17.10.2002 Official Journal of the European Communities L279/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) REGULATION (EC) No 1840/2002 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 30 September 2002 on the prolongation of the ECSC steel statistics system after the expiry of the ECSC Treaty THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN 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, Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty ('), Whereas: (1) It is necessary to have statistics on the steel industry in order to implement Community policies on the steel industry. (2)  The European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) Treaty expires on 23 July 2002. (3)  Community steel statistics are collected within the ECSC statistics system until the expiry of the ECSC Treaty. (40 Users of steel statistics need continuous series for the second half of the year 2002. (5)  Declaration 24 annexed to the Final Act of 26 February 2001 of the Conference of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States has invited the Council to ensure, under Article 2 of the Protocol on the financial consequences of the expiry of the ECSC Treaty and on the Research Fund for Coal and Steel, the prolon- gation of the ECSC statistics system after the expiry of the ECSC Treaty until 31 December 2002. (6)  The Statistical Programme Committee (SPC), set up by Decision 89/382/EEC, Euratom (}) has been consulted in accordance with Article 3 of the aforesaid Decision, HAVE ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 The aim of this Regulation is to ensure the prolongation of the ECSC statistics system after the expiry of the ECSC Treaty and until 31 December 2002. Article 2 Undertakings engaged in the production of iron and steel in the steel sector, as defined in the ECSC Treaty, shall be required, with effect from 24 July 2002, to keep supplying the Commis- sion, for the reference year 2002, with the statistics (question- naires) drawn up by the decisions and recommendation listed in the Annex to this Regulation. Article 3 Entry into force This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Commu- nities. This Regulation shall apply from 24 July 2002. This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. Done at Brussels, 30 September 2002. For the European Parliament The President P. COX (") Opinion of the European Parliament of 15 May 2002 (not yet published in the Official Journal ) and Council Decision of 17 June 2002 (not yet published in the Official Journal). For the Council The President B. BENDTSEN () OJ L 181, 28.6.1989, p. 47.