Changes from report parliamentary committee draft to plenary report

RemovedEXPLANATORY STATEMENT

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

RemovedOfficial statistics play a fundamental role in our society. Impartial and objective statistical information is quintessential for both policy makers and the broader public. They are the foundation of an open and transparent administration. Official statistics are therefore of general interest and one of the key pillars of the functioning of our democracies.

Added(da) the following point is added:

RemovedAs far as the EU is concerned, European statistics have become increasingly important for the development, execution, control and evaluation of EU policies. European statistics hence provide an essential contribution to the information capacity needed for the strategic targets of the EU, its policies and supporting instruments.

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

RemovedHowever, statistics only work as long as they enjoy the trust of those who consult them. If that is no longer the case, policies risk to fail ultimately as well. Official statistics should therefore be trustworthy, all the more in times where people at times seem to have lost trust in its democratic institutions and information is easily labelled as ‘fake news’. Your rapporteur therefore supports the proposal by the Commission and its aim to adapt Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 to the needs of our time.

Added(1a) the following Article is inserted:

RemovedYour rapporteur saw, however, some room for improvement in the Commission proposal in terms of enforcing Eurostat statistics as a quality label, as well as in increasing the efficiency of the European statistical system by enhancing the exchange of information between the ESCB and the ESS and by strengthening the legal base when private data are requested by the statistical authorities.

Added‘Article 5b Selection procedure for heads of NSIs

Added1. 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.

Added2. The heads of NSIs shall be selected for a fixed, non-renewable term of up to 10 years.

Added3. 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.

Added4. 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.”;

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

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

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

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

Added‘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.’;

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

Added‘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.’;

Added(d) the following paragraphs are added:

Added‘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.’;

Added4b. 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.

Added4c. The Director-General of of the Commission (Eurostat) shall publish an annual report.

Added4d. Paragraphs 2, 3 and 4a shall also apply to the deputy Director-General of the Commission (Eurostat).’;

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

Added‘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.’

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

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

Added1. 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:

Added(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 ▌:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Added2. The temporary statistical actions referred to in paragraph 1 shall be carried out by the Commission (Eurostat) at Union level and may include:

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

Added(b) providing new statistical indicators and insights based on existing data;

Added(c) developing harmonised statistical methodologies and related methodological guidelines, to ensure that statistics across Member States are comparable and consistent;

Added(d) other coordinated action at Union level that aims to provide a timely and relevant statistical response to the specific situation.

Added3. When assessing the need for temporary statistical actions, the Commission (Eurostat) shall promptly inform and shall consult the ESS Committee and take into account its opinion and professional guidance.

Added4. The Member States may decide, separately and on a voluntary basis, to participate in these temporary statistical actions▌. The Commission (Eurostat) shall strive towards the relevance of temporary statistical actions and sufficient coverage of the crisis situation in the Union. When participating in temporary statistical actions, the Member States shall comply with the agreed common timespan, frequency and quality requirements for the national data to be provided to the Commission (Eurostat).

Added5. The Commission may, by way of implementing acts, specify the temporary statistical actions and set out the procedure for undertaking them, including the relevant timespan, frequency and quality requirements to be applied by those Member States participating voluntarily in the temporary statistical action. Those implementing acts shall adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 27(2). Without prejudice to the prerogative of the budgetary authority, the Union shall provide financial contributions from the general budget of the Union to the NSIs and other national authorities to cover the incremental costs incurred from the implementation of such temporary statistical actions.

Added6. Measures adopted under paragraph 5 shall remain in force for a period no longer than the duration of the crisis situation, and in any event not exceeding 12 months that may be extended by way of an implementing act for an additional 12-month period in duly justified cases.’;

Added(3) in Article 17a, the title is replaced by the following:

Added‘Access, reuse and integration of administrative records for the development and production of European statistics’;

Added(4) in Article 17a, paragraph 1 is replaced by the following:

Added‘1. National public bodies in charge of administrative data sources relevant for development, production and dissemination of European statistics shall allow the NSIs and other national authorities (hereafter ‘ONA’) referred to in Article 4, to access, reuse and integrate, free of charge, this data and the relevant metadata, in timely manner and with sufficient frequency for the purpose of development, production and dissemination of European statistics to the Commission (Eurostat) within the deadlines and in accordance with quality requirements laid down in Union statistical legislation.’;

Added(5) in Article 17a, the following paragraph 2a is inserted:

Added‘2a. For the purpose of this Regulation, the Commission (Eurostat) shall be allowed, upon request, to access, reuse and integrate in a timely manner relevant data and metadata from databases and interoperability systems maintained by Union bodies and agencies, and without prejudice to the Union acts establishing these databases and interoperability systems. For this purpose, the Commission (Eurostat) shall cooperate with the relevant Union bodies and agencies to specify the customised data and metadata required, the operational modalities for data reuse and the necessary physical and logical safeguards.’;

Added(6) in Article 17a, paragraph 5 is replaced by the following:

Added‘5. The NSIs and owners of administrative records shall establish the necessary cooperation mechanisms. Those mechanisms shall also provide the possibility for the NSIs to perform data quality checks and build statistical frames based on relevant administrative records.’;

Added(7) the following Articles 17b, 17c, 17d, 17e and 17f are inserted:

Added‘Article 17b Obligation of private data holders to make data available for developing and producing European statistics

Added1. Without prejudice to reporting obligations laid down in sectoral statistical legislation of the Union nor to the obligation for data holders to make data available based on exceptional need in accordance with the Data Act, an NSI or the Commission (Eurostat) may request a private data holder to make data and the relevant metadata available for the development and production of European statistics if the annual work programme has established the following conditions:

Added(a) the data requested is strictly necessary for the development and production of European statistics; and