Economic and monetary union EMU: public finances, 2001 budgetary results, developments. 3rd report

This Communication presents the Commission's recommendation for the list of structural indicators which are a key element of the Spring Report 2003. The Communication also describes the progress the Commission services have made over the last year in developing new indicators, improving the quality of last year's list of structural indicators and integrating the candidate countries into the structural indicators process. The new list comprises a high degree of stability and allows for some flexibility. The list remains short and balanced between the domains. The main change is the inclusion of the candidate countries. The Commission services have made good progress on developing new indicators and improving the quality and presentation of the existing indicators. Progress has been made in developing indicators in several areas: composite indicators, potential output, marginal (and average) effective tax rate, childcare facilities, e-commerce, e-government, business demography, company registration, financial integration, recycling rate of selected materials and hazardous waste. The Commission services will continue to develop indicators across a wide range of areas over the next year. Two composite indicators on the knowledge-based economy have been developed and will be used in relevant policy discussions and Communications. The Commission continues to reflect on the use of composite indicators within the framework of the structural indicators.�