PURPOSE : to ensure the continuation of the existing common framework for the systematic production of reliable, harmonised, timely and high quality Community statistics on the information society and the provision of annual statistical data on ICT usage in enterprises and in households, and amending Regulation (EC) No 808/2004.

LEGISLATIVE ACT : Regulation (EC) No 1006/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 808/2004 concerning Community statistics on the information society.

CONTENT : following an agreement at first reading with the European Parliament, the Council adopted a regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 808/2004 concerning Community statistics on the information society.

The annual provision of statistics on the information society as laid down in Regulation (EC) No 808/2004 is restricted to up to five reference years after the date of entry into force of that Regulation and will end in 2009. However, there is a continuing need at Community level for the annual provision of coherent statistical information on the information society domain.

The amended regulation is designed to ensure the continuation of the existing common framework for the systematic production of reliable, harmonised, timely and high-quality Community statistics on the information society and the provision of annual statistical data on ICT usage in enterprises and in households. It also aims to update the Regulation according to the needs of a rapidly evolving statistical domain.

The main amendments are as follows :

the statistics to be compiled shall include information which is useful to the structural indicators and required to benchmark political strategies of the Community on the development of the European information space, business innovation and the European information society, such as the i2010 benchmarking framework and its developments under the Lisbon strategy, and other information necessary to provide a uniform basis on which to analyse the information society; Member States shall transmit the data and the metadata required by this Regulation and its implementing measures to the Commission (Eurostat) in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics on the transmission of confidential data; every year, Member States shall provide the Commission (Eurostat) with a report on the quality of the data transmitted as well as on any methodological changes that have been made.

The Regulation should not increase the burden on respondents and national statistical authorities, measured by the number of mandatory variables or interview duration, in respect of the collection and transmission of harmonised statistics as compared to the situation existing before the entry into force of the Regulation.

ENTRY INTO FORCE : 20/11/2009.

The European Parliament adopted by 598 votes to 9 a legislative resolution approving as amended, under the first reading of the codecision procedure, the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 808/2004 concerning Community statistics on the information society.

The amendments adopted in plenary were the result of a compromise negotiated with the Council:

Treatment, transmission and dissemination of data : Member States shall transmit the data and the metadata required by this Regulation and its implementing measures to the Commission (Eurostat) in accordance with Article 21 of Regulation (EC) No…/2009 on European Statistics on the transmission of confidential data.

Quality assessment and reports : Member States shall ensure the quality of the data transmitted.

Lastly, a new recital stresses that the Regulation should not increase the burden on respondents and national statistical authorities, measured by the number of mandatory variables or interview duration, in respect of the collection and transmission of harmonised statistics as compared to the existing situation before its entry into force.

The Committee on Industry, Research and Energy adopted the report drawn up by Angelika NIEBLER (EPP-ED, DE) amending, under the first reading of the codecision procedure, the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on amending Regulation (EC) No 808/2004 concerning Community statistics on the information society.

The main amendments are as follows:

- The amendment of Regulation (EC) No 808/2004 should take into account horizontal Regulation (EC) No .../2009 on European Statistics, which will be the framework for all sectoral legislation. Several amendments support this approach:

MEPs introduced a reference to the horizontal regulation to ensure the protection of individuals and enterprises in terms of the transmission of confidential data. Confidential data (its treatment, transmission and dissemination), with special regard to protection of individuals and enterprises, is also addressed by the horizontal regulation on European statistics; other amendments propose to adapt the quality regime of the current sectoral regulation to the one of the horizontal regulation. As the current sectoral regulation does not cover the issues of specific quality requirements, those are to be adopted via comitology (regulatory procedure with scrutiny).

- Every year, Member States shall provide the Commission (Eurostat) with a report on the quality of the data transmitted as well as on any methodological changes that have been made. The report shall be provided one month after the transmission of the data.

- MEPs clarify that statistics will be provided annually for up to 15 reference years following the date of entry into force of the Regulation.

- Lastly, the report stresses that the Regulation should not increase the burden on respondents and national statistical authorities, measured by the number of mandatory variables or interview duration, in respect of the collection and transmission of harmonised statistics as compared to the existing situation before its entry into force.

PURPOSE: to amend Regulation (EC) No 808/2004 concerning Community statistics on the information society to ensure the continuation of the existing common framework for the systematic production of reliable, harmonised, timely and high quality Community statistics on the information society and the provision of annual statistical data on ICT usage in enterprises and in households.

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

CONTENT: in its communication "i2010 - A European Information Society for growth and employment", the Commission promotes an open and competitive digital economy, emphasises ICT as a driver of inclusion and quality of life and provides a comprehensive strategy for the ICT and media sector. Allied to this strategy, benchmarking is seen as playing a central role in monitoring progress towards the renewed Lisbon objectives. There is a continuing need for statistical data provision in this domain, as ICT is still having a major impact on European businesses and societies.

The indicators for benchmarking the development of the information society as expressed in the political strategies of the Community, such as the i2010 benchmarking framework of the i2010 strategy and its further developments under the Lisbon strategy have to be based on coherent statistical information.

The proposal to amend Regulation (EC) No 808/2004 will ensure the provision of statistical data on ICT usage in households, by individuals and in enterprises for the purpose of the benchmarking framework and its further developments under the Lisbon strategy.

This amendment aims to update the subjects of statistical data provision to cater for the new developments in the area of ICT. Additionally, means for data analysis would be improved with the objective of a better use of the statistical data and a reduction of burden on respondents.

This will be achieved by introducing new methods of data analysis as part of the proposed Programme for the Modernisation of European Enterprise and Trade Statistics (MEETS).

PURPOSE: to amend Regulation (EC) No 808/2004 concerning Community statistics on the information society to ensure the continuation of the existing common framework for the systematic production of reliable, harmonised, timely and high quality Community statistics on the information society and the provision of annual statistical data on ICT usage in enterprises and in households.

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

CONTENT: in its communication "i2010 - A European Information Society for growth and employment", the Commission promotes an open and competitive digital economy, emphasises ICT as a driver of inclusion and quality of life and provides a comprehensive strategy for the ICT and media sector. Allied to this strategy, benchmarking is seen as playing a central role in monitoring progress towards the renewed Lisbon objectives. There is a continuing need for statistical data provision in this domain, as ICT is still having a major impact on European businesses and societies.

The indicators for benchmarking the development of the information society as expressed in the political strategies of the Community, such as the i2010 benchmarking framework of the i2010 strategy and its further developments under the Lisbon strategy have to be based on coherent statistical information.

The proposal to amend Regulation (EC) No 808/2004 will ensure the provision of statistical data on ICT usage in households, by individuals and in enterprises for the purpose of the benchmarking framework and its further developments under the Lisbon strategy.

This amendment aims to update the subjects of statistical data provision to cater for the new developments in the area of ICT. Additionally, means for data analysis would be improved with the objective of a better use of the statistical data and a reduction of burden on respondents.

This will be achieved by introducing new methods of data analysis as part of the proposed Programme for the Modernisation of European Enterprise and Trade Statistics (MEETS).