Explanatory Memorandum to COM(2003)364 - Statistics relating to the trading of goods between Member States - Main contents
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| dossier | COM(2003)364 - Statistics relating to the trading of goods between Member States. |
|---|---|
| source | COM(2003)364  |
| date | 20-06-2003 |
The system of collecting statistics on the trading of goods between Member States of the European Union, known as the Intrastat system, was introduced by Council Regulation (EEC) No 3330/91 i and has been applicable since 1993, when the single market was completed and the physical frontiers between Member States were removed.
Up to this date, statistical information on the trading of goods, both with non-member countries and between Member States, was collected on the basis of customs declarations. The disappearance of this comprehensive and very closely controlled source of information made it necessary to devise a new system which would maintain a satisfactory level of information, since the advent of the internal market did not detract from the usefulness of statistics which help keep track of the progress made in integrating Europe's economies, and which help European businesses conduct market analyses and define their commercial strategies, whilst remaining an essential source of information for balance of payments statistics, national accounts or short-term economic studies.
From the outset, the main characteristics of the Intrastat system have been:
-the management of detailed statistical information on trade;
-direct collection of information from companies, which have to send the relevant statistical institute a summary statement for the previous month;
-a close link with the VAT system relating to intra-Community trade, so that the exhaustiveness and quality of the statistical data can be checked;
-a maximum reduction of the workload on businesses by means of a system of exemption or simplification thresholds.
Since its introduction, the Member States have, albeit to varying degrees, experienced difficulties in complying with the Community rules. In view of the difficulties faced by certain businesses, particularly very small enterprises, Intrastat was chosen in 1996 as a pilot project for the SLIM (Simpler Legislation for the Internal Market) initiative launched by the internal market ministers. The work has shown that the interests of data providers, who naturally want formalities to be simplified, are not easily reconciled with those of data users who generally want detailed information which is available quickly.
Despite this difficult context, the Commission and the Member States nonetheless managed to reach a consensus on amending the collection system on two occasions, firstly be reducing the number of statistical variables and then by simplifying the arrangements for supplying the product nomenclature.
In 1999, Eurostat adopted a long-term strategic plan that was the subject of extensive consultation among national administrations and professionals; it dealt with all statistics relating to the trading of goods (and not just Intrastat) and its specific aims were to improve the reliability of results, speed up the availability of statistics and add to the range of statistics on offer in order to respond better to changing demand.
This new proposal for a European Parliament and Council Regulation, which aims to replace the regulations in force as from 2005, forms part of these efforts to improve and adapt the statistical system in order to take better account of both users' needs and the burden on information providers.
It has been drawn up by a working group composed of six Member States and chaired by Eurostat. The Committee on statistics relating to the trading of goods between Member States was kept regularly informed about the work carried out by this group and was twice consulted regarding the proposal. The Statistical Programme Committee was also informed.
2. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PROPOSAL FOR A REGULATION
The main characteristics of the new Regulation are as follows:
*the contents of the basic regulation have been defined and drafted with the aim of making the rules clearer and simpler - and thus easily understood by non-specialists - but still precise so as to avoid any confusion when applying them and defining implementation measures;
*the scope of the new regulation is defined more clearly, being strictly limited to Community statistics with the Member States remaining free to compile more detailed national statistics to meet national needs;
*in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, the new regulation gives the Member States more freedom to organise how the data are collected, and makes it possible to take greater account of the specific administrative set-up in each Member State;
*the content of the data to be collected, which had already been adapted under the SLIM initiative, remains unchanged; it has been validated following analysis of the results of three studies (an opinion poll of information providers in six Member States, a sample study of users of Community statistics, a study on problems with the product nomenclature in Sweden);
*the system of thresholds has been retained, in a simplified form, in order to provide a satisfactory response to users' needs whilst reducing the burden of response on the parties responsible for providing statistical information, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises;
*the new regulation now includes provisions on deadlines for the transmission of data and coverage of the entire trade sector which aim to respond in a more appropriate manner to requirements for the purposes of macroeconomic and short-term policy, particularly those expressed by the European Central Bank;
*a link has been retained between the system for collecting statistical information and the fiscal formalities which exist in the context of trade in goods between Member States; this link makes it possible, in particular, to check the quality of the information collected;
*provisions have been introduced which relate to the quality of the statistical information; these deal in particular with evaluating the quality of the data using common indicators and regular reports to ensure transparency in this field;
*the dispositions regarding confidentiality foresee that data are not disseminated or are hidden at the request of the information providers, in order to take into account the burden caused by the treatment of confidential data by national bodies and in order to guarantee the relevance of data at detailed level ventilated by product; these provisions are in line with those in force in the framework of Extrastat.
*in accordance with Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission i, the committee set up to assist the Commission in implementing the new regulation is a regulatory committee, whereas the existing committee is a management committee.