REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 as regards the territorial typologies (Tercet)

22.6.2017 - (COM(2016)0788 – C8‑0516/2016 – 2016/0393(COD)) - ***I

Committee on Regional Development
Rapporteur: Iskra Mihaylova
(Simplified procedure - Rule 50(1) of the Rules of Procedure)


Procedure : 2016/0393(COD)
Document stages in plenary
Document selected :  
A8-0231/2017

DRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 as regards the territorial typologies (Tercet)

(COM(2016)0788 – C8‑0516/2016 – 2016/0393(COD))

(Ordinary legislative procedure: first reading)

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council (COM(2016)0788),

–  having regard to Article 294(2) and Article 338(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, pursuant to which the Commission submitted the proposal to Parliament (C8‑0516/2016),

–  having regard to Article 294(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

–  having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee of 29 March 2017[1],

–  having regard to Rule 59 of its Rules of Procedure,

–  having regard to the report of the Committee on Regional Development (A8-0231/2017),

1.  Adopts its position at first reading, taking over the Commission proposal;

2.  Calls on the Commission to refer the matter to Parliament again if it replaces, substantially amends or intends to substantially amend its proposal;

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

  • [1]  Not yet published in the Official Journal.

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Evidence-based policy interventions and more integrated territorial approaches that reflect the diversity of EU regions have gained momentum in recent years. The principles for cohesion policy 2014-2020 set out in the Common Strategic Framework stress that the approach to promoting smart, sustainable and inclusive growth must reflect the role of cities, urban, rural and coastal areas and take urban-rural linkages into account.

To better meet the needs of EU policy-makers, the statistical office of the European Union, Eurostat, has over recent years started to publish statistics covering a range of these territorial typologies.

Eurostat publishes a wide variety of regional level statistics based on Regulation EC 1059/2003 on the establishment of a common classification of territorial units for statistics (NUTS). These statistics are broadly used in EU regional policy decision-making - also when determining what kind of support the European regions are eligible for under the cohesion funds. The current NUTS regulation does not yet cover the territorial typologies and this issue is being addressed with this proposal.

The European Statistical System (ESS) also already uses these territorial typologies, in particular the degree of urbanisation and the definition of cities, in order to, for example, define eligibility for European Regional Development Fund support to carry out innovative actions in cities or towns and suburbs. However, the ESS does not yet formally recognise these typologies due to their lacking legal status.

The European Commission and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) have jointly defined the territorial typologies in question and the Commission has adopted methodologies to set up and maintain them.

The proposal would make it possible to aggregate data based on the typologies. For example, GDP in rural and urban areas could be compared and employment could be measured according to the degree of urbanisation. The information is important when planning the future policies and policy responses.

In conclusion, the main aim of the amendments that the Commission is now proposing to the existing legislation is to establish a legal recognition of territorial typologies, including a definition of cities, for the purpose of European statistics. This includes laying down the core definitions and statistical criteria for the different territorial typologies, ensuring their harmonised and transparent application and their use at EU level and in Members States. Furthermore, the proposal contains provisions which would empower the Commission to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

Position of the rapporteur

As the proposal is of a technical nature, has no implications for the EU budget and gives legal recognition to territorial typologies that are already in use, the rapporteur welcomes the proposal and recommends that the Committee, as well as the Parliament at plenary stage, take over the Commission proposal without amendment.

PROCEDURE – COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE

Title

Territorial typologies (Tercet)

References

COM(2016)0788 – C8-0516/2016 – 2016/0393(COD)

Date submitted to Parliament

13.12.2016

 

 

 

Committee responsible

       Date announced in plenary

REGI

15.12.2016

 

 

 

Rapporteurs

       Date appointed

Iskra Mihaylova

6.2.2017

 

 

 

Simplified procedure - date of decision

20.6.2017

Discussed in committee

24.4.2017

30.5.2017

 

 

Date adopted

20.6.2017

 

 

 

Date tabled

22.6.2017