European business statistics

Briefing 15-01-2020

In the context of the work of reviewing the fitness of current regulations (REFIT), the Commission has decided to amend Regulation (EC) No 184/2005 and repeal 10 legal acts in the field of business statistics. The aim is to reduce the administrative burden for businesses, especially SMEs, and to put an end to legal fragmentation in the field of European business statistics. The Commission is proposing to establish a common legal framework for the development, production and dissemination of European statistics related to business structure, economic activities and performance, as well as on international transactions and research and development activities in the EU economy; and for the European network of national statistical business registers and the EuroGroups Register. The regulation includes provisions covering business registers, the data sources to be used, and the exchange of confidential data for the purpose of intra-Union trade in goods statistics. The final act was signed on 27 November 2019 and published in the Official Journal on 17 December 2019. It will apply from 1 January 2021, with the exception of certain articles, which will apply from 1 January 2022. Second edition. The ‘EU Legislation in Progress’ briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure.