The European Commission aims to keep the EU's tourism statistics agile and up to date by exercising delegated powers to adjust technical definitions and data rules. This report is likely to stir interest among national statistical bodies, tourism industry players, and EU policymakers who rely on accurate data for decision-making and regulatory compliance. Some may welcome the flexibility, while others might scrutinize the balance of power between EU institutions and member states.
This latest update comes from a report published on November 27, 2025, by the Directorate-General for Eurostat (ESTAT), fulfilling a legal requirement under Regulation (EU) No 692/2011 on European statistics for tourism. It serves as the third accountability document on how the Commission exercises powers to amend annexes, data transmission deadlines, and definitions in the tourism statistics regulation.
The document is a statutory report rather than new legislation, providing a review of the use of delegated acts since 2011. While the Commission has enacted a handful of specific delegated acts — such as updating classification standards or responding to Brexit-related changes — no such acts have been adopted since 2021. Instead, the report urges maintaining these delegated powers to allow future quick adjustments to the statistical framework.
The policy signal is clear: the Commission insists on keeping its delegated authority to act swiftly in amending statistical definitions and requirements without seeking fresh parliamentary or council approvals for each change. This leans towards increasing EU-level regulatory flexibility and integration in the tourism statistics domain, though certain core elements remain protected from change.
Stakeholders impacted include the national statistical authorities who implement these data rules, the tourism sector companies which rely on accurate and timely statistics, as well as EU institutions that oversee these frameworks. The report’s stance likely benefits statistical harmonization and EU integration but could cause concerns around reduced control for member states or administrative burdens on local authorities adapting to changes. The tourism industry might gain from improved data quality, while facing compliance costs linked to updated rules.
This report appears as part of an ongoing monitoring and accountability cycle. The European Parliament and the Council are expected to review and acknowledge it, potentially debating the future scope of delegated powers. No immediate legislative changes are proposed, suggesting a continuation rather than a departure in policy approach.