Changes from report parliamentary committee draft to report parliamentary committee draft

RemovedEXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

RemovedStatistical knowledge is an important tool when it comes to finding ways of addressing the often multidimensional problems faced by the public.

RemovedIndeed, accurate knowledge is, above all, essential to identify existing difficulties and better address issues such as poverty, social and economic inequalities and lack of access free of charge to quality universal public infrastructures and services, together with housing, gender equality inside and outside the workplace and energy assessment of homes, to name but a few.

RemovedDevelopments with regard to statistical systems, together with the digital compilation, storage and dissemination of statistics now allow us to make more informed decisions. They do not, however, ensure that decisions taken on the basis of this information are conducive to progress. That is the task of policy makers.

RemovedStatistics on population and housing form part of a set of core data that has for some time allowed comparisons to be drawn between different countries covering migration and other areas. For example, the 10-year censuses carried out in the Member States provide helpful information regarding population and housing trends, with extremely valuable contributions being made by the national statistical institutes or other competent authorities in the Member States.

RemovedThese institutions must accordingly be equipped with the necessary technical and human resources to carry out their work and ensure that reliable information is provided. We are aware that, in a number of Member States, work undeniably remains to be done in this area to achieve the desired results. In view of this, and given the differences between national statistical systems in certain specific areas, the rapporteur deems it necessary to ensure that this Regulation will not have a disproportionate impact on the Member States and their national statistical bodies. For this reason, the minimum reporting interval is set at one year, obviating the need for mandatory infra-annual statistics.

RemovedThe national statistical systems of the various Member States are structured differently, each with their own specific characteristics and levels of development. Harmonisation of the concept of a constant population base relating to periods of residence, as set out in the proposal for a Regulation, could accordingly have a disproportionately adverse impact on certain Member States, especially those using administrative sources. Moreover, it is the responsibility of the Member States to decide how their statistical data and population records are kept. In certain Member States, such a population-based concept would require the restructuring or introduction of statistical population records, which is not considered desirable. The rapporteur therefore recommends that the wording of Article 2(d) of Regulation No 763/2008 and Article 2(d) of Regulation No 1260/2013 be maintained.

RemovedThe powers granted to the European Commission under her proposal allow the programme to be amended and extended unilaterally and for its frequency and reference periods to be adjusted by means of delegated acts, thereby calling into question the necessary legal certainty and predictability regarding costs and planning for national statistical bodies or other competent authorities. We therefore consider that any such amendments should be tabled through the ordinary legislative procedure, allowing those concerned to express their views and giving them time to prepare.

RemovedIt is also necessary to ensure the highest standards of data protection and privacy through compliance with the appropriate anonymisation and pseudoanonymisation requirements, particularly with regard to the availability, processing, dissemination and sharing of statistical data.