19.7.2003 Official Journal of the European Union L181/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EC, EURATOM) No 1287/2003 of 15 July 2003 on the harmonisation of gross national income at market prices (GNI Regulation) (Text with EEA relevance) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, Having regard to Council Decision 2000/597EC, Euratom of 29 September 2000 on the system of the Communities' own resources (1), and in particular Article 8(2) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (), Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (), Whereas: (1) The increasing share of the Community's own resource based on the gross national product at market prices (hereinafter referred to as GNPmp) of the Member States, makes it necessary to further reinforce the comparability, reliability and exhaustiveness of this aggregate. (2)  These data are also an important analytical tool for the coordination of national economic policies and for various Community policies. (3)  For own resource purposes, Council Decision 2000/597/ EC, Euratom states that GNPmp is equal to gross national income at market prices (hereinafter referred to as GNI) as provided by the Commission in application of the European system of national and regional accounts (hereinafter referred to as ESA 95) in accordance with Council Regulation (EC) No 2223/96 of 25 June 1996 on the European system of national and regional accounts in the Community (). (4)  GNI data must be comparable. These data can be comparable only if the relevant definitions and accounting rules of ESA 95 are complied with. 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 95. () OJ L 253, 7.10.2000, p. 42. () O] C 45 E, 25.2.2003, p. 61. (*) Opinion of 12 March 2003 (not yet published in the Official Journal). (*) OJ L 310, 30.11.1996, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regula- tion (EC) No 359/2002 of the European Parliament and 0? the Council (OJ L 58, 28.2.2002, p. 1). () 0) () 0 0J ) 0J The sources and methods used to compile GNI must be reliable. This means that sound techniques should be applied to robust and suitable basic statistics as much as possible. GNI data must be exhaustive. This means that they should take account also of the activities 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 and making adequate adjust- ments. In order to fulfil its mission of providing GNI data for own resource purposes, the Commission shall take measures aimed at improving the comparability, relia- bility and exhaustiveness of Member States' GNL Council Directive 89/130/EEC, Euratom of 13 February 1989 on the harmonisation of the compilation of gross national product at market prices (°) has set up a proce- dure to verify and assess the comparability, reliability and exhaustiveness of GNP within the GNP Committee in which Member States and the Commission cooperate closely. This procedure should be adjusted to take account of the use of ESA 95 GNI for the purposes of Own resources. The measures necessary for the implementation of this Regulation should be adopted in accordance with Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission (°). The Statistical Programme Committee has been consulted in accordance with Article 3 of Council Deci- sion 89/382/EEC, Euratom of 19 June 1989 establishing a Committee on the Statistical Programmes of the European Communities (7), L 49, 21.2.1989, p. 26. L 184,17.7.1999, p. 23. L 181, 28.6.1989, p. 47.