European statistics relating to persons and households

2016/0264(COD)

The European Parliament adopted by 592 votes to 52 with 9 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a common framework for European statistics relating to persons and households, based on data at individual level collected from samples.

Parliament’s position adopted in first reading following the ordinary legislative procedure amended the Commission proposal as follows:

Purpose

The proposed regulation establishes a common framework for European statistics relating to persons and households, based on data at individual level collected from samples of those persons and households.

The amended text stresses that that quality statistics collected in a harmonized way represent an important added value for policy making at Union and Member State level.

High-quality social statistics are needed to improve the resilience of the Union and its cohesion targets, and to preserve its welfare levels. Sound data are also of utmost importance as a bulwark against misinformation.

Domains and data sets

For all domains, the data sets shall cover the following common topics:

 

  • technical items;
  • persons and households characteristics;
  • labour market participation;
  • educational attainment and background;
  • health: status and disability, access to, availability and use of health care and health determinants.

In addition to the topics common to all domains, the data sets shall cover the following topics:

 

  • job tenure, work biography and previous work experience;
  • working conditions including working hours and working time arrangements;
  • participation in education and training;
  • income, consumption and elements of wealth, including debts;
  • living conditions, including material deprivation, housing, living environment and access to services;
  • quality of life, including social, civil, economic and cultural participation, inclusion and wellbeing;
  • participation in the information society, and
  • allocation of time (optional).

The statistical population shall consist of all persons having their usual residence in private households in each Member State.

The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts on the basis of a feasibility study in order to : (i)  amend the detailed topics listed in Annex I for the purpose of reflecting relevant legislative, technical, social, policy and economic developments and respond to the new needs of users ; (ii) supplement this Regulation by establishing or adapting a multiannual rolling planning which will be adopted for a period of eight years.

The Commission shall ensure that the delegated acts comply with the principle of proportionality and do not impose a significant additional burden or cost on the Member States or on respondents.

Feasibility and pilot studies

In order to improve the data sets and social indicators, the Commission shall institute feasibility and pilot studies.

These studies shall aim at developing alternative methodologies in order to:

 

  • improve the quality and comparability of data sets;
  • extend the coverage of the data collection to persons not living in private households or to sub-populations that are difficult to reach;
  • develop, assess and implement techniques allowing better coverage of the territorial diversity at NUTS2 level and at local level;
  • follow up on statistical coverage of migrating citizens changing their country of residence;
  • develop and test new detailed topics for data collection.

Member States shall cooperate in these pilot and feasibility studies, and the Commission shall provide financial support for their implementation.