Common framework for business registers for statistical purposes

On the basis of a report by Hans-Peter MARTIN (NI, AT), the European Parliament adopted at 2nd reading of the codecision procedure, its position on the adoption of the regulation establishing a common framework for business registers for statistical purposes and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 2186/93.

The update was needed to take account of changes in the business world in the light of ongoing globalisation and the further development of the internal market. 

At the 1st reading stage in June 2006, Parliament adopted a number of amendments, mostly aimed at reducing the administrative burden on businesses from the collection of data for statistics.  All of these were accepted by the Council, but the reform of provisions to do with the Commission’s implementing powers under EU legislation (so-called “comitology”) led to a disagreement about the breadth of these powers in this case. 

In its report at 2nd reading, the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee proposed to remove the “purpose” and “scope” of the transmission of data from the area covered by the implementing powers since these are better left for primary legislation.  The plenary session has now backed these amendments.