17. Stresses that the resources allocated to Eurostat must continuously reflect the expanding workload and the enhanced quality demands in the key field of economic and financial statistics; points out that this aspect is particularly important in the process of making the new economic governance framework work; believes, against this background, that the increase below the rate of inflation as proposed by the Commission for staff expenditure in the 'Statistics' policy area is not big enough; calls on the Commission to clarify, as soon as possible, exactly what appropriations are needed for 2013 in the context of a new and more ambiti ...[+++]ous Union Statistical Programme (for 2013-2017) replacing the existing one;

13. Underlines the fact that quality management of government financial statistics and other national statistical data, as well as precision and timely reporting of the data, is a prerequisite for the European Semester to function properly;

5. Underlines that Eurostat needs to be reinforced in order to be capable of managing new tasks in the updated economic governance framework; points out that the resources of Eurostat must continuously match the expanding workload and the enhanced quality demands in the key field of economic and financial statistics; is concerned about the proposals made by the Commission and the Council for a reduction in the Union Statistical Programme and for a very limited increase in staff expenditure in the ‘Statistics’ policy area; is also more generally concerned about the cuts proposed by the Council in administrative expenditure in this area ...[+++];

30. Is concerned about the proposed reduction in appropriations for the Union Statistical Programme and the very limited – below the rate of inflation – increase in staff expenditure in the ‘Statistics’ policy area; emphasises that there is a strong need to continuously make sure that the resources of Eurostat match the expanding workload and the enhanced quality demands in the key area of economic and financial statistics;

Taking into account the financial burden-sharing between the budgets of the European Union and the Member States relating to the implementation of the statistical programme, the Community should also, in accordance with Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities , make financial contributions to the NSIs and other national authorities in order to cover fully the incremental costs that the NSIs and other national authorities may ...[+++]incur in the execution of the temporary direct statistical actions decided by the Commission.

The heart of the financial markets beats to the rhythm of economic and financial statistics and it is essential for public institutions producing statistics to be fully aware of the responsibilities incumbent upon them: they must provide statistics without delay while ensuring equal access to the information.