23/09/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 23 September, the European Parliament adopted in first reading, the report of George Jarzembowski (EPP-ED, Germany) on statistical returns in respect of the carriage of goods by road (Regulation amending Regulation 1172/98). The report approves, subject to an amendment, the changes proposed by the European Commission. These changes were introduced to legislation in force governing regulatory produces with inspections of data collection, annex contents and the method for collecting data. The Commission will therefore have the scope to adapt data collection characteristics and the contents of regulation annexes; to decide on minimum requirements governing statistical results send by member states and the modalities for implementing the regulation in question. The report was adopted by 604 votes, 12 voted against and 6 abstained. (A.By/trans/rh)