Structural business statistics

OBJECTIVE: To provide a common framework for the collection, transmission, development and assessment of comparable statistical data relating to the structure, activity, competitiveness and performance of the European business Community. COMMUNITY MEASURE: Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 58/97 concerning structural business statistics. SUBSTANCE: The Regulation lays down the norms, standards and definitions necessary for producing comparable statistics within the European Union, without detailing the actual collection methods to be used. Each Member State may conduct the data collection exercises in the manner most appropriate to its own situation, for example to take account of national requirements for the presentation of company accounts. Statistics are compiled in the following domains: - the structure of the activities, and their evolution; - the factors of production used; - the regional, national, Community and international development of businesses and markets; - business conduct; - the SMUs; - the specific elements for the study of particular regroupings of activities. DATE OF ENTRY INTO FORCE: 6 February 1997.�