Division 3 The overall grouping of the Member States is to be done on the basis of their share in the EU value added of NACE Sections B to N (excluding Section K).

Safeguard clause: if a country’s share in the EU value added in one of the following NACE Section or defined aggregates corresponds to that of a lower size category (lower than the size category resulting from the overall grouping), the data requirements for that country shall correspond to those of the lower size category for the Section (or Sections) in question. This may apply to NACE Sections C (‘Manufacturing’), F (‘Construction’), Section G (‘Trade’), and to the aggregate of Sections H to N (excl. K, ‘Services’).