Sharon agrees with the proposal to give Eurostat stronger audit-like powers in order to improve the quality of European statistics

12.15.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 2nd Jun 2010

Eurostat

Sharon Bowles MEP, Chair the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee, emphasises that the Commission proposal (COM(2010)0053) to give Eurostat more powers to investigate the reliability of national statistics should not be watered down in the Council.

Sharon agrees with the approach taken by the rapporteur, MEP Othmar Karas, that the Commission (Eurostat) shall have the full right to decide when to undertake these kind of methodological visits in the Member States.

Based on today´s discussion in the Committee, ECON will try to deal quickly with the EP draft report in order to have the new rules in force as soon as possible.

Sharon Bowles said:

"Accurate statistics and improved verification of the reliability of aggregate data provided to Eurostat are essential prerequisites for any improvements of economic governance in the Union.

"The Commission proposal is a minimum needed as a result of the Greece case and reporting obligations need to be enforced among all Member States. This reporting should include details of any off balance sheet activity."

ENDS