European Statistical Governance Advisory Board

PURPOSE: to establish an advisory board called the "European Statistical Governance Advisory Board".

PROPOSED ACT: Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council.

CONTENT: on 25 May 2005 the Commission adopted a Communication and a Recommendation on the independence, integrity and accountability of the national and Community statistical authorities promulgating a European Statistics Code of Practice, which had been prepared as a self-regulatory instrument. To balance this self-regulatory approach with the need for accountability, the Commission wishes to put into place a reporting system to monitor adherence to the Code within the European Statistical System, which includes an external advisory body playing an active role in monitoring implementation of the Code and, consequently, in enhancing independence, integrity and accountability.

This proposal aims at setting up a European Statistical Governance Advisory Board to enhance the credibility of European statistics, to advise the Commission and report on implementation of the European Statistics Code of Practice by Eurostat. The Board’s tasks shall be:

- to enhance the credibility of European statistics;

- to submit an annual report on implementation of the European Statistics Code of Practice by the Commission (Eurostat) to the Commission, which will transmit the report to the European Parliament and to the Council;

- to advise the Commission on appropriate measures to facilitate implementation of the European Statistics Code of Practice in the European Statistical System with a view to improving statistical

governance;

- to advise the Commission in the framework of a process leading to a quality label and on communicating the Code of Practice to users and data providers;

- to give advice on updating the Code of Practice and on general rules and principles for the functioning of the European Statistical System as a whole.

The Commission may consult the Board on questions relating to users' confidence in European statistics.

The Board should be made up of high-level persons, who are able to deliver an outside view on the European Statistical System. The Board will cover the Commission's activities related to European statistics and the functioning of the European Statistical System as a whole. It is not within the competence of the Board to address individual countries' practices or institutions. The tasks and activities of the proposed Board will reflect the underlying objective to enhance the independence, integrity and accountability of Eurostat and the European Statistical System as a whole thus strengthening users' confidence in European statistics. The proposed Board will be very small and privilege members' outstanding expertise in the field of statistics. The Commission, after consultation of the European Parliament and the Council will appoint a total of five members, including the chairperson. The Commission shall be represented as an observer.