THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2494/95 of 23 October 1995 concerning harmonised indices of consumer prices(1), and in particular the third paragraph of Article 4 and Article 5(3) thereof,
Having regard to the opinion of the European Central Bank(2),
Whereas:
(1) Regulation (EC) No 2494/95 establishes the statistical bases necessary for producing harmonised indices of consumer prices (HICP).
(2) Commission Regulation (EC) No 1708/2005(3) establishes common rules for determining the index reference period for the HICP and sets it at 2005 = 100.
(3) Changes to the sub-index classification of the HICP and the alignment of sub-indices that have been linked to the HICP after the introduction of 2005 = 100 make it necessary to change the index reference period. To ensure the comparability and relevance of the HICP, the index reference period should, therefore, be changed to 2015 = 100.
(4) In accordance with Article 13 of Regulation (EC) No 2494/95, cost-effectiveness has been taken into account in adopting this Regulation.
(5) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the European Statistical System Committee,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Opinion of 1 June 2015 (OJ C 209, 25.6.2015, p. 3).
Commission Regulation (EC) No 1708/2005 of 19 October 2005 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 2494/95 as regards the common index reference period for the harmonised index of consumer prices, and amending Regulation (EC) No 2214/96 (OJ L 274, 20.10.2005, p. 9).