[pic] | COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES |

Brussels, 13.12.2007

COM(2007) 820 final

2005/0032 (COD)

COMMISSION OPINION in accordance with the third subparagraph of Article 251(2) point c) of the EC Treaty on the European Parliament's amendments to the Council

common position on the proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a common framework for business registers for statistical purposes and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 2186/93

AMENDING THE PROPOSAL OF THE COMMISSION pursuant to Article 250 (2) of the EC Treaty

2005/0032 (COD)

COMMISSION OPINION in accordance with the third subparagraph of Article 251(2) point c) of the EC Treaty on the European Parliament's amendments to the Council

common position on the proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a common framework for business registers for statistical purposes and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 2186/93

1. BACKGROUND

- Proposal submitted to the European Parliament and to the Council (COM(2005)112 –– 2005/0032 (COD)) on 5 April 2005

- Opinion of the European Parliament (first reading) (PE A6-0194/2006) on 1 June 2006

- Adoption of the common position by the Council on 21 May 2007

- Opinion of the European Parliament (second reading) (P6_TA-PROV(2007)0479 – A6-0353/2007) on 25 October 2007

2. PURPOSE OF THE COMMISSION PROPOSAL

The objective of the proposal is to update the existing Regulation on statistical business registers in order to account of new requirements, in particular:

- globalisation of the economy has created the need to collect information on enterprise groups;

- the integration of activities of the different sectors has called for a full coverage of the whole economy;

- the Single Market requires improved statistical comparability, which notably depends on the availability of harmonised sources for the population of businesses operating in the EU.

3. COMMISSION’S OPINION ON THE AMENDMENTS PROPOSED BY PARLIAMENT

3.1. Summary of the Commission's position

The Parliament adopted two amendments. The Commission can accept both as they stand; the amendments are legal clarifications that do not change the substance.

4. Conclusion

The Commission accepts all the amendments adopted by the Parliament.