This report on the proposed regulation on European demographic statistics is a technical but highly controversial issue due to its link to qualified majority voting in the Council. This is a technical proposal, which harmonises the collection of population data. If there is an issue with regard to the method of qualified majority voting, the Treaty should be amended. The S&D Group believes we should not jeopardise the collection of statistical data by changing definitions and international practices in the context of this regulation so we support the approach of Commission and Council. Our goal is to create a sound basis for the harmonised collection of reliable and comparable population data.