Legal provisions of COM(2000)458 - Set of actions relating to the trans-European network for the collection, production and dissemination of statistics on the trading of goods within the EC and between the EC and non-member countries (Edicom)

Please note

This page contains a limited version of this dossier in the EU Monitor.

dossier COM(2000)458 - Set of actions relating to the trans-European network for the collection, production and dissemination of statistics on the ...
document COM(2000)458 EN
date March 12, 2001


Contents

Article 1 - Field of application and general objectives

1. The measures provided for by this Decision relate to the trans-European network for the collection, production and dissemination of statistics on the trading of goods within the Community and between the Community and non-member countries.

2. The general objectives are as follows:

(a) to encourage the organisation of the network referred to in paragraph 1 in the most modern, rational and effective manner possible and to adopt measures necessary for improving and harmonising the methods used, in order to produce statistics which:

- are more reliable and less expensive for the information providers and administrations, and become available more quickly;

- better satisfy the existing and future expectations of users;

(b) further to develop existing computer tools for the collection, production, transmission and dissemination of statistical data, taking into account the latest technological advances and seeking to optimise cost-effectiveness.

Article 2 - Actions

1. To achieve the objectives referred to in Article 1, a set of actions (known as the 'Edicom' programme) shall be implemented for:

(a) the development of the network referred to in Article 1(1) in order to:

- produce statistical information which is of better quality, less costly and available more quickly, in order to satisfy the requirements of Community policies;

- produce statistical information that is relevant and appropriate to the new needs of users within the framework of Economic and Monetary Union and the changing international economic environment;

- incorporate statistics on the trading of goods more effectively into the general statistical system at Community and international level and adapt them to changes in the administrative environment;

- improve the service offered to administrations, suppliers and users of information, by providing them with all the available statistics and metadata relating to the trading of goods;

(b) the development and promotion of tools for collecting information on the trading of goods, by taking into account the latest technological advances in order to improve the functions available to information providers.

The specific conditions in which these actions are implemented are set out in Annex I. The indicative breakdown for the entire period is set out in percentages in Annex II.

2. The procedures for implementing the actions referred to in paragraph 1 shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure provided for in Article 4(2).

Article 3 - Annual work programme and management of expenditure

1. In accordance with the procedure provided for in Article 4(2), the Commission shall approve the annual work programme, including the allocation of annual budget expenditure under this Decision.

2. The Commission shall inform the Statistical Programme Committee of the European Communities, set up by Decision 89/382/EEC, Euratom(11), of the annual work programme.

Article 4 - Procedure

1. The Commission shall be assisted by the Committee on statistics relating to the trading of goods between Member States, set up by Regulation (EEC) No 3330/91, and the Committee on statistics relating to the trading of goods with non-member countries, set up by Regulation (EC) No 1172/95, for matters coming under their respective responsibility.

2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 4 and 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the provisions of Article 8 thereof.

The period laid down in Article 4(3) of Decision 1999/468/EC shall be set at three months.

3. The Committees shall adopt their rules of procedure.

Article 5 - Evaluation

1. The Commission shall, in cooperation with the Member States, regularly review the actions financed under this Decision, in order to ascertain whether the stated objectives have been attained and to provide guidelines for improving the effectiveness of future actions. The Commission shall submit to the Committees referred to in Article 4(1) a summary of the evaluations made, which may if necessary be examined by the latter. The evaluation reports shall be available on request to the Member States.

2. By the end of December 2003, the Commission shall submit to the European Parliament and the Council a mid-term report of the activities financed under the new programme so as to enable, if appropriate, a review of the actions implemented under this Decision to be carried out.

At the end of the period of five years referred to in the second subparagraph of Article 7, the Commission shall submit to the European Parliament and the Council a report on the implementation of this Decision, accompanied, if appropriate, by proposals for new actions.

This report shall seek to assess, in the light of the expenditure incurred by the Community, the benefits of the actions accruing to the Community, the Member States and providers and users of statistical information, to identify areas for potential improvement and to verify synergy with other Community activities, particularly in the field of trans-European telecommunications networks and technological development programmes.

3. The Commission shall take any other measure necessary to verify that the financed actions are carried out properly and in compliance with the provisions of this Decision.

Article 6 - Financial aspects

The financial framework for implementation of the Community action described in this Decision for the period 2001-2005 is fixed at EUR 51,2 million. An indicative breakdown, by category of actions referred to in Article 2, is shown in Annex II.

The annual appropriations shall be authorised by the budgetary authority, within the limits of the financial perspective.

The financial resources provided for under this Decision shall not be allocated to actions which benefit from other sources of Community funding.

Article 7 - Entry into force and validity

This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

This Decision shall be valid for a period of five years as from its entry into force.

Article 8 - Addressees

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.