EC statistics: legislative framework for the production of EC statistics

OBJECTIVE: to establish a legislative framework with a view to the establishment of a Community statistics system. COMMUNITY MEASURE: Council Regulation 322/97/EC on Community Statistics SUBSTANCE: the regulation establishes a legislative framework for the systematic and programmed production of Community statistics with a view to the formulation, application, monitoring and assessment of the policies of the Community. In particular there is a need to reinforce collaboration and coordination between the various authorities which contribute to the production of statistics at national and Community level with a view to ensuring their reliability, relevance and comparability between the Member States. The national authorities at national level and the Community authority at Community level are responsible for the production of Community statistics in compliance with the principle of subsidiarity, on the basis of uniform standards and, in justified cases, of harmonized methods. The Council will adopt a Community statistical programme which defines the approaches, the main fields and the objectives of the actions envisaged for a period not exceeding five years. Each year the Commission will submit for examination by the Statistical Programme Committee its work programme for the following year. The Commission will cooperate closely with the European Monetary Institute in order to guarantee the coherence necessary to produce statistics meeting their respective information requirements. In order to ensure the best possible quality in both deontological and professional aspects, Community statistics are to be governed by the principles of impartiality, reliability, relevance, cost-effectiveness, statistical confidentiality and transparency. Access for scientific purposes to confidential data obtained for the production of Community statistics may be granted by the national authority responsible for the production of these data subject to certain conditions. ENTRY INTO FORCE: 14/03/1997 �