Agreement on Science Statistics (codecision, 2nd reading)

Brussels, 19 Jun 2003

Giuseppe NISTICO (EPP-ED, I) & WEsten

Recommendation for second reading on Community statistics on science and technology on the common position of the Council with a view to adopting a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the production and development of Community statistics on science and technology

[14089/1/2002 - C5-0130/2003 - 2001/0197(COD)]

In the form of a letter

Procedure: Codecision (2nd reading)

Vote: 19.06.2003

Parliament approved the Council common position on Community statistics on science and technology without amendment. (All Parliament's amendments from 1st reading were incorporated into the common position).

The aim of the legislation is to develop a new generation of statistical variables for Community science and technology purposes. Since the expiry in 1997 of the former Council Decision on statistics a legal vacuum on the definition and clarification of statistics has existed. Given the importance of statistics on defining EU science and technology policies as well as their importance on EU businesses a harmonised set of statistics is considered both relevant and important.

Press enquiries: Richard Freedman (Strasbourg) tel.(33) 3 881 73785 (Brussels)  tel.(32-2) 28 41448 e-mail :   rfreedman@europarl.eu.int

European Parliament Daily Notebook 0619