Legislative Observatory
European Parliament
Please fill in this field to find a procedure

Education and lifelong learning: production and development of statistics

2005/0248(COD)

PURPOSE: to establish a common framework for Community statistics in the field of education and lifelong learning.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Regulation (EC) No 452/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the production and development of statistics on education and lifelong learning

CONTENT: the Council adopted a regulation on the production and development of statistics on education and lifelong learning. The Regulation establishes a common framework for the systematic production of Community statistics in these fields. It will apply to the production of statistics in three domains:

  • education and training systems;
  • the participation of adults in lifelong learning;
  • other statistics on education and lifelong learning, such as statistics on human capital and on the social and economic benefits of education.

Comparable statistics and indicators on education, training and lifelong learning are of increasing importance if the EU is to support the open method of coordination in the area of education and training policy. They are also necessary for policy discussions on human capital, innovation, growth and competitiveness in the framework of employment, research and innovation and economic policies.

When necessary for the production of Community statistics, Member States shall transmit confidential micro-data resulting from sample surveys to the Commission (Eurostat) in accordance with the provisions on the transmission of data subject to confidentiality set out in Regulation (EC) No 322/97 and in Regulation (Euratom, EEC) No 1588/90. Member States shall ensure that the transmitted data do not permit the direct identification of the statistical units (individuals).

Implementing measures will be adopted by the Commission in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny in certain areas. These include: selecting and specifying the subjects of the statistics, their characteristics in response to policy or technical needs, the breakdown of characteristics, the observation period and deadlines for transmission of results, and the quality requirements including the required precision and the quality reporting framework.

If these measures lead to a requirement for a significant enlargement of existing data collections or for new data collections or surveys, implementing decisions shall be based on a cost-benefit analysis as part of a comprehensive analysis of the effects and implications, taking into account the benefit of the measures, the costs for the Member States and the burden on respondents.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 24/06/2008.