Finnish Presidency of the Council Working Party on Statistics
Romania, Finland and Croatia constitute the Presidency Trio for the eighteen months from 1 January 2019 to 30 June 2020. Romania holds the Presidency in the first half of 2019, Finland in the second half of 2019 and Croatia in the first half of 2020.
In the field of European statistics, the three Presidencies will focus on provision of high quality and relevant European statistics produced in accordance with Regulation (EC) 223/2009 on European statistics and guided by the European Statistics Code of Practice. Moreover, the Trio will continue to take into account emerging challenges such as new data sources, big data, new metrics and new ways of communication.
The Finnish Presidency will foster actions for the modernization of the European Statistical System (ESS) underpinning the sustainable and balanced development of statistical products, services and capabilities, as well as respond to new user needs following the reflections on the ESS priorities beyond 2020.
Following the spring elections, a new European Parliament will commence during the Finnish Presidency followed by an incoming Commission and President of the European Council. These events affect the Finnish Presidency.
Taking into account the continuity of legislative procedure, the plans of the Finnish Presidency are based on the work done by the Romanian and previous EU Presidencies. The Finnish Presidency will continue to negotiate the Presidencies’ work at the Council and European Parliament level and will make every possible effort to advance with the pending legislative dossiers.
There are two files for which the Finnish Presidency aims to resume the interinstitutional negotiations;
Amending Regulation (EC) No 862/2007 on Community statistics on migration and international protection;
Programme for single market, competitiveness of enterprises, including small and medium-sized enterprises, and European statistics. The Finnish Presidency on statistics will closely monitor the negotiation on the Single Market Programme and actively engage in discussions pertaining to the Statistical Programme.
In addition, there are two files on which the European Parliament has adopted its first reading provisional agreement positions, and only procedural steps remain to be dealt with. The Finnish Presidency will strive to finalise the proposals for regulations on:
Establishing a common framework for European statistics relating to persons and households, based on data at individual level collected from samples (IESS);
European business statistics, amending Regulation (EC) No 184/2005 and repealing 10 legal acts in the field of business statistics (FRIBS).
It is expected that the Commission will not give new legislative proposals in the field of statistics during the Finnish Presidency.
The Finnish Presidency will cooperate closely and transparently with the Member States, the Trio Partners, the European Parliament and the Commission.