European statistical system: common classification of territorial units for statistics NUTS

PURPOSE : to establish a common classification of territorial units for statistics (NUTS). COMMUNITY MEASURE : Regulation 1059/2003/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the establishment of a common classification of territorial units for statistics (NUTS). CONTENT : the purpose of this Regulation is to establish a common statistical classification of territorial units in order to enable the collection, compilation and dissemination of harmonised regional statistics in the Community. This Regulation is intended to provide a legal framework for the geographical division of the territory on which statistical data are gathered, and procedures for amending the NUTS classification where necessary. It signals a departure from the current method whereby NUTS are established through negotiations between the Member States and Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Communities. ENTRY INTO FORCE : 11/07/03.�