PURPOSE: to establish an advisory board called the "European Statistical Governance Advisory Board".

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Decision No 235/2008/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the European Statistical Advisory Board.

BACKGROUND: to recall, in February 2005 the “European Statistics of Code of Practice”, was endorsed which is a self-regulatory instrument. To balance this self-regulatory approach with the need for accountability, the Community has decided to put a reporting system in place in a bid to monitor adherence to the Code. This should include an external advisory body playing an active role in monitoring implementation of the Code and, consequently, in enhancing its independence, integrity and accountability.

CONTENT: the purpose of this Decision, therefore, is to set up the European Statistical Governance Advisory Board to enhance the credibility of European statistics, to advise the Commission and to report on implementation of the European Statistics Code of Practice by Eurostat. The Board’s tasks shall be:

to provide an independent overview of the European Statistical System vis-à-vis implementation of the Code; to submit an annual report on implementation of the European Statistics Code of Practice by the Commission (Eurostat) to the Commission, which will transmit the report to the European Parliament and to the Council; to advise the Commission on appropriate measures to facilitate implementation of the European Statistics Code of Practice in the European Statistical System with a view to improving statistical governance;

to advise the Commission on communicating the Code to users and data providers; and to advise the Commission on updating the Code of Practice and on general rules and principles for the functioning of the European Statistical System as a whole.

The Board should be made up of high-level persons, who are able to deliver an outside view on the European Statistical System. Following an amendment tabled at first reading the Board comprises of seven (rather than the originally proposed five) members.

As far as operations are concerned, the Board will be responsible for adopting its own rules of procedure. The Board’s Annual Report will be made public. A review of the role and effectiveness of the Board will be conducted three years after its establishment.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 16 March 2008.

Following the priorities set-out in the ECOFIN Council on 8 November 2005 on statistical governance, on 7 November 2006 on the Status Report on Information Requirements in EMU and on the public communication of major statistical revisions, and on 28 November 2006 on the reduction of the administrative burden related to statistics, the ECOFIN Council reviewed progress made in these areas. It adopted the following conclusions:

2007 EFC Status Report on Information Requirements : the Council endorses the 2007 EFC Status Report on Information Requirements in the EMU. In particular, it welcomes the progress achieved with the Principal European Economic Indicators (PEEIs), following the recommendations of the 2006 EFC Status Report. It encourages ongoing efforts to promote best practices and data sharing and reiterates the need to strengthen the accuracy and reliability of the indicators. The Council calls upon the European Statistical System to step up efforts to also ensure the regular availability and high quality of the statistics for structural analysis. Eurostat and the ECB are invited to provide an updated Status Report on the fulfilment of EMU statistical requirements in 2008 and to review the scope, timeliness and quality of the PEEIs in the light of the results achieved, the constraints encountered and the evolving users’ needs for economic and monetary policy purposes.

Reduction of statistical burden : noting that available measurements have not indicated a significant reduction in the overall statistical burden since 2006, the Council underlines that the right balance has to be found between minimising the response burden and providing sufficiently high quality statistics for Community policies. The Council in particular: i) emphasises the desirability of respondents to report only once by combining reporting for different purposes and make the best use of the data that is already available by integrating existing statistics, including administrative data, to the extent possible; ii) welcomes the examination by the Commission (Eurostat), the Statistical Programme Committee (SPC) and the Committee for Monetary, Financial and Balance of Payments Statistics (CMFB) regarding the simplification of Intrastat; iii) agrees with the objective to reduce the coverage ratio in the short term while preparing a move to an alternative method in the long term, such as the single flow method, which requires further study; iv) invites the Commission to step up its efforts to enhance the measurement of the statistical response burden with a view to develop agreed criteria to assess progress objectively and to make a further assessment of the change in overall burden by October 2008.

Statistical Governance : the Council welcomes the agreement reached with the European Parliament and the Commission on the establishment of the European Statistical Governance Advisory Board (ESGAB) and the European Statistical Advisory Committee (ESAC), and anticipates their swift establishment. Furthermore, it welcomes the initiative to modernise the current legal framework governing the development, production and dissemination of European Statistics and takes note that the Commission forwarded to the Council, in accordance with the procedure laid down in article 251 of the Treaty (co-decision), a proposal for a Regulation on European Statistics. The Council recognises the major efforts required by National Statistical Institutes and Eurostat in the peer review exercise, as well as the high commitment of the partners involved. It looks forward to the report to the European Parliament and the Council on progress with the compliance with the European Statistics Code of Practice in 2008 and underlines the importance that all Member States provide the necessary input to Eurostat according to the agreed timetable.

Communication of Major Statistical Revisions : the Council underlines that major revisions of macro-economic and social statistics in Member States can have substantive implications for European economic policies and for the credibility of the European Statistical System as a whole. It believes that a proper communication of the impacts of major revisions within the EU is crucial. Therefore, the Council welcomes the guidelines on the public communication of major statistical revisions in the European Union as set up by the CMFB, in response to the conclusions of the Ecofin Council of 7 November 2006. Lastly, it invites Member States to follow these guidelines.

The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Sharon BOWLES (ALDE, UK) on the proposal for a decision establishing the European Statistical Governance Advisory Board and made several amendments which were designed to enhance the independence and effectiveness of the Board. Compromise amendments were agreed between the rapporteur, the Commission and the Council Presidency. The main ones are as follows:

Mission : the purpose of the Board is to provide an independent overview of the European Statistical System regarding the implementation of the European Statistics Code of Practice (the “Code of Practice”). The Board’s tasks shall be: (a) to prepare an annual report to the European Parliament and the Council on implementation of the Code of Practice as it relates to the Eurostat and to transmit that report to the Commission prior to submitting it to the European Parliament and to the Council; (b) to include in that report an assessment of the implementation of the Code of Practice in the European Statistical System as a whole; (c) to advise the Commission on appropriate measures to facilitate implementation of the Code of Practice as it relates to Eurostat and to the European Statistical System as a whole; (d) to advise Eurostat on communicating the Code of Practice to users and data providers; (e) to advise Eurostat and the Statistical Programme Committee on updating the Code of Practice.

The Board may advise the Commission and shall respond to the Commission on questions relating to users' confidence in European statistics, in compliance its tasks.

Membership of the Board : the Board shall comprise 7 members (the Commission proposed 5), including the chairperson, each of whom shall act independently of the Commission (Eurostat) and Member State statistical offices. The Commission (Eurostat) shall be represented as an observer. The members of the Board shall be selected from among experts possessing outstanding competence in the field of statistics, shall perform their duties in their personal capacity and shall be selected to provide a range of complementary skills and experience. The Council shall propose and the European Parliament shall approve the nomination of the chairperson of the Board, after consulting the Commission. After consulting the Commission, the European Parliament and the Council shall each appoint three members of the Board. The chairperson shall neither be a current member of a Member State statistical office nor have held such a post within the last 2 years. The normal term of office for the chairperson and members of the Board shall be 3 years, renewable for a further term of 3 years.

Operations : the Board's annual report shall be made public after submission to the European Parliament and the Council. In addition, the Board may decide to publish on the Internet, any conclusion, partial conclusion or working document, provided that it has been communicated in advance to the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission (Eurostat) or any other involved body with an adequate opportunity for response. The Board shall be assisted by a Secretariat which shall be supplied by the Commission but must act independently of the Commission. The Secretary shall be appointed by the Commission after consultation of the Board. The Secretary shall act on the instructions of the Board. A review of the role and effectiveness of the Board shall be conducted three years after the establishment of the Board.

This proposal is closely linked to the proposal for the establishment of a European Statistical Advisory Committee (please see COD/2006/0217 .)

The Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs adopted, at first reading under the codecision procedure, the report by Sharon BOWLES (ALDE, UK) on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the European Statistical Governance Advisory Board.

The amendments adopted by the committee are as follows:

Mission : the Board shall provide an independent overview of the European Statistical System. It shall also prepare an annual report on implementation of the European Statistics Code of Practice by the Commission (Eurostat) and to review the reports on implementing the Code of Practice by Member States and include in the annual report an assessment of the overall implementation of the Code of Practice and its implications for the European Statistical System. Draft reports shall be transmitted to the Commission prior to their final submission to the European Parliament and to the Council.

Composition : the Board shall comprise 7 members (the Commission proposed 5), including the chairperson, each of whom shall act independently of the Commission (Eurostat) and Member State statistical offices. The Commission (Eurostat) shall be represented as an observer. The members of the Board shall be selected from among experts possessing outstanding competence in the field of statistics, shall perform their duties in their personal capacity and shall be selected to provide a range of complementary skills and experience. The Council shall propose and the European Parliament shall approve the nomination of the chairperson of the Board, after consulting the Commission. T he chairperson shall neither be a current member of a Member State statistical office nor have held such a post within the last 2 years. The European Parliament and the Council shall each appoint 3 members of the Board after consulting the Commission. The normal term of office for the chairperson and members of the Board shall be 3 years, renewable for a further term of 3 years, with one-third of the Board (not including the chairperson) appointed each year.

Operations : t he Board's annual report shall be made public after submission to the European Parliament and the Council. In addition, the Board may decide to publish on the Internet, any conclusion, partial conclusion or working document, provided that it has been communicated in advance to the Commission (Eurostat) or any other body involved, with an opportunity for response. The Board shall be assisted by a Secretariat which shall be supplied by the Commission but must act independently of the Commission. The Secretary shall be appointed by the Commission after consultation of the Board. The Secretary shall act on the instructions of the Board. A review of the role and effectiveness of the Board and consideration of the suitability of establishing a quality label shall be conducted 3 years after the establishment of the Board.

PURPOSE: to establish an advisory board called the "European Statistical Governance Advisory Board".

PROPOSED ACT: Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council.

CONTENT: o n 25 May 2005 the Commission adopted a Communication and a Recommendation on the independence, integrity and accountability of the national and Community statistical authorities promulgating a European Statistics Code of Practice, which had been prepared as a self-regulatory instrument. To balance this self-regulatory approach with the need for accountability, the Commission wishes to put into place a reporting system to monitor adherence to the Code within the European Statistical System, which includes an external advisory body playing an active role in monitoring implementation of the Code and, consequently, in enhancing independence, integrity and accountability.

This proposal aims at setting up a European Statistical Governance Advisory Board to enhance the credibility of European statistics, to advise the Commission and report on implementation of the European Statistics Code of Practice by Eurostat. The Board’s tasks shall be:

- to enhance the credibility of European statistics;

- to submit an annual report on implementation of the European Statistics Code of Practice by the Commission (Eurostat) to the Commission, which will transmit the report to the European Parliament and to the Council;

- to advise the Commission on appropriate measures to facilitate implementation of the European Statistics Code of Practice in the European Statistical System with a view to improving statistical

governance;

- to advise the Commission in the framework of a process leading to a quality label and on communicating the Code of Practice to users and data providers;

- to give advice on updating the Code of Practice and on general rules and principles for the functioning of the European Statistical System as a whole.

The Commission may consult the Board on questions relating to users' confidence in European statistics.

The Board should be made up of high-level persons, who are able to deliver an outside view on the European Statistical System. The Board will cover the Commission's activities related to European statistics and the functioning of the European Statistical System as a whole. It is not within the competence of the Board to address individual countries' practices or institutions. The tasks and activities of the proposed Board will reflect the underlying objective to enhance the independence, integrity and accountability of Eurostat and the European Statistical System as a whole thus strengthening users' confidence in European statistics. The proposed Board will be very small and privilege members' outstanding expertise in the field of statistics. The Commission, after consultation of the European Parliament and the Council will appoint a total of five members, including the chairperson. The Commission shall be represented as an observer.

PURPOSE: to establish an advisory board called the "European Statistical Governance Advisory Board".

PROPOSED ACT: Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council.

CONTENT: o n 25 May 2005 the Commission adopted a Communication and a Recommendation on the independence, integrity and accountability of the national and Community statistical authorities promulgating a European Statistics Code of Practice, which had been prepared as a self-regulatory instrument. To balance this self-regulatory approach with the need for accountability, the Commission wishes to put into place a reporting system to monitor adherence to the Code within the European Statistical System, which includes an external advisory body playing an active role in monitoring implementation of the Code and, consequently, in enhancing independence, integrity and accountability.

This proposal aims at setting up a European Statistical Governance Advisory Board to enhance the credibility of European statistics, to advise the Commission and report on implementation of the European Statistics Code of Practice by Eurostat. The Board’s tasks shall be:

- to enhance the credibility of European statistics;

- to submit an annual report on implementation of the European Statistics Code of Practice by the Commission (Eurostat) to the Commission, which will transmit the report to the European Parliament and to the Council;

- to advise the Commission on appropriate measures to facilitate implementation of the European Statistics Code of Practice in the European Statistical System with a view to improving statistical

governance;

- to advise the Commission in the framework of a process leading to a quality label and on communicating the Code of Practice to users and data providers;

- to give advice on updating the Code of Practice and on general rules and principles for the functioning of the European Statistical System as a whole.

The Commission may consult the Board on questions relating to users' confidence in European statistics.

The Board should be made up of high-level persons, who are able to deliver an outside view on the European Statistical System. The Board will cover the Commission's activities related to European statistics and the functioning of the European Statistical System as a whole. It is not within the competence of the Board to address individual countries' practices or institutions. The tasks and activities of the proposed Board will reflect the underlying objective to enhance the independence, integrity and accountability of Eurostat and the European Statistical System as a whole thus strengthening users' confidence in European statistics. The proposed Board will be very small and privilege members' outstanding expertise in the field of statistics. The Commission, after consultation of the European Parliament and the Council will appoint a total of five members, including the chairperson. The Commission shall be represented as an observer.