European statistical system: territorial typologies (Tercet)

The European Parliament adopted by 639 votes to 37, with 6 abstentions, a 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).

The European Parliament’s position adopted at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure amended the Commission proposal as follows:

Subsidiarity: Members pointed out that, in view of the objective of this Regulation, namely the harmonisation of regional classification, the Union may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity. They also stated the statistical typologies are without prejudice to the identification of specific areas for Union policies.

Implementing acts: the proposal provides for the Commission to lay down, by means of implementing acts, uniform conditions for the harmonised application of typologies at Union level.

Parliament clarified that these conditions shall describe the method according to which the typologies will be assigned to the individual LAU and NUTS level 3 regions. When applying the uniform conditions, the Commission shall take into account geographical, socioeconomic, historical, cultural and environmental circumstances.

Delegated acts: the power to adopt delegated acts shall be conferred on the Commission for a period of five years (tacitly renewable) from the date of entry into force of the Regulation. Delegated acts shall be developed in accordance with the information provided by the Member States.