European Statistical Governance Advisory Board
The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Sharon BOWLES (ALDE, UK) on the proposal for a decision establishing the European Statistical Governance Advisory Board and made several amendments which were designed to enhance the independence and effectiveness of the Board. Compromise amendments were agreed between the rapporteur, the Commission and the Council Presidency. The main ones are as follows:
Mission: the purpose of the Board is to provide an independent overview of the European Statistical System regarding the implementation of the European Statistics Code of Practice (the “Code of Practice”). The Board’s tasks shall be: (a) to prepare an annual report to the European Parliament and the Council on implementation of the Code of Practice as it relates to the Eurostat and to transmit that report to the Commission prior to submitting it to the European Parliament and to the Council; (b) to include in that report an assessment of the implementation of the Code of Practice in the European Statistical System as a whole; (c) to advise the Commission on appropriate measures to facilitate implementation of the Code of Practice as it relates to Eurostat and to the European Statistical System as a whole; (d) to advise Eurostat on communicating the Code of Practice to users and data providers; (e) to advise Eurostat and the Statistical Programme Committee on updating the Code of Practice.
The Board may advise the Commission and shall respond to the Commission on questions relating to users' confidence in European statistics, in compliance its tasks.
Membership of the Board: the Board shall comprise 7 members (the Commission proposed 5), including the chairperson, each of whom shall act independently of the Commission (Eurostat) and Member State statistical offices. The Commission (Eurostat) shall be represented as an observer. The members of the Board shall be selected from among experts possessing outstanding competence in the field of statistics, shall perform their duties in their personal capacity and shall be selected to provide a range of complementary skills and experience. The Council shall propose and the European Parliament shall approve the nomination of the chairperson of the Board, after consulting the Commission. After consulting the Commission, the European Parliament and the Council shall each appoint three members of the Board. The chairperson shall neither be a current member of a Member State statistical office nor have held such a post within the last 2 years. The normal term of office for the chairperson and members of the Board shall be 3 years, renewable for a further term of 3 years.
Operations: the Board's annual report shall be made public after submission to the European Parliament and the Council. In addition, the Board may decide to publish on the Internet, any conclusion, partial conclusion or working document, provided that it has been communicated in advance to the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission (Eurostat) or any other involved body with an adequate opportunity for response. The Board shall be assisted by a Secretariat which shall be supplied by the Commission but must act independently of the Commission. The Secretary shall be appointed by the Commission after consultation of the Board. The Secretary shall act on the instructions of the Board. A review of the role and effectiveness of the Board shall be conducted three years after the establishment of the Board.
This proposal is closely linked to the proposal for the establishment of a European Statistical Advisory Committee (please see COD/2006/0217.)