6.6.98 Official Journal of the European Communities L 163/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 1172/98 of 25 May 1998 on statistical returns in respect of the carriage of goods by road THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 213 thereof, Having regard to the draft Regulation submitted by the Commission ('), Having regard to the opinion of the European Parlia- ment (%), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (%), (1) Whereas, in order to carry out the tasks entrusted to it in the context of the common transport policy, the Commission must have at its disposal comparable, reliable, synchronised, regular and comprehensive statistical data on the scale and development of the carriage of goods by road by means of vehicles registered in the Community, and on the degree of utilisation of vehicles carrying out this transport; (2) Whereas Council Directive 78/546/EEC of 12 June 1978 on statistical returns in respect of carriage of goods by road, as part of regional statistics (*) makes no provision for returns on types of transport which were not authorised at the time when this Directive was adopted; whereas the returns for which provision is made supply different informa- tion for national and international transport and whereas it provides no information on the degree of utilisation of vehicles carrying out this transport; (3) Whereas it is necessary to compile comprehensive regional statistics with regard to both the carriage of goods and vehicle journeys; ) O] C 341, 11. 11. 1997, p. 9. % OJ C 104, 6. 4. 1998. OJ C 95, 30. 3. 1998, p. 33. OJ L 168, 26. 6. 1978, p. 29. Directive as last amended by the 1994 Act of Accession. ) (10) Whereas it is therefore appropriate to amend the system laid down by Directive 78/546/EEC in order to ensure the description of the regional origin and destination of intra-Community trans- port on the same bases as national transport, and to provide a link between the carriage of goods and vehicle journeys by measuring the degree of utilisa- tion of vehicles carrying out this transport; Whereas, in accordance with the principle of subsi- diarity, the creation of common statistical standards allowing the production of harmonised information can be tackled efficiently only at Community level, while data will be collected in each Member State under the authority of the bodies and institutions in charge of compiling official statistics; Whereas Council Regulation (EC) No 322/97 of 17 February 1997 on Community statistics (°) provides a reference framework for the provisions laid down by this Regulation, in particular those concerning access to the sources of administrative data, the cost-effectiveness of available resources and stat- istical confidentiality; Whereas communication of individual data, once rendered anonymous, is necessary in order to esti- mate the overall accuracy of the results; Whereas it is important to ensure that statistical information is adequately disseminated; Whereas, during the start-up period, the Community will need to provide the Member States with a financial contribution for the execu- tion of the necessary work; Whereas it is appropriate to provide for a simpli- fied procedure for implementing this Regulation and adapting it to economic and technical progress; () OJ L 52, 22. 2. 1997, p. 1.