What changed

DRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

ORDINARY LEGISLATIVE procedure

Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on European statistics on population and housing, amending Regulation (EC) No 862/2007 and repealing Regulations (EC) No 763/2008 and (EU) No 1260/2013

(First reading without prior interinstitutional negotiations)

(COM(2023)0031 – C90010/2023 – 2023/0008(COD))

Follow up to the European Parliament legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on European statistics on population and housing, amending Regulation (EC) No 862/2007 and repealing Regulations (EC) No 763/2008 and (EU) No 1260/2013

(Ordinary legislative procedure: first reading)

1. Rapporteur: Irena JOVEVA (Renew / SI)

The European Parliament,

2. Reference numbers: 2023/0008 (COD) / A9-0284/2023 / P9_TA(2024)0361

– having regard to the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council (COM(2023)0031),

3. Date of adoption of the resolution: 24 April 2024

– having regard to Article4. 294(2)Legal andbasis: Article 338(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, pursuant to which the Commission submitted the proposal to Parliament (C90010/2023),Union

– having regard to Article 294(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

5. Competent Parliamentary Committee: Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL)

– having regard to Rule 59 of its Rules of Procedure,

6. Commission's position: takes note of the amendments proposed by the European Parliament, while reserving its detailed position on these until the resumption of interinstitutional negotiations.

– having regard to the opinions of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs and the Committee on Regional Development,

– having regard to the report of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (A90000/2023),

1. Adopts its position at first reading hereinafter set out;

2. Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the national parliaments.

Amendment 1

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 5

Or. pt

Amendment 2

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 7

Or. pt

Amendment 3

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 11

Or. pt

Amendment 4

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 13

Or. pt

Amendment 5

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 18

Or. pt

Amendment 6

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 19

Or. pt

Amendment 7

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 20

Or. pt

Amendment 8

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 23

Or. pt

Amendment 9

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 24

Or. pt

Amendment 10

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 26

Or. pt

Amendment 11

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 30

Or. pt

Amendment 12

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 34

Or. pt

Amendment 13

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 35

Or. pt

Justification

The provisions of this recital can only be adopted by means of a codecision procedure with the European Parliament acting as colegislator.

Amendment 14

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 38

Or. pt

Amendment 15

Proposal for a regulation

Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point b a (new)

Or. pt

Justification

The provisions of Article 2(d) of Regulation No 763/2008 and Article 2(d) of Regulation No 1260/2013 should be reintroduced, given that population registers do not fully encapsulate the concept of ‘population base’ contained in the Commission proposal, which refers to periods of residence. Harmonisation of this concept for future purposes can only be provided for by modifying existing registration systems or by drawing up new registers.

Amendment 16

Proposal for a regulation

Article 5 – paragraph 3

Or. pt

Justification

Amendments to the annex to this Regulation should only be made through an ordinary legislative procedure with Parliament acting as colegislator.

Amendment 17

Proposal for a regulation

Article 5 – paragraph 4

Or. pt

Justification

Amendments to the annex to this Regulation should only be made through an ordinary legislative procedure with Parliament acting as co-legislator.

Amendment 18

Proposal for a regulation

Article 6 – paragraph 1

Or. pt

Justification

Data regarding the population base should be required at annual intervals, given the difficulties in providing infra-annual data using current administrative models.

Amendment 19

Proposal for a regulation

Article 6 – paragraph 5

Or. pt

Amendment 20

Proposal for a regulation

Article 6 – paragraph 6

Or. pt

Justification

Amendments to the annex to this Regulation should only be made through an ordinary legislative procedure with Parliament acting as co-legislator.

Amendment 21

Proposal for a regulation

Article 7

Or. pt

Amendment 22

Proposal for a regulation

Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point a

Or. pt

Justification

Data regarding the population base should be required at annual intervals, given the difficulties in providing infra-annual data using current administrative models.

Amendment 23

Proposal for a regulation

Article 8 – paragraph 3 a (new)

Or. pt

Amendment 24

Proposal for a regulation

Article 10

Or. pt

Justification

See amendment to recital (20). Article 17a of Regulation (EC) N° 223/2009 already provides for the possibility of data reuse. No additional provision is therefore needed in this Regulation.

Amendment 25

Proposal for a regulation

Article 14 – paragraph 2

Or. pt

Amendment 26

Proposal for a regulation

Article 14 – paragraph 3

Or. pt

Amendment 27

Proposal for a regulation

Article 15 – paragraph 1 – introductory part

Or. pt

Amendment 28

Proposal for a regulation

Article 15 – paragraph 1 – point b a (new)

Or. pt

Amendment 29

Proposal for a regulation

Article 17

Or. pt

Amendment 30

Proposal for a regulation

Article 19 – paragraph 1

Or. pt

Amendment 31

Proposal for a regulation

Article 19 a (new)

Or. pt

Amendment 32

Proposal for a regulation

Annex I – Table 1

Or. pt

Amendment 33

Proposal for a regulation

Annex I – Table 2

Or. pt

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

Statistical knowledge is an important tool when it comes to finding ways of addressing the often multidimensional problems faced by the public.

Indeed, accurate knowledge is, above all, essential to identify existing difficulties and better address issues such as poverty, social and economic inequalities and lack of access free of charge to quality universal public infrastructures and services, together with housing, gender equality inside and outside the workplace and energy assessment of homes, to name but a few.

Developments with regard to statistical systems, together with the digital compilation, storage and dissemination of statistics now allow us to make more informed decisions. They do not, however, ensure that decisions taken on the basis of this information are conducive to progress. That is the task of policy makers.

Statistics on population and housing form part of a set of core data that has for some time allowed comparisons to be drawn between different countries covering migration and other areas. For example, the 10-year censuses carried out in the Member States provide helpful information regarding population and housing trends, with extremely valuable contributions being made by the national statistical institutes or other competent authorities in the Member States.

These institutions must accordingly be equipped with the necessary technical and human resources to carry out their work and ensure that reliable information is provided. We are aware that, in a number of Member States, work undeniably remains to be done in this area to achieve the desired results. In view of this, and given the differences between national statistical systems in certain specific areas, the rapporteur deems it necessary to ensure that this Regulation will not have a disproportionate impact on the Member States and their national statistical bodies. For this reason, the minimum reporting interval is set at one year, obviating the need for mandatory infra-annual statistics.

The national statistical systems of the various Member States are structured differently, each with their own specific characteristics and levels of development. Harmonisation of the concept of a constant population base relating to periods of residence, as set out in the proposal for a Regulation, could accordingly have a disproportionately adverse impact on certain Member States, especially those using administrative sources. Moreover, it is the responsibility of the Member States to decide how their statistical data and population records are kept. In certain Member States, such a population-based concept would require the restructuring or introduction of statistical population records, which is not considered desirable. The rapporteur therefore recommends that the wording of Article 2(d) of Regulation No 763/2008 and Article 2(d) of Regulation No 1260/2013 be maintained.

The powers granted to the European Commission under her proposal allow the programme to be amended and extended unilaterally and for its frequency and reference periods to be adjusted by means of delegated acts, thereby calling into question the necessary legal certainty and predictability regarding costs and planning for national statistical bodies or other competent authorities. We therefore consider that any such amendments should be tabled through the ordinary legislative procedure, allowing those concerned to express their views and giving them time to prepare.

It is also necessary to ensure the highest standards of data protection and privacy through compliance with the appropriate anonymisation and pseudoanonymisation requirements, particularly with regard to the availability, processing, dissemination and sharing of statistical data.