Introductory text

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 452/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2008 concerning the production and development of statistics on education and lifelong learning^f1, and in particular Article 6(3) thereof,

Having regard to the requests made by the Kingdom of Belgium, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Republic of Estonia, Ireland, the Hellenic Republic, the Kingdom of Spain, the French Republic, the Italian Republic, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Portuguese Republic, the Republic of Finland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,

Whereas:

In accordance with Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 452/2008, it applies to the production of statistics in three specific domains.

Article 6(3) of Regulation (EC) No 452/2008 provides for, if necessary, limited derogations and transition periods for one or more Member States, both to be based upon objective grounds.

It emerges from the information provided to the Commission that the Member States’ requests for derogations are due to the need for major adaptations to national statistical systems in order to comply in full with Regulation (EC) No 452/2008.

Such derogations should be therefore granted as requested to Belgium, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Finland and the United Kingdom.

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the European Statistical System Committee,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: