European system of national and regional accounts in the European Union (ESA 2010)

The European Parliament adopted by 619 votes to 26, with 27 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European system of national and regional accounts in the European Union.

Parliament adopted its position at first reading, following the ordinary legislative procedure. The amendments adopted in plenary are the result of a compromise reached between the European Parliament and the Council. They amend the proposal as follows:

Transparency: the resolution stresses that the information provided should be as precise, complete and timely as possible in order to ensure maximum transparency for all sectors.

Social and environmental accounts: a new recital states that there is a need to vigorously pursue methodological studies and data tests in particular on issues related to ‘GDP and beyond’ and the Europe 2020 strategy. In this context, the issues of environmental externalities and social inequalities should be addressed. The issue of productivity changes should also be taken into account.

The possible use of new, automated and real-time collection methods should be explored.

The methodology of the ESA 2010: the text states that the Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts concerning amendments to the ESA 2010 methodology in order to:

• specify and improve its content for the purpose of ensuring a harmonised interpretation or to ensure international comparability provided that they do not change its underlying concepts, do not require additional resources for producers within the European Statistical System for their implementation, and do not cause a change in own resources;
• adopt before 2 months delegated acts laying down a revised methodology for the calculation and allocation of FISIM;
• ensure the reliability and comparability of the ESA 2010 data of the Member States on research and development.

The interchange standard and other practical arrangements for the transmission of the data shall be defined by the Commission by means of implementing acts.

The power to adopt delegated acts is conferred on the Commission subject to the conditions laid down in this Regulation.

Derogations: in so far as a national statistical system necessitates major adaptations for the application of this Regulation, the Commission shall grant temporary derogations to Member States only for a period sufficient to allow the Member State to adapt its statistical system. The proportion of the Member State's GDP within the Union or within the euro area shall not constitute in itself a justification for granting a derogation. Where appropriate, the Commission shall provide support to the Member States concerned in their efforts to ensure the required adaptations to their statistical system.

The Commission, after consulting the European Statistical System Committee, shall report to the European Parliament and the Council not later than 1 July 2018 on the application of the granted derogations in order to verify whether they are still justified.

Reporting on implicit liabilities:

• by 2014, the Commission shall submit a report to the European Parliament and to the Council containing existing information on PPPs and other implicit liabilities, including contingent liabilities, outside government;
• by 2018, the Commission shall submit a further report to the European Parliament and to the Council assessing the extent to which the information on liabilities published by the Commission (Eurostat) represents the entirety of the implicit liabilities, including contingent liabilities, outside government.

Review: by 1 July 2018 and every five years thereafter, the Commission shall submit a report on the application of this Regulation to the European Parliament and the Council.