26/10/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 25 October, the European Parliament (EP) adopted at second reading the report by Hans Peter Martin (Independent, Austria) aiming to update the regulation on the directory of companies which provide statistics services on companies operating within the EU. The data concern the number, type, size, structure and other characteristics of the companies. As the only question which remains outstanding with the Council has now been resolved, the draft regulation will enter into force shortly. The EP also adopted, on Wednesday 24 October, the report by Ieke van den Burg (PES, Netherlands) on the creation of the European consultative committee on Community statistical information policy and by Sharon Bowles (ALDE, United Kingdom) on the creation of the European consultative Council for statistical governance. (A.B.)