Gross national income at market prices (GNI) constitutes the basis for calculating the largest share of own resources in the general budget of the Union. Therefore, it is necessary to further reinforce the comparability, reliability and exhaustiveness of that aggregate.
(2)
Statistical integrity through respect for the principles of the European Statistics Code of Practice, as reviewed and updated by the European Statistical System Committee (ESSC) on 16 November 2017, and of Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council (2) is of particular importance where statistics are being used directly for administrative purposes and for policy-making at Union and national levels.
(3)
Those statistical data are also an important analytical tool for the coordination of national economic policies and for various Union policies, as well as for research activities.
(4)
In accordance with Article 2(7) of Council Decision 2014/335/EU, Euratom (3), for own resources purposes, GNI means an annual GNI at market prices under the methodology set out in Annex A to Regulation (EU) No 549/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (4) which established the revised European System of Accounts (ESA 2010). In accordance with Article 10(1) of Decision 2014/335/EU, Euratom, and subject to Article 10(2) thereof, Council Decision 2007/436/EC, Euratom (5) was repealed.
(5)
It is essential that GNI data be comparable across Member States and that there be compliance with the relevant definitions and accounting rules of ESA 2010. For that purpose, the assessment procedures and the basic data actually used should permit the correct application of the definitions and accounting rules of ESA 2010.
(6)
It is essential that the sources and methods used to compile GNI data be reliable. This means that sound techniques should be applied to robust, suitable and up-to-date basic statistics as much as possible.
(7)
It is essential that GNI data be exhaustive. Therefore, those data should also take into account informal, unregistered and other activities and transactions that are not reported in statistical surveys or to fiscal, social and other administrative authorities. Improved GNI coverage presupposes developing suitable statistical bases and assessment procedures in order to produce reliable statistics and, where applicable, to make necessary adjustments, avoiding gaps and double counting.
(8)
Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 608/2014 (6) provides for inspections in Member States for the purpose of verifying own resources. For GNI verification purposes, the Commission (Eurostat) should be entitled to carry out GNI information visits in order to verify the quality of GNI aggregates and their components and to verify compliance with ESA 2010, as well as to ensure that GNI data are comparable, reliable and exhaustive. The Commission (Eurostat) should respect rules on statistical confidentiality. The participation of representatives of national statistical authorities in GNI information visits to other Member States is essential in order to increase the transparency and quality of the process of GNI verification.
(9)
In order to ensure the reliability, exhaustiveness and highest possible degree of comparability of GNI data, in line with ESA 2010, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union should be delegated to the Commission in respect of the list of issues to be addressed in every verification cycle. It is of particular importance that the Commission carry out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, including at expert level, and that those consultations be conducted in accordance with the principles laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 13 April 2016 on Better Law-Making (7). In particular, to ensure equal participation in the preparation of delegated acts, the European Parliament and the Council receive all documents at the same time as Member States' experts, and their experts systematically have access to meetings of Commission expert groups dealing with the preparation of delegated acts.
(10)
In order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of this Regulation by providing GNI aggregates for own resources purposes, implementing powers should be conferred on the Commission to establish the structure and detailed arrangements of the inventory of the sources and methods used to produce GNI data and their components, in accordance with Annex A to Regulation (EU) No 549/2013, as well as the timetable for its updating and transmission, and the specific measures aimed at improving the comparability, reliability and exhaustiveness of Member States' GNI data based on the list of issues defined by the Commission. Those powers should be exercised in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council (8).
(11)
The ESSC, established by Regulation (EC) No 223/2009, has been, in accordance with Article 7 of that Regulation, asked to provide its professional guidance.
(12)
The GNI Committee referred to in Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1287/2003 (9) has issued opinions for, provided advice to, and assisted the Commission in the exercise of its implementing powers. Under the strategy for a new European Statistical System structure to improve coordination and partnership in a clear pyramid structure within the System, the ESSC should have an advisory role and assist the Commission in exercising its implementing powers. To that effect, the GNI Committee should be replaced by the ESSC for the purpose of assisting the Commission in the exercise of its implementing powers under this Regulation. Nevertheless, for the purposes of other functions previously undertaken by the GNI Committee under Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1287/2003, and not relating to assistance in the exercise of the implementing powers of the Commission, the Commission should establish a formal expert group to assist it for such purposes.
(13)
Council Directive 89/130/EEC, Euratom (10) and Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1287/2003 set up a procedure to verify and assess the comparability, reliability and exhaustiveness of Gross National Product (GNP) data and GNI data within the GNP Committee and GNI Committee in which Member States and the Commission cooperate closely. That procedure should be adjusted to take account of the use of GNI data according to ESA 2010 for the purposes of own resources, the revised timetable for making available own resources, and recent developments within the European Statistical System. Directive 89/130/EEC, Euratom and Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1287/2003 should therefore be repealed,
