News 1 Jul 2019
Regulations on migration and the European Statistical Programme in focus during the Presidency of the Council Working Party on Statistics
During Finnish Presidency of the Council of the EU, Statistics Finland is responsible for the Presidency of the Council Working Party on Statistics. Two important and challenging statistical regulation proposals will be dealt with during Finland’s term.
In the regulation on Community statistics on migration and international protection, especially the articles on asylum seeking and asylum seekers are under revision. The other issue that is under discussion is the European Statistical Programme that decides how the content of statistics will be developed in the member countries in 2021 to 2027. Finland’s task is to negotiate about the regulations with the European Parliament, member states and the Commission, and get approval from all parties involved.
Timo Koskimäki, who is responsible for presidency issues at Statistics Finland describes the presidency term as interesting and challenging: “Due to the EU elections, the European Parliament is reorganising and, at the moment, it is still unclear when the Parliament will appoint persons responsible for preparation of the regulation proposals with whom we can start negotiations. This leaves Finland relatively little time to actively prepare the regulations.”
According to Koskimäki, the challenge is described by the fact that the previous Parliament made nearly one hundred amendment proposals for the regulation on Community statistics on migration and international protection. The main challenge in terms of the European Statistical Programme is that, at the same time, EU’s multiannual financial framework is under negotiation.
Statistics Finland will cooperate actively with ministries during the Presidency of the Council Working Party on Statistics, especially with the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, and the Ministry of Finance. Statistics Finland will also arrange events for users and producers of statistics during the presidency term.
Further information:
Chair of the Council Working Party on Statistics Timo Koskimäki, tel. +358 29 551 3495, firstname.lastname@stat.fi
Co-Chair of the Council Working Party on Statistics Anita Heinonen tel. +358 29 551 3479, firstname.lastname@stat.fi
Website for the Presidency of the Council Working Party on Statistics: www.stat.fi/eu2019
Events during the Presidency of the Council Working Party on Statistics:
Seminar for producers of statistics 15 August 2019
Seminar for users of statistics: Users Conference 30 September 2019