REPORT on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council setting up a European Advisory Committee on Community Statistical Information Policy

18.9.2007 - (COM(2006)0653 – C6‑0379/2006 – 2006/0217(COD)) - ***I

Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs
Rapporteur: Ieke van den Burg

DRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council setting up a European Advisory Committee on Community Statistical Information Policy

(COM(2006)0653 – C6‑0379/2006 – 2006/0217(COD))

(Codecision procedure: first reading)

The European Parliament,

–   having regard to the Commission proposal to the European Parliament and the Council (COM(2006)0653)[1],

–   having regard to Article 251(2) and Article 285 of the EC Treaty, pursuant to which the Commission submitted the proposal to Parliament (C6‑0379/2006),

–   having regard to Rule 51 of its Rules of Procedure,

–   having regard to the report of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (A6‑0328/2007),

1.  Approves the Commission proposal as amended;

2.  Calls on the Commission to refer the matter to Parliament again if it intends to amend the proposal substantially or replace it with another text;

3.  Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council and Commission.

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendments by Parliament
Amendment 1 Title
Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council setting up a European Advisory Committee on Community Statistical Information Policy	Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council setting up a European Statistical Advisory Council
Justification
In some Member States the body assigned to the national statistical offices (NSOs) on which all stakeholders not belonging to the NSO are represented is known as the Statistical Council. The UN’s 2003 Handbook of Statistical Organization also calls bodies with a supervisory or advisory function assigned to NSOs “National Statistical Councils”. This choice of title thus gives stakeholders some idea of the nature of the body in question.
Amendment 2 Recital 3
(3) While the European Advisory Committee on Statistical Information in the Economic and Social Spheres has proved useful, changes which have taken place in the Community, especially its enlargement to 25 Member States, require a number of changes to be made as regards its role, mandate, composition and procedures. In the interests of clarity, it is appropriate to replace the Committee by a new Committee.	(3) While the European Advisory Committee on Statistical Information in the Economic and Social Spheres has proved useful, changes which have taken place in the Community, especially its enlargement to 27 Member States, require a number of changes to be made as regards its role, mandate, composition and procedures. In the interests of clarity, it is appropriate to replace the Committee by a new Committee.
Justification
Editorial correction; the EU has 27 Member States.
Amendment 3 Recital 5
(5) A balance must be achieved between the need to reduce membership in order to enable the Committee to work efficiently in an enlarged Community and the need to allow representation of all stakeholders in Community statistics, as requested by the Council in its conclusions of 8 November 2005.	(5) A balance must be achieved between the need to reduce membership in order to enable the Statistical Advisory Council to work efficiently in an enlarged Community and the need to allow representation of all stakeholders in Community statistics, as requested by the Council in its conclusions of 8 November 2005.
Justification
In some Member States the body assigned to the national statistical offices (NSOs) on which all stakeholders not belonging to the NSO are represented is known as the Statistical Council. The UN’s 2003 Handbook of Statistical Organization also calls bodies with a supervisory or advisory function assigned to NSOs “National Statistical Councils”. This choice of title thus gives stakeholders some idea of the nature of the body in question.
Amendment 4 Recital 6
(6) The need to better assess and balance the benefits and costs of Community statistical requirements and to rebalance and reduce the burden of Community statistical legislation, so facilitating compliance with increasing demand, means that the Committee should play a stronger role in preparing and implementing the Community statistical programme.	(6) The need to better assess and balance the benefits and costs of Community statistical requirements and to rebalance and reduce the burden of Community statistical legislation, so facilitating compliance with increasing demand, means that the Statistical Advisory Council should play a stronger role in preparing and implementing the Community statistical programme.
Justification
In some Member States the body assigned to the national statistical offices (NSOs) on which all stakeholders not belonging to the NSO are represented is known as the Statistical Council. The UN’s 2003 Handbook of Statistical Organization also calls bodies with a supervisory or advisory function assigned to NSOs “National Statistical Councils”. This choice of title thus gives stakeholders some idea of the nature of the body in question.
Amendment 5 Recital 7
(7) The new Committee should serve as a channel for advice from users, respondents and producers of statistical information on the objectives of the Community’s statistical information policy. Decision 91/116/EEC should therefore be repealed.	(7) The new Statistical Advisory Council should serve as a channel for advice from users, respondents and producers of statistical information on the objectives of the Community’s statistical information policy. Decision 91/116/EEC should therefore be repealed.
Justification
CEIES was – and should remain – chiefly a body on which those persons and institutions not forming part of the official statistical apparatus, i.e. in particular users and respondents, are represented at European level. The data producers, in other words the representatives of the national statistical offices, which are already important decision-makers and are thus adequately consulted (e.g. on comitology committees), should not be represented on the Statistical Council. The UN’s 2003 Handbook of Statistical Organization also works on this assumption.
Amendment 6 Article 1, title
Advisory Committee	European Statistical Advisory Council
Justification
In some Member States the body assigned to the national statistical offices (NSOs) on which all stakeholders not belonging to the NSO are represented is known as the Statistical Council. The UN’s 2003 Handbook of Statistical Organization also calls bodies with a supervisory or advisory function assigned to NSOs “National Statistical Councils”. This choice of title thus gives stakeholders some idea of the nature of the body in question.
Amendment 7 Article 1, paragraph 1
1. The European Advisory Committee on Community Statistical Information Policy (hereinafter “the Committee”) is hereby established.	1. The European Statistical Advisory Council (hereinafter “the Statistical Advisory Council”) is hereby established.
Justification
In some Member States the body assigned to the national statistical offices (NSOs) on which all stakeholders not belonging to the NSO are represented is known as the Statistical Council. The UN’s 2003 Handbook of Statistical Organization also calls bodies with a supervisory or advisory function assigned to NSOs “National Statistical Councils”. This choice of title thus gives stakeholders some idea of the nature of the body in question.
Amendment 8 Article 1, paragraph 2
2. The Committee shall assist the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission by ensuring that user requirements and the costs borne by information providers and producers are taken into account in coordinating the strategic objectives and priorities of the Community’s statistical information policy.	2. The Statistical Advisory Council shall assist the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission by ensuring that user requirements and the costs borne by information providers and producers are taken into account in coordinating the strategic objectives and priorities of the Community’s statistical information policy.
Justification
In some Member States the body assigned to the national statistical offices (NSOs) on which all stakeholders not belonging to the NSO are represented is known as the Statistical Council. The UN’s 2003 Handbook of Statistical Organization also calls bodies with a supervisory or advisory function assigned to NSOs “National Statistical Councils”. This choice of title thus gives stakeholders some idea of the nature of the body in question.
Amendment 9 Article 2, paragraph 1, subparagraph 1, introductory part
1. The Committee shall be consulted by the Commission at an early stage in the preparation of the Community statistical programme. It shall deliver an opinion addressing in particular:	1. The Statistical Advisory Council shall be consulted by the Commission at an early stage in the preparation of the Community statistical programme. It shall deliver an opinion addressing in particular:
Justification
The proposed amendments are in line with the existing tasks of CEIES and with the rest of the text (e.g. Art. 3).
Amendment 10 Article 2, paragraph 1, point (c)
c) the balance (priorities and resources) between different areas in the Community statistical programme and the annual statistical work programme of the Commission;	c) the balance (priorities and resources) between different areas in the Community statistical programme, the annual statistical work programme of the Commission, and the possibility of re-prioritising statistical work;
Justification
The proposed amendments are in line with the existing tasks of CEIES and with the rest of the text (e.g. Art. 3).
Amendment 11 Article 2, paragraph 1, point (d)
d) the resources needed to implement the Community statistical programme, including the costs directly incurred both by the Community and national authorities;	d) the adequacy of the resources needed to implement the Community statistical programme, including the costs directly incurred both by the Community and national authorities, and whether the extent, level of detail, and cost of Community statistics is commensurate with users' needs;
Justification
The proposed amendments are in line with the existing tasks of CEIES and with the rest of the text (e.g. Art. 3).
Amendment 12 Article 2, paragraph 1, point (e)
e) the costs related to the provision of statistical information by information providers.	e) the costs related to the provision of statistical information by information providers and possible ways of reducing the burden on respondents with particular reference to the burden on SMEs.
Justification
The decision-making bodies on the EU Statistical Programme (the European Parliament, Council and Commission) must be informed about the cost-benefit ratio of the data collected.
Amendment 13 Article 2, paragraph 2
2. The Committee shall also draw the Commission's attention to areas in which it may be necessary to develop new statistical activities and shall advise the Commission how the quality needs of users can better be met, taking into account the costs for information providers and producers.	2. The Statistical Advisory Council shall also draw the Commission's attention to areas in which it may be necessary to develop new statistical activities and shall advise the Commission how to improve the relevance of the European Statistical System to users, taking into account the costs for information providers and producers.
Justification
This is a better description of the innovative task.
Amendment 14 Article 3, paragraph 1
1. At the request of the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission, the Committee shall deliver an opinion on matters relating to user requirements in the development of the Community’s statistical information policy, priorities of the Community statistical programme, the evaluation of existing statistics, data quality and dissemination policy.	1. At the request of the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission, the Statistical Advisory Council shall deliver an opinion on matters relating to user requirements, and costs incurred by data suppliers, in the development of the Community’s statistical information policy, priorities of the Community statistical programme, the evaluation of existing statistics, data quality and dissemination policy.
Justification
The decision-makers (the European Parliament, Council and Commission) should be able to obtain information on the cost-benefit ratio of individual sets of data in the Statistical Programme.
Amendment 15 Article 3, paragraph 2
2. The Committee shall deliver opinions and present reports on user requirements and the costs borne by data providers in the production and dissemination of Community statistics to the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission whenever it considers this necessary for the fulfilment of its task.	2. The Statistical Advisory Council shall deliver opinions and present reports on user requirements and the costs borne by data providers in the production and dissemination of Community statistics to the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission whenever it considers this necessary for the fulfilment of its task.
The Commission shall report on a yearly basis on how it has taken account of the Committee’s opinions.	The Commission shall report on a yearly basis on how it has taken account of the Statistical Advisory Council’s opinions.
Justification
In some Member States the body assigned to the national statistical offices (NSOs) on which all stakeholders not belonging to the NSO are represented is known as the Statistical Council. The UN’s 2003 Handbook of Statistical Organization also calls bodies with a supervisory or advisory function assigned to NSOs “National Statistical Councils”. This choice of title thus gives stakeholders some idea of the nature of the body in question.
Amendment 16 Article 3, paragraph 3
3. In order to accomplish its task, the Committee shall cooperate with the Statistical Programme Committee and the Committee on Monetary, Financial and Balance of Payments Statistics. It shall send copies of its opinion and reports to those two committees.	3. In order to accomplish its task, the Statistical Advisory Council shall cooperate with the Statistical Programme Committee and the Committee on Monetary, Financial and Balance of Payments Statistics. It shall regularly inform those two committees of its opinions regarding the tasks described in Article 2 and shall send them opinions and reports that it has drawn up pursuant to paragraphs 1 and 2 thereof. Close cooperation between the Statistical Advisory Council and the two committees in the programme-planning process is to improve the governance of the European Statistical System and enhance the quality of Community statistics.
Justification
A more precise wording of this article as regards cooperation is highly desirable. Other details of the amendment reflect the Council’s conclusions of 8 November 2005.
Amendment 17 Article 3, paragraph 4
4. The Committee shall establish relations with national statistical user councils.	4. The Statistical Advisory Council shall establish relations with national statistical user councils.
Justification
In some Member States the body assigned to the national statistical offices (NSOs) on which all stakeholders not belonging to the NSO are represented is known as the Statistical Council. The UN’s 2003 Handbook of Statistical Organization also calls bodies with a supervisory or advisory function assigned to NSOs “National Statistical Councils”. This choice of title thus gives stakeholders some idea of the nature of the body in question.
Amendment 18 Article 4, paragraph 1, subparagraphs 1 and 2
1. The Committee shall consist of 25 members.	1. The Statistical Advisory Board shall consist of 24 members.
Fourteen members of the Committee shall be appointed by the Commission, after consultation of the European Parliament and the Council. With a view to the appointment of these members, each Member State shall provide the Commission with a list of two candidates with a well-established qualification in the field of statistics. The Commission shall endeavour to ensure that the composition of the membership fairly reflects civil society, including the scientific community, and adequately covers the various statistical domains covered by the Community statistical programme.	a) Twelve members of the Statistical Advisory Board shall be appointed by the Commission after consultation of the European Parliament and the Council. They shall act independently. With a view of the appointment of these members, each Member State shall provide the Commission with a list of three candidates with a well-established qualification in the field of statistics. The Commission shall endeavour to ensure that the composition of those twelve members reflects an equal representation of users, producers, respondents and members of civil society, including the scientific community.
Amendment 19 Article 4, paragraph 1, subparagraphs 3 and 4
Ten members shall be directly appointed by the bodies to which they belong, as follow:	b) Eleven members shall be directly appointed by the bodies to which they belong, as follow:
– (a) one representative of the European Parliament,	– (i) one representative of the European Parliament,
– (b) one representative of the Council,	– (ii) one representative of the Council,
– (c) one representative of the European Economic and Social Committee;	– (iii) one representative of the European Economic and Social Committee;
– (d) one representative of the Committee of the Regions,	– (iv) one representative of the Committee of the Regions,
– (e) one representative of the European Central Bank,	– (v) one representative of the European Central Bank,
– (f) two representatives from the Statistical Programme Committee,	– (vi) two representatives from the Statistical Programme Committee,
– (g) one member representing the Union of Industrial Employers’ Confederation of Europe (UNICE),	– (vii) one member representing the Union of Industrial Employers’ Confederation of Europe (Businesseurope),
– (h) one member representing the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC),	– (viii) one member representing the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC),
– (i) one member representing the European Association of Craft Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (UEAPME).	– (ix) one member representing the European Association of Craft Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (UEAPME).
	– (ixa) European Data Protection Supervisor.
The Director-General of Eurostat shall be an ex-officio member of the Committee.	c) The Director-General of Eurostat shall be an ex-officio member of the Statistical Advisory Board without voting right.
Amendment 20 Article 4, paragraph 1, subparagraph 5
The list of members shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union, C series.	2. The list of members shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union, C series.
Amendment 21 Article 5, paragraph 1
1. Members of the Committee shall be appointed for a term of four years, renewable once. On expiry of their term of office, members shall remain in office until they are replaced or their appointments are renewed.	1. Members of the Statistical Advisory Council shall be appointed for a term of five years, renewable once. On expiry of their term of office, members shall remain in office until they are replaced or their appointments are renewed.
Justification
A five year term makes the Committee period more consistent with the respective terms in the institutions.
Amendment 22 Article 6, title
Structure and operation of the Committee	Structure and operation of the Statistical Advisory Council
Justification
In some Member States the body assigned to the national statistical offices (NSOs) on which all stakeholders not belonging to the NSO are represented is known as the Statistical Council. The UN’s 2003 Handbook of Statistical Organization also calls bodies with a supervisory or advisory function assigned to NSOs “National Statistical Councils”. This choice of title thus gives stakeholders some idea of the nature of the body in question.
Amendment 23 Article 6, paragraph 1
1. The Committee shall elect its chair from among the members appointed by the Commission. The Chair shall be appointed for a term of four years, renewable once.	1. The Statistical Advisory Council shall elect its chair from among the members appointed by the Commission. The Chair shall be appointed for a term of four years, renewable once.
Justification
In some Member States the body assigned to the national statistical offices (NSOs) on which all stakeholders not belonging to the NSO are represented is known as the Statistical Council. The UN’s 2003 Handbook of Statistical Organization also calls bodies with a supervisory or advisory function assigned to NSOs “National Statistical Councils”. This choice of title thus gives stakeholders some idea of the nature of the body in question.
Amendment 24 Article 6, paragraph 2
2. The Chair shall convene the Committee at least once a year, either on his own initiative or at the request of at least one third of the members.	2. The Chair shall convene the Statistical Advisory Council at least once a year, either on his own initiative or at the request of at least one third of the members.
Justification
In some Member States the body assigned to the national statistical offices (NSOs) on which all stakeholders not belonging to the NSO are represented is known as the Statistical Council. The UN’s 2003 Handbook of Statistical Organization also calls bodies with a supervisory or advisory function assigned to NSOs “National Statistical Councils”. This choice of title thus gives stakeholders some idea of the nature of the body in question.
Amendment 25 Article 6, paragraph 3
3. For preparing opinions on highly complex statistical matters, the Committee may propose that the Commission set up temporary working parties to be chaired by a Committee member. Each working party shall be made up of experts providing an appropriate balance of professional backgrounds and geographical distribution. The Chairs of these working parties shall present the results of their proceedings in the form of a report at a meeting of the Committee.	3. For preparing opinions on highly complex statistical matters, the Statistical Advisory Council may, in agreement with the Commission, set up temporary working parties to be chaired by a Statistical Advisory Council member. Each working party shall be made up of experts providing an appropriate balance of professional backgrounds. The Chairs of these working parties shall present the results of their proceedings in the form of a report at a meeting of the Statistical Advisory Council.
Justification
The provision to the effect that the Committee may merely propose the setting up of a working party makes it too dependent on the Commission.
Requiring the composition of the working parties to reflect geographical origins is not sensible, since these working parties need to be kept very small in order to be functional.
Amendment 26 Article 6, paragraph 3 a (new)
	3a. For the performance of its tasks the Statistical Advisory Council may commission studies and hold seminars.
Justification
Provision needs to be made for the commissioning of independent experts whose help can be drawn on in evaluating the work programmes and drawing up any further recommendations needed.
It is established practice for CEIES to hold seminars, and this should also be reflected in the new legal basis.
Amendment 27 Article 6, paragraph 4
4. Representatives of any Commission departments concerned may participate in the meetings of the Committee and the working parties as observers.	4. Representatives of any Commission departments concerned may participate in the meetings of the Statistical Advisory Council and the working parties as observers.
The Chair may authorise other observers to attend meetings of the Committee.	The Chair may authorise other observers to attend meetings of the Statistical Advisory Council.
Justification
In some Member States the body assigned to the national statistical offices (NSOs) on which all stakeholders not belonging to the NSO are represented is known as the Statistical Council. The UN’s 2003 Handbook of Statistical Organization also calls bodies with a supervisory or advisory function assigned to NSOs “National Statistical Councils”. This choice of title thus gives stakeholders some idea of the nature of the body in question.
Amendment 28 Article 6, paragraph 5
5. Secretarial services shall be provided for the Committee and the working parties by the Commission.	5. Secretarial services shall be provided for the Statistical Advisory Council and the working parties by the Commission. This shall not affect the independence of the Statistical Advisory Council.
Justification
The independence of the Committee from the COM is vital and should also be obeyed in the provision of secretarial services.
Amendment 29 Article 6, paragraph 5a (new)
	5a. The expenditure for the Statistical Advisory Council shall be entered in the Commission budget.
Justification
As with the CEIES in the past, the new body should be funded by the Commission.
Amendment 30 Article 7, paragraph 1
1. An opinion delivered by the Statistical Council shall be valid if two thirds of its members are present in person or by other means to be specified in the internal rules of procedure.	1. An opinion delivered by the Statistical Advisory Council shall be valid if all its members have been convened and notified of the agenda, no later than two weeks before the meeting and two thirds of its members are present in person or by other means to be specified in the internal rules of procedure.
Justification
The voting procedure is not specified clearly enough.
In addition, it should be made clear that the Head of Eurostat has no vote.
Amendment 31 Article 7, paragraph 2
2. Only members may vote. A member may delegate his vote to another member. No member may receive more than two delegations.	2. Only members within the meaning of Article 4(1)(a) and (b) may vote. A member may delegate his vote to another member. No member may receive more than two delegations.
Justification
The voting procedure is not specified clearly enough.
In addition, it should be made clear that the Head of Eurostat has no vote.
Amendment 32 Article 7, paragraph 3
3. An opinion delivered by the Committee shall state the reasons on which it is based. It shall be delivered by a simple majority of the votes. In the event of a tied vote, the Chair shall have an additional casting vote.	3. An opinion delivered by the Statistical Advisory Council shall state the reasons on which it is based. It shall be delivered by a simple majority of the votes. In the event of a tied vote, the Chair shall have an additional casting vote.
Justification
In some Member States the body assigned to the national statistical offices (NSOs) on which all stakeholders not belonging to the NSO are represented is known as the Statistical Council. The UN’s 2003 Handbook of Statistical Organization also calls bodies with a supervisory or advisory function assigned to NSOs “National Statistical Councils”. This choice of title thus gives stakeholders some idea of the nature of the body in question.
Amendment 33 Article 8
Without prejudice to Article 287 of the Treaty, Committee members shall be required not to disclose information to which they have gained access through Committee or working party proceedings if the Commission informs them that the opinion requested or the question raised is of a confidential nature.	Without prejudice to Article 287 of the Treaty, Statistical Advisory Council members shall be required not to disclose information to which they have gained access through Statistical Advisory Council or working party proceedings if the Commission informs them that the opinion requested or the question raised is of a confidential nature.
Justification
In some Member States the body assigned to the national statistical offices (NSOs) on which all stakeholders not belonging to the NSO are represented is known as the Statistical Council. The UN’s 2003 Handbook of Statistical Organization also calls bodies with a supervisory or advisory function assigned to NSOs “National Statistical Councils”. This choice of title thus gives stakeholders some idea of the nature of the body in question.
Amendment 34 Article 9
After consulting the Commission, the Committee shall adopt its rules of procedure. The rules of procedure shall be transmitted for information purposes to the European Parliament and the Council.	After consulting the Commission, the Statistical Advisory Council shall adopt its rules of procedure. The rules of procedure shall be transmitted for information purposes to the European Parliament and the Council.
Justification
In some Member States the body assigned to the national statistical offices (NSOs) on which all stakeholders not belonging to the NSO are represented is known as the Statistical Council. The UN’s 2003 Handbook of Statistical Organization also calls bodies with a supervisory or advisory function assigned to NSOs “National Statistical Councils”. This choice of title thus gives stakeholders some idea of the nature of the body in question.
Amendment 35 Article 11
This Decision shall enter into force on [].	This Decision shall enter into force three months after publication in the OJ.
Justification
The new body should be established a.s.a.p.

• [1]  Not yet published in OJ.

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

A.    Content of the Commission proposal

The Commission's proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council aims at restructuring the current "European Advisory Committee on Statistical Information in the Economic and Social Spheres" (CEIES). The new body, which will be called "European Advisory Committee on Community Statistical Information Policy" shall assist the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission with the coordination of the strategic objectives and priorities of the Community's statistical information policy. The assistance shall cover all statistical domains relevant to the Community's statistical information policy (Article 1).

The committee, following article 2, will be consulted by the Commission at an early stage in the preparation of the Community statistical programme and will express opinions on:

· the relevance of the programme to the requirements of European integration and development and to the activities of the Community, taking into account economic, social and technical developments;

· the resources needed to implement the programme,

· the balance of priorities and resources between different areas

· the costs related to the provision of statistical information.

The CEIES will also have the task of drawing the Commission's attention to areas in which it may be necessary to develop new statistical activities and it will advise the Commission on how the quality needs of information users can be better met.

At the request of the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission, the committee will deliver opinions on matters relating to:

· user requirements for the development of the Community’s statistical information policy;

· priorities of the Community statistical programme;

· the evaluation of existing statistics;

· data quality and dissemination policy (article 3).

In article 4 of its draft decision, the Commission's reduces the Advisory Committees membership from 79 to 25. 14 members of the committee shall be appointed by the Commission, after consultation of the European Parliament and the Council. Each Member State shall nominate two candidates, the Commission shall ensure that the appointees reflect civil society and adequately cover the various statistical domains covered by the Community statistical programme.

Ten members shall be directly appointed by the bodies to which they belong (European Parliament, Council, European Economic and Social Committee, Committee of the Regions, ECB, Statistical Programme Committee, UNICE, ETUC, and the Director-General of Eurostat as an ex-officio member.

B. Rapporteur's opinion

The rapporteur supports the intention of the Commission to continue the useful work of CEIES in this new form.

The remit of advice is extended to Community Statistics in general, although the main focus will remain on statistics in the economic and social sphere. It could be considered not to use the title advisory “committee” but advisory “council” to avoid confusion with the comitology committees that exist on statistics. This could be an issue for discussion, but the rapporteur did not table amendments for that purpose but would like to hear the view of the other institutions on this.

She supports the restriction of the number of members of the advisory committee. The fact that no longer every Member State is entitled to have a representative requires that the composition of the committee, particularly the members under art 4,1 is balanced. A list of more than one candidate per Member State may widen the choice for the selectors. It should be emphasized as well that all members act independently and perform their duties in their personal capacity and professional expertise.

The rapporteur proposes in art 4,2 to add to the list of members to be appointed a member from the European Data Protection Supervisor to underline the increasing importance of awareness about the protection of personal data and the risks of data processing for privacy.

In art 4,3 she does not agree with the proposal of the Commission to make the Director-General of Eurostat a full Member with voting rights. This would be an anomaly, since the Advisory Committees work is addressed to Eurostat and the national statistic offices. Of course the Commission/Eurostat should be involved and ready to support and assist, however its representatives should not be entitled to vote on the opinions and advises to be issued by the Advisory Committee.

The rapporteur is aware that the question has been raised whether the statistical work requires both this advisory committee as well as a European Statistical Governance Advisory Board, as proposed in COM(2006)0599. She is convinced that both are essential and have a different role to play. The main task of the Governance Advisory Board (consisting of a smaller number of members) is to ensure robust reliable statistical information at the European level and to guarantee the correctness and reliability of the process. The Advisory Committee that is dealt with in this report is focused on the diversity, quality and content of the statistical information to be provided as such, and the interests of users and providers of this information in an efficient, transparent process of data collection that maximises the usefulness and minimises the administrative burden of collecting the information.

Together the two Commission proposals should improve the present practices.

PROCEDURE

Title	European Advisory Committee on Community Statistical Information Policy
References	COM(2006)0653 - C6-0379/2006 - 2006/0217(COD)
Date submitted to Parliament	3.11.2006
Committee responsible        Date announced in plenary	ECON 29.11.2006
Committee(s) asked for opinion(s)        Date announced in plenary	IMCO 29.11.2006
Not delivering opinions        Date of decision	IMCO 19.12.2006
Rapporteur(s)        Date appointed	Ieke van den Burg 12.12.2006
Discussed in committee	27.3.2007		4.6.2007		10.9.2007
Date adopted	11.9.2007
Result of final vote	+: –: 0:	37 0 0
Members present for the final vote	Mariela Velichkova Baeva, Zsolt László Becsey, Pervenche Berès, Sharon Bowles, Udo Bullmann, Manuel António dos Santos, Christian Ehler, Jonathan Evans, Elisa Ferreira, Jean-Paul Gauzès, Donata Gottardi, Benoît Hamon, Karsten Friedrich Hoppenstedt, Sophia in ‘t Veld, Piia-Noora Kauppi, Wolf Klinz, Christoph Konrad, Kurt Joachim Lauk, Gay Mitchell, Cristobal Montoro Romero, Joseph Muscat, Alexander Radwan, Bernhard Rapkay, Antolín Sánchez Presedo, Olle Schmidt, Peter Skinner, Ieke van den Burg, Sahra Wagenknecht
Substitute(s) present for the final vote	Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, Harald Ettl, Ján Hudacký, Werner Langen, Thomas Mann, Maria Petre, Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, Charles Tannock
Substitute(s) under Rule 178(2) present for the final vote	Íñigo Méndez de Vigo