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18.9.2012 Official
Journal
of
the
European
Union L
251/49
DECISIONS
COMMISSION DECISION
of 17 September 2012
on Eurostat
(2012/504/EU)
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
concerns, in particular, statistical independence as laid
down in Regulation (EU) No 1175/2011 of the
European Parliament and of the Council of 16 November
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European
2011 amending Council Regulation (EC) No 1466/97 on
Union,
the strengthening of the surveillance of budgetary
positions and the surveillance and coordination of
economic policies (
Whereas:

4 ).

(1) Regulation
(EC)
No
223/2009
of
the
European (6) In
this
context,
the
powers
of
the
Commission
as
Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2009 on
appointing authority with regard to the recruitment,
European statistics
( 1 ) provides the basic legal
transfer and dismissal of the Director-General of
framework for European statistics. That Regulation
Eurostat should be exercised, in accordance with the
refers to the Commission (Eurostat) as the Union’s stat
Staff Regulations, with due regard to the need to
istical authority responsible for the development,
guarantee independence, objectivity and efficiency in
production and dissemination of European statistics.
the exercise of his or her responsibilities, and following
a transparent procedure based on professional criteria
only.
(2) European
statistics
should
be
developed,
produced
and
disseminated by Eurostat in accordance with the stat
istical principles set out in the Treaty on the Functioning
(7) In
addition,
Eurostat
has
been
assigned
specific
tasks
by
of the European Union and in Regulation (EC) No
Council Regulation (EC) No 479/2009 of 25 May 2009
223/2009, and further elaborated in the European stat
on the application of the Protocol on the excessive deficit
istics Code of Practice as reviewed and updated by the
procedure annexed to the Treaty establishing the
European Statistical System Committee on 28 September
European Community ( 5 ).
2011.
(3) Regulation
(EC)
No
223/2009
also
provides
for
the (8) Furthermore,
as
set
out
in
the
Communication
from
the
protection of confidential data, which should be used
Commission to the European Parliament and the Council
exclusively for statistical purposes.
on ‘the production method of EU statistics: a vision for
the next decade’ ( 6 ), Eurostat should provide a high-
quality statistical service by also enhancing relations
(4) The
Commission
has
undertaken
to
reinforce
the
stat
with the Union bodies in order to anticipate statistical
istical governance in the Union and to respect the
needs and advance the usage of existing statistics. This
above statistical principles ( 2 ). This commitment was
also involves building closer relations with other services
confirmed and further developed in the Communication
of the Commission.
of 15 April 2011 to the European Parliament and the
Council ‘Towards robust quality management for
European Statistics’ ( 3 ). The present Decision should be
(9)
Statistics should be defined with reference to Regulation
regarded as a renewed commitment from the
(EC) No 223/2009. For the purposes of this Decision, a
Commission on confidence in European statistics
distinction should also be made between European stat
developed, produced and disseminated by Eurostat.
istics and other statistics.
(5) Recent developments in the Union’s economic
governance framework have had an impact on the stat
(10) Setting
policy
objectives
and
determining
the
information
istical domain and should be taken into account. This
required to achieve these objectives is a matter for policy
makers. Those activities should therefore fall within the
mandate and responsibilities of the concerned
( 1 ) OJ L 87, 31.3.2009, p. 164.
Commission services, while Eurostat should ensure the
( 2 ) Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament
and to the Council on the independence, integrity and accountability
of the national and Community statistical authorities, COM(2005)
( 4 ) OJ L 306, 23.11.2011, p. 12.
217 final.
( 5 ) OJ L 145, 10.6.2009, p. 1.
( 3 ) COM(2011) 211 final.
( 6 ) COM(2009) 404 final.

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L 251/50
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
18.9.2012
programming of activities related to European statistics,
(18) Commission
Decision
97/281/EC
of
21
April
1997
on
taking into account user needs, relevant policy devel
the role of Eurostat as regards the production of
opments and resource constraints.
Community statistics ( 2 ) should be repealed,
(11) Commission
activities
related
to
other
statistics
should
be
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:
subject to a planning and coordination exercise with a
view to ensuring consolidated information on these activ
Article 1
ities. This exercise should be steered by Eurostat and its
scope limited to subjects upon which there is mutual
Subject matter
agreement between the Commission services concerned
and Eurostat.
This Decision defines the role and responsibilities of Eurostat
within the internal organisation of the Commission, as regards
the development, production and dissemination of statistics.
(12) European
statistics
are
determined
by
the
European
stat
istical programme and the corresponding annual work
Article 2
programme.
Definitions
For the purposes of this Decision, the following definitions
(13) To secure public trust in European statistics and to
apply:
promote high-quality statistics developed, produced and
disseminated by Eurostat, a process for labelling
European statistics should be developed and applied.
(1) ‘Statistics’ mean statistics as defined in Article 3(1) of Regu
lation (EC) No 223/2009. They are either European statistics
or other statistics;
(14) The
development,
production
and
dissemination
of
high-
quality European statistics should be safeguarded by the
Director-General of Eurostat, who is the Chief Statis
(2) ‘European statistics’ means statistics as referred to in
tician. In addition, his or her tasks should include coor
Article 1 of Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 and as
dinating the statistical activities of the Commission with
determined by the European statistics annual work
a view to ensuring quality and minimising reporting
programme;
burden. Therefore, the Chief Statistician should also be
consulted on the development and production of other
statistics.
(3) ‘Other statistics’ means statistics that are not European stat

istics and that are identified in the planning and coor
dination exercise referred to in Article 5(2).
(15) Close cooperation between Eurostat and other
Commission services on statistical activities and the
Article 3
appropriate coordination of these activities by the Chief
Statistician should ensure the coherence and compara
Eurostat
bility of European statistics and a better response to
Eurostat is the statistical authority of the Union referred to in
future challenges, in particular the need to minimise
Article 6(1) of Regulation (EC) No 223/2009. It is a service of
response burden and administrative burden. For the
the Commission, headed by a Director-General.
same purposes, access to administrative data sources
within the Commission should be provided to the
extent necessary and cost-effective for the development,
Article 4
production and dissemination of European statistics.
Statistical principles
Eurostat shall develop, produce and disseminate European stat
(16) Regulation
(EC)
No
45/2001
of
the
European
Parliament
istics in accordance with the statistical principles of professional
and of the Council of 18 December 2000 on the
independence, impartiality, objectivity, reliability, statistical
protection of individuals with regard to the processing
confidentiality and cost-effectiveness as defined in Article 2(1)
of personal data by the Community institutions and
of Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 and as further elaborated in
bodies and on the free movement of such data ( 1 ) is
the European statistics Code of Practice.
applicable to the extent Eurostat processes personal
data. In addition, European statistics produced on the
basis of personal data should be gender-disaggregated
Article 5
when relevant.
Planning and programming
1. Activities
related
to
European
statistics
shall
be
determined
(17) It
is
therefore
necessary
to
further
define
and
clarify
by the European statistical programme referred to in Article 13
Eurostat’s role and responsibilities within the
of Regulation (EC) No 223/2009, and by the annual work
Commission.
programme referred to in Article 17 of that Regulation.
( 1 ) OJ L 8, 12.1.2001, p. 1.
( 2 ) OJ L 112, 29.4.1997, p. 56.

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EN
18.9.2012 Official
Journal
of
the
European
Union L
251/51
2. Activities related to other statistics shall be subject to and
(b) be informed by all services of the Commission about the
identified through a planning and coordination exercise steered
scope and quality characteristics of statistics produced by
by Eurostat. The scope of this exercise shall be limited to
them, about significant changes in the methodology for
subjects upon which there is mutual agreement between the
the production of statistics, and about new data collections
Commission services concerned and Eurostat.
planned;
3. Specific
inter-service
agreements
may
be
established (c) provide guidance, appropriate training and expert services to
between Eurostat and the other services of the Commission
other Commission services necessary for the development
for the purpose of these activities, including also activities
and production of other statistics, subject to available
related to administrative records.
resources.
Article 6
Article 7
Tasks of Eurostat
Director-General of Eurostat
1. Eurostat
shall
be
in
charge
of
the
development,
production 1. With
regard
to
European
statistics,
the
Director-General
of
and dissemination of European statistics.
Eurostat shall have sole responsibility for deciding on processes,
statistical methods, standards and procedures, or on the content
To this end, Eurostat shall, in particular:
and timing of statistical releases, in accordance with the
European statistical programme and the annual work
(a) collect and aggregate the statistical information necessary to
programme. When carrying out these statistical tasks, the
compile European statistics;
Director-General of Eurostat shall act in an independent
manner; he or she shall neither seek nor take instructions
(b) develop and promote statistical standards, methods and
from the Union institutions or bodies, from any government
procedures;
of a Member State, or from any other institution, body, office
or entity.
(c) steer the European Statistical System, strengthen
cooperation among its partners, and ensure its leading
2. The
Director-General
of
Eurostat
shall
act
as
authorising
role in official statistics worldwide;
officer for the implementation of the appropriations allocated to
Eurostat.
(d) cooperate with international organisations and third
countries in order to facilitate the comparability of
Article 8
European statistics with statistics produced in other stat
istical systems and, where appropriate, support third
Chief Statistician
countries in the improvement of their statistical systems.
1. The
Director-General
of
Eurostat
shall
be
regarded
as
the
Chief Statistician.
2. Eurostat
shall
ensure
that
European
statistics
are
made
accessible to all users in accordance with statistical principles,
in particular the principles of professional independence, impar
2. The
Chief
Statistician
shall:
tiality and statistical confidentiality.
(a) be in charge of the development, production and dissemi
In this respect, Eurostat shall provide the technical explanations
nation of European statistics within the Commission;
and the support necessary for the use of European statistics and
may use appropriate communication channels for the purpose
(b) be responsible for coordination of the development and
of statistical news releases.
production of other statistics as referred to in Articles
5(2) and 6(4);
3. Eurostat
shall
ensure
cooperation
and
regular
constructive
dialogue with other services of the Commission and, where
(c) represent the Commission in international statistical forums,
necessary, with data providers with a view to taking into
notably for the purposes of coordinating the statistical
account user needs, relevant policy developments and other
activities of the institutions and bodies of the Union as
initiatives. To this end, those Commission services that are
referred to in Article 6(3) of Regulation (EC) No 223/2009;
potential users of specific European statistics shall be
informed and involved from an early stage in the development
of new or changed statistics, among other things in order to
(d) chair the European Statistical System Committee referred to
understand the potential policy implications of new or changed
in Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 223/2009;
statistical methods, standards and definitions.
(e) prepare the programmes referred to in Article 5(1) of this
4. Eurostat
shall
coordinate
the
development
and
production
Decision in close consultation with other services of the
of other statistics. For that purpose, it shall:
Commission, taking into account as far as possible user
needs and other relevant developments;
(a) optimise the use of existing information that can be used
for statistical purposes, in order to ensure quality and
(f) liaise between the European Statistical System (ESS) and the
minimise burden for respondents; Eurostat shall invite any
European Statistical Governance Advisory Board in all
service of the Commission concerned to contribute for that
matters relating to the implementation of the European
purpose;
statistics Code of Practice within the ESS as a whole.

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L 251/52
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
18.9.2012
3. Any
service
that
intends
to
undertake
activities
involving (a) monitor and assess the quality of the data that it collects or
the production of statistics shall consult the Chief Statistician at
receives, and report upon the quality of the European stat
an early stage in the preparation of the activities concerned. The
istics that it disseminates;
Chief Statistician may make recommendations in this regard.
Initiatives not related to the development, production and
dissemination of European statistics, especially in cases of
(b) promote and apply a labelling process for European stat
specific inter-service agreements, shall fall entirely under the
istics;
responsibility of the concerned service.
Article 9
(c) verify the data that are under Eurostat’s responsibility in the
context of the Union’s enhanced economic governance and
Access to administrative records
apply all the powers that have been specifically granted to
Eurostat in the relevant procedures.
1. In
order
to
reduce
the
burden
on
respondents,
Eurostat
shall have the right to access administrative data within the
Commission services, subject to confidentiality rules established
2. Eurostat
shall
establish
a
quality
assurance
framework,
in Union legislation, and to integrate these administrative data
reflecting the measures in place or to be taken in order to
with statistics to the extent that these data are relevant for the
ensure the proper implementation of the European statistics
development, production and dissemination of European stat
Code of Practice.
istics.
2. Eurostat shall be consulted on and may be involved in the
Article 12
initial design, subsequent development and discontinuation of
administrative registers and databases built up and maintained
Use of confidential data
by other Commission services, in order to facilitate further use
1. The
Director-General
of
Eurostat
shall
take
all
necessary
of the data contained in these registers and databases for the
measures to ensure that statistical confidentiality is respected.
purposes of European statistics. To that end, Eurostat shall have
the right to propose standardisation activities concerning
administrative records that are relevant for the production of
2. Data that are considered confidential pursuant to
European statistics.
Article 3(7) of Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 shall, according
to the provisions of Chapter V of the same Regulation, be
3. To enhance the effectiveness of the provisions of this
accessible only to officials and other staff of Eurostat and
Article, each service of the Commission shall ensure that
other natural persons working for Eurostat under contract,
access to administrative data is granted to Eurostat upon
wherever such data are necessary for the production of
request to the extent necessary for the development, production
European statistics and within their specific domain of work.
and dissemination of European statistics, in accordance with
confidentiality rules established in Union legislation.
3. The
Director-General
of
Eurostat
shall,
in
addition,
take
all
Article 10
necessary measures to protect data whose disclosure would
European statistics Code of Practice
cause prejudice to Union interests, or to the interests of the
Member State to which they relate.
1. In
accordance
with
Article
11
of
Regulation
(EC)
No
223/2009, European statistics shall be developed, produced
Article 13
and disseminated by Eurostat in accordance with the
European statistics Code of Practice as reviewed and updated
Repeal
by the European Statistical System Committee.
Decision 97/281/EC is repealed.
2. Eurostat
shall
involve
the
European
Statistical
Governance
Advisory Board in all actions concerning the European statistics
Code of Practice in accordance with the mandate of the Board.
References to the repealed Decision shall be construed as
references to this Decision.
3. Eurostat
shall
monitor
the
effective
implementation
of
the
European statistics Code of Practice by national statistical auth
orities.
Article 11
Done at Brussels, 17 September 2012.
Quality assurance and labelling
1. Eurostat
shall
ensure
the
quality
management
of
European
For the Commission
statistics. For that purpose, and on the basis of established
quality criteria, while answering user needs for statistics with
The President
different quality profiles, Eurostat shall:
José Manuel BARROSO

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