Brussels, 17/06/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 17 June, the European Parliament adopted a resolution calling for a strengthening of Eurostat's powers and improvements to the quality of budgetary data (see also EUROPE 10160). MEPs agreed on the need for minimum standards for statistical data and asked the Council to live up to its political commitments by granting more audit powers to Eurostat. Most notably, they pushed for Eurostat to be given the power to make unannounced inspections in member states. This resolution precedes the opinion the EP will soon give on Commission proposals for laws giving Eurostat more powers. It outlines the political decisions needed to avoid another situation like the Greek data reporting case. The resolution raises concerns about a “seeming lack” of political will, particularly in the Council, to take the necessary steps to enforce Eurostat's powers. It urges the Council to act on its words and not repeat the mistake it made in 2005 when it shied away from granting Eurostat more powers, as proposed by the Commission, and “at a time when it was already clear that the rules and their implementation were inadequate”. (O.L./transl.rt)