PURPOSE: to establish the European Statistical Advisory Committee.
LEGISLATIVE ACT: Decision No 234/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the European Statistical Advisory Committee and repealing Council Decision 91/116/EEC.
CONTENT: the European Statistical Advisory Committee assists the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission in 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. That assistance shall cover all statistical domains relevant to the Community’s statistical information policy.
The Commission shall consult the Committee at an early stage in the preparation of the Community statistical programme. The Committee shall deliver an opinion addressing in particular: (a) the relevance of the Community statistical programme to the requirements of European integration and development, as expressed by the Community institutions, national and regional authorities, the various economic and social categories and scientific circles; (b) the relevance of the Community statistical programme in relation to the activities of the Community, taking into account economic, social and technical developments; (c) the balance as regards priorities and resources between different areas in the Community statistical programme; (d) the adequacy of the resources needed to implement the Community statistical programme; (e) the costs related to the provision of statistical information by information providers, as well as the possibilities of reducing the response burden, with particular reference to the burden on small and medium-sized enterprises.
The Committee shall comprise 24 members. Twelve members shall be appointed by the Commission, after consulting the European Parliament and the Council. Eleven members shall be appointed directly by the institutions and bodies to which they belong (one member shall represent the European Parliament).
ENTRY INTO FORCE: 15/06/2008.