L 145/234 Official Journal of the European Union 4.6.2008 REGULATION (EC) No 453/2008 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 23 April 2008 on quarterly statistics on Community job vacancies (Text with EEA relevance) THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EURO- PEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Commu- nity, and in particular Article 285(1) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee (1), Having regard to the opinion of the European Central Bank (2), Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty (%), Whereas: (1) On 8 December 2003, the Council endorsed the develop- ment and publication of a structural indicator on job vacancies. (2)  The Action Plan on EMU Statistical Requirements, which was endorsed by the Council on 29 September 2000, and subsequent progress reports on the implementation of that plan, identified as a priority the development of a legal basis covering job vacancy statistics. (3)  The Employment Committee established by Council Deci- sion 2000/98/EC (*) endorses the need for an indicator for job vacancies in order to monitor the European Employ- ment Strategy laid down in Council Decision 2005/600/EC of 12 July 2005 on Guidelines for the employment poli- cies of the Member States (°). (4)  Decision No 1672/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 2006 establishing a Community Programme for Employment and Social Soli- darity — Progress (°), provides for the financing of the rel- evant actions, including, as specified therein, improving the understanding of the employment situation and pros- pects, in particular through analysis and studies and the development of statistics and common indicators within the framework of the European Employment Strategy. () O C 175, 27.7.2007, p. 11. () O] C 86, 20.4.2007, p. 1. (*) Opinion of the European Parliament of 15 November 2007 (not yet published in the Official Journal) and Council Decision of 29 February 2008. () OJ L 29, 4.2.2000, p. 21. () OJ L 205, 6.8.2005, p. 21. () OJ L 315, 15.11.2006, p. 1. ©) (11) (12) Data on job vacancies broken down, inter alia, by eco- nomic activity are required by the Commission in the framework of the European Employment Strategy for monitoring and analysis of the level and structure of labour demand. Readily available quarterly data on job vacancies are required by the Commission and by the European Central Bank to monitor short-term changes in job vacancies. Sea- sonally adjusted job vacancy data facilitate the interpreta- tion of quarterly changes. Data provided on job vacancies should be relevant and complete, accurate and comprehensive, timely, coherent, comparable, and readily accessible to users. The benefits of collecting complete data at Community level on all segments of the economy should be balanced against the reporting possibilities of, and the response bur- den on, small and medium-sized enterprises in particular. Particular efforts should be made to include in the statis- tics as soon as possible all data concerning units with fewer than 10 employees. To determine the scope of the statistics to be compiled and the level of detail required by economic activity, it is nec- essary to apply the version of the statistical classification system for economic activities in the Community (NACE) that is currently in force. In the production and dissemination of Community statis- tics under this Regulation, the national and Community statistical authorities should take account of the principles set out in the European Statistics Code of Practice, which was adopted by the Statistical Programme Committee established by Council Decision 89/382/EEC, Euratom () on 24 February 2005 and attached to the Recommenda- tion of the Commission on the independence, integrity and accountability of the national and Community statistical authorities. It is important that the data be shared with the social part- ners at national and Community level and that the social partners be informed concerning the implementation of this Regulation. Furthermore, Member States should make a particular effort to ensure that school career guidance services and vocational training bodies receive the data. () OJL 181, 28.6.1989, p. 47.