inserted:

Removed‘5a. ‘data source’ means a source providing data that is relevant, in itself or in combination with data from other sources, for the development and production of statistics, including surveys, censuses, administrative records or data made available by data holders on request;

Removed5b. ‘data access’ means processing by a national statistical institute or the Commission (Eurostat) of data that has been provided by a private data holder, in accordance with specific technical, legal or organisational requirements, without necessarily requiring the transmission or downloading of such data;

Removed5c. ‘multi-source statistics’ mean statistics developed or produced on the basis of a variety of data sources, including by means of modelling techniques;’;

Removed(ba) the following point is inserted:

Removed‘7a. ‘privately held data’ means data held by private entities, the main aim of which is not the provision of statistics;’;

Removed(c) point 8 is replaced by the following:

Removed‘8. ‘use for statistical purposes’ means the exclusive use for the development, ▌production and dissemination of statistical results and analyses, including for related research and scientific activities or the establishment of sampling frames;’;

Removed(d) the following point 8a is inserted:

Removed‘8a ‘crisis’ means a situation of wide-ranging impact or political significance generating an immediate and unforeseen demand for European statistics;’;

Removed(da) the following point is added:

Removed‘12a. ‘other core identification and classification variables' means data attributes which comprise entity identifiers, principal economic activity and ESA sector classifications.’;

Removed(1a) the following Article is inserted:

Removed‘Article 5b Selection procedure for heads of NSIs

Removed1. Member States shall ensure that the procedure for the selection and recruitment of the heads of NSIs is in line with international best practices, and that appointments are based on clear professional criteria, in particular as regards statistical reputation and a high level of competence in the field of statistics. Member States shall also ensure that the principle of equal opportunities is respected in the procedure, in particular with regard to gender.

Removed2. The heads of NSIs shall be selected for a fixed, non-renewable term of up to 10 years.

Removed3. The heads of the NSIs shall have sole responsibility for deciding on processes, statistical methods, standards and procedures, and on the content and timing of statistical releases and publications for all statistics produced in the context of the ESS. When carrying out those statistical tasks, the heads of NSIs shall act in an independent manner and shall neither seek nor take instructions from their national government or any other government or other institution, body, office or agency, nor from any Union institutions or bodies.

Removed4. In the event of early termination of the contract (dismissal) of a head of NSI, Member States shall clearly specify the reasons for the dismissal. However, specifying the reasons for the dismissal shall not compromise the professional or scientific independence of the heads of NSIs or their responsibilities laid down in this Regulation.”;

Removed(1b) Article 6a is amended as follows:

Removed(a) paragraph 2 is replaced by the following:

Removed‘2. The Director-General of the Commission (Eurostat) is selected for a fixed, non-renewable term of seven years.’;

Removed(b) paragraph 3 is replaced by the following:

Removed‘3. The procedure for the selection and recruitment of the Director-General of the Commission (Eurostat) shall be open and transparent, in line with international best practices, and the appointment shall be based on clear professional criteria, in particular as regards statistical reputation and a high level of competence in the field of statistics. The principle of equal opportunities shall be respected in the procedure, in particular with regard to gender.’;

Removed(c) paragraph 4 is replaced by the following:

Removed‘4. The Director-General of of the Commission (Eurostat) shall be responsible for all statistical activities of of the Commission (Eurostat) and for matters regarding internal management and budget execution. The Director-General of of the Commission (Eurostat) shall have sole responsibility for deciding on processes, statistical methods, standards and procedures, and on the content and timing of statistical releases and publications for all statistics produced by the Commission (Eurostat). When carrying out those statistical tasks, the Director-General of the Commission (Eurostat) shall act in an independent manner and shall neither seek nor take instructions from the Union institutions or bodies, including other services of the Commission, from any government or other institution, body, office or agency.’;

Removed(d) the following paragraphs are added:

Removed‘4a. In the event of early termination of the contract (dismissal) of the Director-General of the Commission (Eurostat), the reasons for the dismissal shall be clearly specified. However, specifying the reasons for the dismissal shall not compromise the professional or scientific independence or the internal management responsibilities of the Director-General of the Commission (Eurostat) laid down in paragraph 4.’;

Removed4b. The Director-General of of the Commission (Eurostat) shall appear immediately after appointment by the Commission, and annually thereafter, in the framework of the statistical dialogue before the relevant committee of the European Parliament to discuss matters pertaining to statistical governance, methodology and statistical innovation.

Removed4c. The Director-General of of the Commission (Eurostat) shall publish an annual report.

Removed4d. Paragraphs 2, 3 and 4a shall also apply to the deputy Director-General of the Commission (Eurostat).’;

Removed(1c) in Article 12, paragraph 3 is replaced by the following:

Removed‘3. Member States shall provide the Commission (Eurostat) with reports on the quality of data transmitted, including any concerns they have regarding the accuracy of the data. The Commission (Eurostat) shall assess the quality of the data transmitted, on the basis of appropriate analysis, and shall prepare and publish reports and communications on the quality of European statistics. The Commission (Eurostat) shall promptly make publicly available any serious concerns it has on the quality of the data transmitted and disclose any breaches of the European statistics Code of Practice.’

Removed(2) the following Article 16a is inserted:

Removed‘Article 16a Statistical response to crisis and urgent policy needs

Removed1. The Commission (Eurostat) shall examine temporary statistical actions and undertake them as appropriate, subject to the procedures set out in this Article, where either of the following conditions are met:

Removed(a) it is strictly necessary to respond to urgent information needs which arise from a crisis and following, existing or future, emergency mechanisms activated in accordance with one or more of the following Union legal acts ▌:

Removed(i) the temporary protection under Council Directive 2001/55/EC;

Removed(ii) the Union civil protection mechanism under Decision 1313/2013/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council;

Removed(iii) the emergency support under Council Regulation (EU) 2016/369

Removed(iv) the emergency framework under Council Regulation (EU) 2022/2372;

Removed(v) the market correction mechanism under Council Regulation (EU) 2022/2578;

Removed(vi) the emergency mode under Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council (EU) xx/xx (to be adopted);

Removed(b) those urgent information needs cannot be met under the European statistical programme.

Removed2. The temporary statistical actions referred to in paragraph 1 shall be carried out by the Commission (Eurostat) at Union level and may include:

Removed(a) producing European statistics based on new data collections;