European Statistical Governance Advisory Board

PURPOSE: to establish an advisory board called the "European Statistical Governance Advisory Board".

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Decision No 235/2008/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the European Statistical Advisory Board.

BACKGROUND: to recall, in February 2005 the “European Statistics of Code of Practice”, was endorsed which is a self-regulatory instrument. To balance this self-regulatory approach with the need for accountability, the Community has decided to put a reporting system in place in a bid to monitor adherence to the Code. This should include an external advisory body playing an active role in monitoring implementation of the Code and, consequently, in enhancing its independence, integrity and accountability.

CONTENT:  the purpose of this Decision, therefore, is to set up the European Statistical Governance Advisory Board to enhance the credibility of European statistics, to advise the Commission and to report on implementation of the European Statistics Code of Practice by Eurostat. The Board’s tasks shall be:

• to provide an independent overview of the European Statistical System vis-à-vis implementation of the Code;
• to submit an annual report on implementation of the European Statistics Code of Practice by the Commission (Eurostat) to the Commission, which will transmit the report to the European Parliament and to the Council;
• to advise the Commission on appropriate measures to facilitate implementation of the European Statistics Code of Practice in the European Statistical System with a view to improving statistical governance;

• to advise the Commission on communicating the Code to users and data providers; and
• to advise the Commission on updating the Code of Practice and on general rules and principles for the functioning of the European Statistical System as a whole.

The Board should be made up of high-level persons, who are able to deliver an outside view on the European Statistical System. Following an amendment tabled at first reading the Board comprises of seven (rather than the originally proposed five) members.

As far as operations are concerned, the Board will be responsible for adopting its own rules of procedure. The Board’s Annual Report will be made public. A review of the role and effectiveness of the Board will be conducted three years after its establishment.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 16 March 2008.