EC statistics: legislative framework for the production of short-term EC statistics

The Committee adopted the report by Mr Carles-Alfred Gasòliba i Böhm (-ELDR, E) on the Commission proposal for a regulation on the collection of short term statistics. The proposal under consideration is for Member States to provide Eurostat with comparable statistical data on the short-term evolution of the European business community. This is thought to be required in order to assess the effects of the completion of the internal market and the likely effects of the introduction of the single currency. The Committee approved the Commission subject to eight amendments. Several amendments aim at ensuring a regional breakdown of the statistics. The rapporteur points out that it is not necessary to provide information only on the situation at the national level, as there is a considerable demand amongst decision makers for regional information, i.e. facts concerning a certain area like Catalonia, Lombardy or Wales as well as the territory of present Member States such as Denmark. Other amendments seek to further ensure that the data collected under the proposal is comparable between Member States.�