Annexes to SEC(2011)1625 - Impact Assessment accompanying the document: European statistical programme 2013-2017 - Main contents
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This page contains a limited version of this dossier in the EU Monitor.
| dossier | SEC(2011)1625 - Impact Assessment accompanying the document: European statistical programme 2013-2017. |
|---|---|
| document | SEC(2011)1625  |
| date | December 21, 2011 |
During the current programme period, efforts to reduce administrative burden undertaken by Eurostat following the adoption of COM(2006)693, went hand in hand with the initiatives undertaken in the framework of the Action Programme for Reducing Administrative Burdens in the EU, Statistics being one of the 13 Priority Areas of the programme. Originally, six legal acts were concerned29 . In 2009, the programme was extended to cover five additional legal acts30. At this stage, legislative measures aiming at reducing burden were already proposed for all these acts, and most of them were adopted. Among measures which brought the most substantial reduction of burden, introduced so far, the amendment of the Intrastat Regulation, the reduction of reporting requirements for producing statistics on industrial production, short-term statistics and structural business statistics should be mentioned. Overall, the target of 25 % reduction of the administrative burden steaming from the aforementioned legislation in Priority Area Statistics was already largely met even before the term of the current five‑year programme. Overall, for a total burden of EUR 779.5 million stemming from this Priority Area, a 42 % reduction for different measures is expected to be achieved with the measures foreseen so far31.
In the current approach, the reduction of burden on businesses followed the organisation of the data collection system meaning that the reduction measures were introduced separately for a number of European legal acts which currently govern the collection of statistical information on Member States' economic activity of the business sector. Considering the efforts made so far, this stovepipe approach has a limited potential for costs and burden reduction in the future. Further reduction of the burden on businesses, mainly SMEs, can only be achieved in the future through a new, integrated approach stemming from the implementation of Communication 404. This approach is only possible by implementing Option 3.
In particular, with the implementation of Option 3, during the period 2013-2017 Eurostat and the ESS will aim at a fundamental revision and integration of all business-related statistics, with the adoption and implementation of the framework regulation integrating business statistics. This will provide a common legal framework for the collection, compilation, transmission and dissemination of statistics about the economic activities of the business sector. The common denominator used in all domains will be NACE (for activities) and CPA (for products). This approach should produce a considerable burden reduction on businesses and on the National Statistical Institutes.
Overall, for the ESP 2013-2017, the efforts to reduce administrative burdens should stem mainly from the implementation of Communication on the production method of EU statistics but also from the finalisation of measures defined under the current five-year programme and the application of the above-mentioned priority-setting mechanism, as defined by the end of 2010.
The strategic priorities defined year by year for the ESS should be in line with the ESP 2013-2017 and ensure the gradual achievement of the objectives defined in the ESP. This will be ensured through the direct link to annual work programmes and the priority-setting exercises carried out every year when preparing the annual work programme. An ex-ante evaluation of the ESP 2013-2017 was prepared in accordance with the principles of sound financial management, on the basis of the provisions of the Financial Regulations for expenditure programmes.
5.1 Impact of options
5.1.Option 1: "zero option" with no European Statistical Programme
Having no five-year statistical programme at European level would implicate the lack of long‑term planning which is an inherent prerequisite of the development, production and dissemination of statistical information.
If no European Statistical Programme exists, it is unlikely that the objectives defined in Section 3 will be achieved. No legal framework for the production of European statistics would then exist and no operational budget would be provided. The users of statistics (Commission Directorates-General, the ECB, etc.) would have to produce or look for statistics themselves, in an uncoordinated and inefficient way, and there would not be a commonly agreed assurance of quality of European statistics. The consultation of users have demonstrated the need for high quality, timely and comparable (across Europe) statistics, which are fit-for-purpose in underpinning decision-making and collected in a transparent way, free from political influence. Knowledge-sharing and increased efficiency through greater use of technology and exploitation of data collected for other purposes are other important user requirements.
Without an European Statistical Programme, there will be no budget for and no overall planning of statistical production. This would also contribute to an increase in the response burden of individuals, households, enterprises and ESS institutional providers of statistics.
Given the financial crisis and the resource constraints that EU is faced with, the impact of no EU budget available for statistical production would be considerable. This would also impact the quality, reliability and comparability of statistics and thus the overall objective of European statistical production: to support the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of EU policies. This overall objective cannot be fulfilled by individual Member States on their own.
The Greek crisis has demonstrated the importance of reliable statistics and potential impact of bad statistics. In order to improve economic surveillance in the EU it is important to ensure that macro-economic statistics are produced according to the same (high-quality) statistical standards in all Member States in order to be able to compare and draw conclusions at EU level. Dependence on external data sources may have a potential negative impact for EU policy as this data may not be easily available, may not be politically independent or fit for purpose and the costs of external data may be higher than anticipated. Furthermore, reliance on external data may also present a problem if these data suddenly become unavailable.
The importance of Eurostat data can be demonstrated by the central role statistics play in the Excessive Debt and Deficit Procedure or the scoreboard for the surveillance of macro-economic imbalances where it is stated that indicators should be of high statistical quality in terms of timeliness and comparability across countries. To this end, they should be derived from data compiled according to the principles of the European Statistics Code of Practice of the European Statistical System (ESS). Where available, Eurostat sources should be used so that the data comparability and statistical quality can be assured. The Code of Practice stipulates that adequate resource allocation is a necessary precondition for the proper functioning of a statistical service. This adequacy cannot be ensured without a forward looking planning instrument. As changes in information infrastructures are long-term projects, a five-years planning period is appropriate.
One of the main objectives of the ESP 2013-2017 is to produce statistical information if a cost-effective way which is a key element of Communication 404 that forms the backbone of the ESP 2013-2017. An ambitious reform of the production system is required in order to be able to meet future challenges, and it can only be done as a joint effort at EU level. This requires a strong partnership within the ESS which is another main objective of the ESP 2013-2017. If no ESP exists, given the scarcity of resources, it will be very difficult to ensure continuous commitment and progress to this modernisation process which is of crucial importance to the ESS and European statistics.
5.2.Option 2: ESP 2013-17 will be a repetition of the CSP 2008-1012
This option would mean that the objectives defined in Section 3 would not be achieved or only to a limited extent and would meet partly outdated policy priorities. The statistics provided would correspond to policy needs of the period 2008-2012 and would not take into account new developments and needs for priority policies of the European Union such as the Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth and other policies addressed in the Commission's strategic priorities for 2010-2014. The costs of inadequate statistics would be considerable. In addition, these statistics would be produced according to the stovepipe model32, i.e. without taking advantage of new method of production of European statistics aiming at efficiency gains and quality improvements.
The economic crisis has demonstrated the need for flexibility to be able to take into account new development and policy needs and allow for fast-track initiatives taken by the Commission. The impact of this option, a programme which is outdated and does not correspond to user needs, will be negative as the cost of such a programme can not be justified if the statistics produced under the programme will not be in line with the Commission's priorities and thus not able to meet the overall objective of European statistical production – to support the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of EU policies. Furthermore, a repetition of the current multi-annual programme will influence negatively the annual work programmes of the programming period as there will be limited scope for adaptations as the framework programme for these will then be quite narrow and specific not allowing for new developments and initiatives to be taken into account if the link between the five-year programme and the annual programme should be respected. The current multi-annual programme does not reflect many new development or initiatives launched, which means that there is gap between the CSP 2008-2012 and the annual work programmes. Previous evaluation reports have recommended an improved link between multi-annual and annual programmes and given the fact that the preparation of a multi-annual programme is quite resource-intensive, also when it comes to monitoring and evaluation, it is important to ensure that the programme is relevant and reflects key priorities while at the same it allows for new developments to be taken into account.
5.3.Option 3: a new five-year European Statistical Programme is established
With this option European statistics will better correspond to users' needs. There will be an agreed assurance of quality and the production of statistics will be more cost-effective as a result of the new method of production.
The three general objectives defined for the ESP 2013-2017 are in line with the Commission's strategic priorities and have been fixed to address the challenges that the European System is faced with in the coming years.
All comments received from stakeholders on the draft ESP have been carefully analysed by Eurostat and taken into account when preparing a revised version of the ESP 2013-2017 for the Inter-Service Consultation.
The ESP reflects the commitment to the strategy-driven priority-setting approach established by Eurostat and presented to the ESSC in 2010. Following this approach, the identification of negative priorities is an integrated part of the preparation of the Annual Statistical Work Programmes and will therefore be carried out for the period of the ESP. In order to serve as a general and flexible planning instrument allowing for new developments to be taken into account, the ESP provides the general framework for the development, production and dissemination of European statistics by fixing the main fields and objectives of actions envisaged for the next five years. These objectives are subject to more detailed definition and planning in the Annual Statistical Work Programmes. In this way, a clear link is established between the ESP and the Annual Statistical Work Programmes.
The Commission Communication on the production method of EU statistics and the joint ESS strategy adopted by the European Statistical System Committee form the backbone of the ESP which respond to all the challenges identified and that aim at satisfying the highest possible proportion of the defined needs.
The recommendations of the mid-term evaluation of the CSP 2008-2012 have been taken into account when drafting the objectives and indicators of the ESP 2013-2017. In particular, with regard reprioritisation of statistical requirements aiming at the reduction of response burden and producers' costs, the implementation of the priority-setting mechanism, presented to the ESS Committee on 18 November 201033, has been foreseen. This priority-setting mechanism is an integrated part of the preparation of Annual Statistical Work programmes during the reporting period.
The impact of this option will be positive as it is the only option that will meet the requirements of stakeholders while balancing demands and available resources. It addresses resource constraints, the need for efficiency gains and reduction of burden without compromising statistical quality and therefore this option supports the overall objective of European statistics, the underpinning of the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of EU policies.
The establishment of a new five-year programme which reflects the Commission's key priorities while addressing the needs for efficiency gains, priority-setting and burden reduction and strengthened partnership within the ESS and beyond will provide the best basis for European statistics in the years to come.
6.COMPARING THE OPTIONS
6.1.Option 1: "zero option" with no European Statistical Programme
This option would mean non-compliance with Article 13 of Regulation N° 223/2009 of the European Parliament and the Council on European Statistics and it would not ensure the achievement of the Objectives defined in Section 3. No legal framework for the production of European statistics would then exist and accordingly no operational budget would be provided
6.2.Option 2: ESP 2013-17 will be a repetition of the CSP 2008-1012
Although complying with the stipulations of the Regulation on European Statistics, this option would not ensure the achievement of the objectives defined in Section 3 or only to a limited extent and would correspond to policy needs of the period 2008-2012.
6.3.Option 3: a new five-year European Statistical Programme is established
With this option compliance with statistical law is ensured and a new Programme will also reflect the strategic priorities of the Commission and user needs. It will also be the best option to ensure the achievement of the objectives defined in section 3.
6.4.The preferred option
Option 3 of a new five-year ESP 2013-2017 seems to be the best option given the fact that this is the only option that would ensure the achievement of all the objectives defined, i.e. (i) providing quality statistics that correspond to users' needs in term of coverage, timeliness, comparability and reliability; (i) producing statistical information in a cost-effective way; and (iii) reduction of the response and administrative burden of respondents. Consequently, this is the only out of the 3 options that is able to offer a satisfactory response to all four challenges identified under Section 2.1.
Key:
++ = very positive impact;
+ = positive impact;
0 = no or neutral impact;
- = negative impact;
-- = very negative impact
| Options | Effectiveness in relation to the objectives | Efficiency in achieving the objectives | Coherence with overarching EU objectives, strategies and priorities | Quality of statistics | Impact on budget |
| Option 1 | - | -- | -- | -- | - |
| Option 2 | -- | - | + | - | 0 |
| Option 3 | ++ | + | ++ | ++ | + |
In terms of effectiveness regarding achievement of objectives, the baseline Option 2 would not be able to adjust to new policy needs, so it would not be able to satisfy new demands for data. Option 1 would allow users of statistics to satisfy their additional needs either by collecting the data themselves or by getting it from other data providers, so from that point of view is preferable to the baseline Option 2. Option 3 encompasses an annual dialogue with users and producers which enables satisfaction of new demands with quality data.
In terms of efficiency, Option 1 would imply destroying a functional infrastructure that exists for statistics at European level such as is now the case with the baseline Option 2. Option 3 will result in efficiency gains by implementing new methods of statistics and by rationalising the collection of basic statistical data allowing for their use in different sets of indicators.
As regards coherence with EU objectives, for Option 1 it will vary across Member States, depending on whether national requirements/priorities are in line with those at EU level, resource constraints, importance and impact of different policies on statistical domains. For Option 2, there will be coherence as regards statistical domains covered by the European Statistical Programme, although approaches may vary for new initiatives and policy areas not covered by the Programme. For Option 3, coherence is ensured as the European Statistical Programme will cover all priority areas defined by the Commission.
In terms of quality of data, Option 1 would produce data that are less harmonised and comparable to Option 2, whereas Option 3 would have a positive impact on the quality of statistics compared to the baseline Option.
It is obvious that Option 3 has all the required characteristics to provide a general framework for the production of European statistics by which the quality of statistics and the efficiency of the statistical production will be ensured. This is particularly important given the current challenges and resource constraints at both EU and national level. This Option does not imply a higher budget compared to Option 2. On the contrary, the budget requested for Option 3 is marginally lower than that of Option 2. The real difference lies in the fact that by achieving efficiency gains, the system will be better equipped to satisfy new political needs and will be able to deliver more with the same budget. Option 1 is the one that will have the highest impact on the budget as the uncoordinated approach will be more costly for the users of statistics who would have to set up systems themselves or buy statistics from other external providers.
As regards the financial envelope for Option 3, it would be adapted to the needs of a new five‑year statistical programme aiming at the achievement of the above objectives. The Modernisation of European Enterprise and Trade Statistics Programme (MEETS) will be integrated into the multi-annual statistical programme at the end of 2013 upon expiry of the current MEETS programme whereas the available budget for the multi-annual programme remains unchanged. In practical terms, this means a reduction of the financial envelope as no additional budget is requested for MEETS. In this way efficiency gains will also be achieved as only one programme will be managed instead of two as have been the case until now.
| Mio € | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | Total |
| Operational costs | 57.30 | 58.72 | 59.89 | 61.11 | 62.31 | 299.33 |
Taking into account the advantages and disadvantages of all three options, Eurostat made the decision that the option that ensures the achievement of the set objectives while meeting the highest proportion of the needs of all the stakeholders of European statistics is Option 3. Therefore, a new five-year statistical programme is to be prepared even if this means that its duration will not be aligned with the term of office of the European Parliament. According to this scenario, the next ESP will start on 1 January 2013 and end on 31 December 2017. The present proposal for ESP 2013-17 is a solid, well-prepared tool to attain all three main objectives defined.
Effects and consequences for the European Parliament and the Council:
Positive, as the ESP is in line with the Treaties, the financial perspectives and the European Union's political priorities; the needs for statistical information to back the policies of the EU are reflected in the ESP; the ESP includes a mechanism for improved priority-setting and reduction of response burden to enterprises and citizens. Member States are involved in the preparation of the ESP. The subsidiary principle will be respected when implementing the ESP.
Effects and consequences for the College of Commissioners and Commission services:
Positive, as the ESP is in line with the Treaties, the financial perspectives; needs for statistical information to back the policies of the EU are reflected in the ESP, and a robust quality management system will be implemented as part of the ESP. The ESP will be subject to efficient evaluation and ABB-compliant framework for distribution of resources.
Effects and consequences for the National Statistical Institutes (including DGINS, ESS Committee, Partnership Group, Directors' Groups) and other national producers:
Positive, as the ESP includes a mechanism for improved priority-setting and reduction of response burden to enterprises and citizens. By providing a multi-annual framework, the ESP allows producers of statistics to allocate resources in an optimal way. Most projects leading to burden reduction are multi-annual projects and can best be implemented within a multi-annual framework which will improve the synergy between different actors of the ESS, thus increasing the quality and reliability of EU statistics. The ESP reflects the joint ESS strategy on the implementation of the Communication focusing on increasing the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the ESS. Member States are involved in the preparation of the ESP. The subsidiary principle will be respected when implementing the ESP.
Effects and consequences for the ESAC, the European Central Bank, the Committee on Monetary, Financial and Balance of payments statistics (CMFB) and other non-institutional users:
Positive, as the needs for statistical information to back the policies of the EU are reflected in the ESP, the users will be ensured that statistics will be "fit for purpose" (on time and according to their policy needs and requirements).
Effects and consequences for Eurostat:
Positive, as the ESP reflects the Communication on the production method of EU statistics; a robust quality management system will be implemented as part of the ESP; the ESP will provide a stable framework for coherent, structured annual programming and allocation of resources as well as a clear view of the direction of Eurostat's development; the ESP will be subject to efficient evaluation.
6.5.Financial needs of the ESP 2013-2017
The objective of the ESP is to establish a comprehensive programme providing an overall framework for the development, production and dissemination of European statistics for the period 2013-2017. With a view to making the best of available resources, the new programme will replace and integrate the two current spending programmes managed by Eurostat, amounting to EUR 316.7 million: the Community Statistical Programme 2008-2012 and the Programme for the Modernisation of European Enterprise and Trade Statistics (MEETS) 2009-201334.
Based on the analysis on the best ways and tools to achieve results; an assessment of past budgetary execution and synergies expected by integrating the two, currently distinct programmes; and taking due account of the budgetary constraints, the intended financial envelope for the proposed ESP is EUR 280 millions for the 2013-2017 period. An amount of EUR 53.8 million for 2013 is foreseen in the current multiannual financial frame for Community statistics. Implementation of the programme in 2013 is compatible with this amount.
These operational appropriations will be used for procurement (in particular for statistical and IT related services), grants (in particular to contribute to networking within the ESS) and joint management with International Organisations when appropriate.
7.MONITORING AND EVALUATION
Improvement of the link between the multi-annual and Annual Statistical Work Programme was one of the recommendations in the Commission's report to the Parliament and the Council on the ex-post evaluation of CSP 2003-2007. This report also highlighted the need for proper monitoring of the implementation of the CSP (ex-post control).
The implementation of Communication on the new production method will also be subject to specific monitoring. A first report on progress made in the preparatory phase was presented to the ESSC in May 2011 and will be submitted to the ECOFIN Council in November 2011.
As far as the budgetary and financial execution is concerned, the programme will be implemented in conformity with the Financial Regulation. Eurostat has defined a control strategy 2013-2017 for the implementation of the programme. Reducing complexity (for example, grants awarded for the implementation of the objectives of the programme may take the form of lump sums) and cost-effective monitoring procedures, risk based reinforced ex-ante and ex-post controls will aim to reduce the likelihood/prevent fraud.
The audit on the evaluation function in Eurostat35 also pointed out that no systematic ex-ante analysis of the ESP's expected results and impacts and missing indicators prevented a proper monitoring of the implementation throughout its lifetime. Several of the recommendations resulting from this audit addressed the need to carry out ex-ante evaluations and subsequent mid-term and ex-post evaluations of expenditure programmes using proper programme indicators to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Financial Regulations and effective monitoring of expenditure programmes.
Additionally, the European Court of Auditors (CoA) is currently conducting an audit on the management of Eurostat. One of the questions that the CoA is looking at is the achievement of the objectives set on the Community Statistical Programme 2008-2012. The conclusions of this audit expected to be finalised by the end of 2011 will be used to strengthen the monitoring and evaluation of the ESP 2013-2017.
Drawing on past experience and lessons learned, mechanisms are put in place to ensure consistency in planning and reporting processes by better linking ESP objectives with Annual Statistical Work Programmes and improving as well the monitoring and evaluation of programme implementation. Article 2 of the proposal specifies that the ESP will be subject to annual planning through the Commission annual statistical work programmes in line with the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 223/2009.
The annual work programmes together with their corresponding financing will be the matter of Commission Decisions detailing the outputs and results (objectives and indicators) to be achieved during the reference period. The monitoring will be ensured through regular reports on the consumption of resources and on progress made on the achievement of objectives.
The strengthening of the link between the ESP 2013-2017 as a framework programme and annual work programmes providing the detailed planning, which was also one of the recommendations of the ex-post evaluation of the CSP 2003-2007 and the mid-term evaluation of the CSP 2008-2012, will ensure that there is no gap between planned activities and activities carried out as has been the case for the current multi-annual programme.
It is foreseen that, in line with the Regulation on European statistics, an interim progress report will be prepared and, after consulting the ESS Committee, submitted to the European Parliament and the Council no later than June 2015.
At the end of the period covered by the programme, the ESP will be subject to an ex-post evaluation. The ESS Committee will be consulted on the evaluation report which will be completed by end of 2018 and subsequently submitted to the European Parliament and the Council.
The ESP 2013-2017 is a framework programme that will be implemented through Annual Statistical Work Programmes and Management Plans, for which monitoring indicators will be defined and monitored twice a year. Monitoring of progress will be done as part of the annual SPP cycle and two reports will be produced every year on the progress of achievement of the objectives in the annual (and multi-annual programme) and the use of resources. In practical terms, this means that a mid-term evaluation will be prepared to assess the achievement of the objectives and yearly targets as of 30 June each year and an end-of-year evaluation will take stock of the situation as of 31 December each year. This will ensure that corrective action can be taken immediately during the year, if required.
Furthermore, as for the ongoing multi-annual statistical programme, there will be indicators on users' satisfaction, quality assessments of the statistical production processes, assessment of the overall compliance with the European Statistics Code of Practice and monitoring of MS compliance with EU statistical legislation. In addition, as key performance indicators, linked to the general objectives of the European Statistical Programme 2013-2017, the number of values added to the Eurostat dissemination databases (by statistical domain), proportion of users rating overall quality of European statistics as very good or good as well as the number of downloads of different publications in Eurostat's website will be monitored and reported on throughout the implementation period of the programme.
In addition, for each specific and operational objective a set of outputs and indicators (see tables below) has been defined and will form the basis for the monitoring of the achievement of the objectives of the European Statistical Programme throughout the duration of the programme.
| Specific objectives: | The objectives will be implemented by: |
| I. STATISTICAL OUTPUTS | |
| INDICATORS | |
| Europe 2020 | |
| Provide quality statistical information to monitor the implementation of Europe 2020 policy for smart, sustainable, inclusive growth. | Updated headline target indicators for Europe 2020 (in the area of employment, research and development, innovation, energy/climate change, education, environment, social protection and social inclusion) available on the Eurostat website; Statistics available to support the monitoring of the implementation of Europe 2020 flagship initiatives; Additional indicators available as an input for the ex-ante and ex-post evaluation of the economic, social and environmental policy of the European Union. |
| Economic Governance | |
| Develop new and enhance existing statistical information relevant for EU decision-makers and the public at large in relation to the strengthened and integrated economic governance of the EU and the surveillance cycle integrating the Stability and Growth Pact and the economic policy. | Statistical input for the macroeconomic imbalances scoreboard and the underlying analysis provided; Statistical input for an enhanced Stability and Growth Pact provided; Set of indicators to measure competitiveness developed and produced; A robust quality management implemented in the production chain, also covering upstream public finance data and the underlying workflows in Member States. |
| Provide European decision-makers with reliable statistics and indicators for administrative and regulatory purposes and for monitoring specific EU policy commitments. | Scope of statistics for administrative and regulatory purposes defined and agreed with users, including the monitoring of statistics for GNI and VAT own resources, Structural Funds, and requirements for the remuneration and pensions calculations in relation to the EU Staff Regulations; A robust quality management framework for these indicators defined, implemented and explained. |
| Economic Globalisation | |
| To enhance the indicators and statistical information available on economic globalisation and global value chains for EU decision-makers and the public at large. | Updated of existing and development of new indicators on economic globalisation and global value chains available on Eurostat's web-site; Analysis of the global value chains possibly through appropriate input/output tables, foreign trade and business statistics including micro-data linking. |
| ACCOUNTING FRAMEWORKS | |
| Economic and Social Performance | |
| Supplement measurement of economic performance by different dimensions of globalisation, the quality of life, well-being and social cohesion. Develop a framework for the analysis of globalised production. | Indicators on income/consumption distribution across households produced (by reconciling National Accounts (NA) aggregates with household survey data); Implementation and compilation of annual, quarterly and regional National Accounts in accordance with ESA 1995/2010; Satellite accounts developed for at least two new areas (e.g. environment, research and development, output measures of national aggregates, health, social accounts, labour market, human capital, travel and tourism, non-profit institutions, information and communication technology, or non-observed economy, or EU KLEMS36 toolkit); A conceptual framework for the analysis of globalised production developed. |
| Provide key macroeconomic and social indicators and PEEIs (Principal European Economic Indicators) as a coherent set of indicators addressing the EU and global statistical data requirements and adjust PEEIs to meet evolving users' needs. | Coordinated development of the dashboards of key macroeconomic, social and sustainable development indicators; Harmonised methodology for key macroeconomic and social indicators and PEEIs; Enhanced international comparability of indicators; Improved tools to facilitate the interpretation and communication of indicators; Harmonised housing and related statistics available for all Member States. |
| Environmental Pressures | |
| Provide environmental accounts, and climate change related statistics, taking into account international developments in this area. | A coherent system of environmental accounts developed as ‘satellite accounts’ to the main National Accounts providing information on atmospheric emissions, energy consumption, oil and gas reserves, trade in basic materials, environmental taxation and spending on environmental protection, possibly including green growth/procurement; Indicators that show secondary pressures and impacts of climate change developed and produced. |
| DATA | |
| Business | |
| Increase the efficiency and effectiveness of production processes. Provide quality statistics on key areas where enterprises are at the centre of interest, such as business statistics, short term indicators, international transactions, globalisation, single market monitoring, innovation, and tourism. | Data available in the statistical system or in society reused, and common infrastructure and tools produced; Statistical information and indicators on business on annual and infra-annual basis provided; Statistical information describing the place of Europe in the world and EU relationships with the rest of the world provided; Statistical information for the analysis of global value chains provided and the EGR developed as a backbone for collecting cross-domain information on globalisation; Trade in goods and trade in services rebalanced with an improved availability of data on services and actions to rebalance statistical information on services and products; Single market monitoring tools developed, such as the food price monitoring tool and related indicators; Quality statistics on key areas of innovation and R&D performance provided through extended use of patent registers and extended research and statistical use of individual micro-data; Quality statistics on tourism supply and demand provided through optimised data collection and better integrated data from tourism with other domains. |
| People’s Europe | |
| Provide quality statistics on key areas of social policy where the citizen is at the centre of interest, such as social cohesion, poverty, demographic challenges (elderly and migration in particular), labour market, education and training, quality of life, safety, health and disability, free movement and single market, mobility of young people, and technological innovation and new life style choices. | Consolidated basic infrastructure for European Social Statistics, including a range of survey and administrative-based data collections in place; Modernised surveys on Labour Force (LFS) and Income and Living Conditions (SILC); Statistics provided on education and training; Statistics provided on Safety, Health and Disability; Actions of the work programme on mainstreaming of migration statistics implemented; Quality of life indicators to measure progress of societies provided. |
| Geospatial, Environmental and Sectoral Statistics | |
| Support evidence-based policy making by a more flexible and increased use of spatial information combined with social, economic and environmental statistical information. | European Spatial Data Infrastructure based on the INSPIRE (Infrastructure for Spatial Information in Europe) architecture available; A range of geographic information through cooperation with EU programmes for land use surveys and remote sensing available; Integration of statistical data when relevant, thus creating a multisource flexible infrastructure for the provision of targeted spatial analysis. |
| Provide quality environmental statistics to support the policies of the EU. | Set of key environmental statistics, such as on waste, water and biodiversity, at national and when possible regional level, developed, produced and disseminated. |
| Provide quality energy and transport statistics to support the policies of the EU. | Statistics on renewable energy produced and disseminated; Statistics on energy savings/energy efficiency produced and disseminated; Statistics on transport safety, passenger mobility, road traffic measurement and intermodal freight transport produced and disseminated. |
| Provide quality agriculture, fisheries and forestry statistics for the development and monitoring of the Common Agricultural and Fisheries Policies reflecting key European strategic objectives related to sustainability as well as rural development by carrying out regular activities related to the development, production and dissemination of statistics. | Agricultural data collection reviewed and simplified in line with the Common Agricultural Policy review post 2013; Architecture for agricultural data collection processes redesigned; Land use/cover data management system elaborated and implemented; Data collection system for coherent agri-environmental indicators implemented; Appropriate breakdowns by region provided; Set of key forestry data from Integrated Environmental and Economic Accounting (IEEAF), such as forest area, volume and value of standing timber and economic accounts for forestry and logging implemented and disseminated. |
| Operational objectives | The objectives will be implemented by: |
| II. PRODUCTION METHODS OF EU STATISTICS | |
| ESS Quality Management | |
| Implement a quality management system in the ESS based on the revised European Statistics Code of Practice, introducing new monitoring mechanisms to assess compliance with the Code of Practice based on Commitments on confidence in statistics agreed with the Member States. Strengthen sharing of good practices in the implementation of the Code of Practice and ensure that quality reporting is targeting different user needs. | The Code of Practice fully implemented; Commitments of confidence in statistics agreed with Member States; ESS and ESCB quality assurance frameworks aligned; Users' needs for quality reporting met. |
| Priority-Setting and Simplification | |
| Implement a priority-setting mechanism for the ESS in order to simplify reporting requirements and increase the flexibility of the ESS to adjust to new needs for statistics while taking into account the constraints of the producers and the response burden. | Priorities defined and resources allocated accordingly; Priorities for the ESS defined as part of the Annual Work Programme (AWP); Results of user and producer consultations reflected in the AWP; Statistical areas to be simplified and data collections to be reduced/discontinued communicated to users. |
| Multipurpose Statistics and Efficiency Gains in Production | |
| Put in place gradually an ESS business architecture allowing a more integrated production of EU statistics; harmonise and standardise statistical production methods and metadata; enhance the horizontal (across statistical domains) and vertical (across ESS partners) integration of statistical production processes in the ESS in respect of the principle of subsidiarity; use and integrate multiple data sources; produce multi-purpose statistics. | A greater use of appropriate administrative data in all statistical areas; New data sources for European statistics identified and used; Increased involvement of European and national statistical authorities in the design of administrative records; A wider use of statistical matching and data linking techniques for increasing the offer of EU statistics; The European approach to statistics for quick policy response used; More integration of EU statistics production processes through ESS coordinated actions; Further harmonisation of statistical concepts across statistical domains; Development and implementation of flexible IT reference infrastructure and technical standards for improving interoperability, sharing of data and metadata, common data modelling; Standard IT tools used across statistical business processes; Increased use and availability of harmonised methodologies (including mixed-mode approaches to data collection) and harmonized metadata. |
| Ensure the good functioning and coherence of the ESS through effective collaboration and communication. | Effective and efficient support to partnership in the ESS; Processes for burden and work sharing within the ESS defined and implemented; Collaborative networks further developed and made operational. |
| Dissemination and Communication | |
| Make the ESS the first data source on EU statistics for all users and, in particular, for public and private decision makers, by providing a quality statistical information service based on the principles of free access to European statistics. Extend and rationalise the range of dissemination products to meet the needs of users using new technologies. Set up a cost-efficient and integrated secure infrastructure within the ESS for access to official statistics confidential data for scientific purposes. Start producing public use files. | ESS recognised as the first reference point for users of European statistics; An integrated secure infrastructure in place for access to EU micro data; System put in place to address users' requests for immediate access and advice in interpretation of statistical information; Dissemination products adjusted to the users' needs using new technologies; Increased number of statistical outputs on cross-cutting issues; Increased use of new communication and dissemination technologies (e.g. SDMX based); Increased offer of micro-data sets for statistical research purposes. |
| Training, Innovation and Research | |
| Satisfy learning and development needs in the ESS based on a combination of training courses and learning and development opportunities. Improve the collaboration between ESS members for the transfer of knowledge and the sharing and implementation of best practices and common innovative approaches in statistical production. Organise the activities, the participation and the contribution of the research communities in the improvement of the statistical production chains and of the quality of official statistical information. | Post-graduate degree (e.g. Master in Official Statistics) developed; Training programmes offered addressing user needs; Results of research projects applied in statistical production and dissemination; ESS recognised as reference point for the statistical research communities; High involvement of the research communities in research activities in official statistics; Adequate instruments in place for the exchange of practices and implementation of common solutions in the ESS. |
| III. PARTNERSHIP | |
| Partnership within the ESS and Beyond | |
| Implement the enhanced ESS governance framework. | Implementation of the revised Statistical law, Decision on the role of Eurostat; Framework regulations covering entire statistical areas adopted; |
| Enhance the coordinating role of Eurostat as the Union's Statistical Office. | Eurostat associated with all Commission initiatives with regard to statistical aspects at an early stage; Regular stakeholder dialogues at top management level organised. |
| Strengthen the co-operation with the European System of Central Banks, European and international organisations involved in the production of data for statistical or administrative purposes through common projects and co-ordinated developments. Ensure consistency between European and international standards. | Common quality framework for ESS and ESCB implemented; Eurostat increasingly involved in international advisory groups; New ways of cooperation defined and implemented; The new SNA37/ESA38 and Balance of Payments manuals implemented. |
| Promote and implement statistical advisory and statistical assistance activities in countries outside the EU in line with the priorities of the foreign policy of the EU with particular emphasis on enlargement. | ESS leadership exercised in the international arena; Quality data for EU foreign policy purposes delivered; Relevant statistical data to support the enlargement process and negotiations disseminated; Requests for derogations from new Member States leading to unavailability of data minimised; Agreements / Memoranda of Understanding signed with countries outside the EU; Technical cooperation programmes designed and implemented; Technical assistance focused on data harmonisation and delivery. |
- Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics, OJ L 87, p. 164 (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2009:087:0164:0173:en:PDF)
- Regulation (EC) No 479/2009 on the application of the Protocol on the excessive deficit procedure annexed to the Treaty establishing the European, OJ L 145, 10.6.2009, p.1 (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2009:145:0001:0009:en:PDF)
- Commission Communication on the production method of EU statistics; COM(2009) 404 final (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2009:0404:FIN:EN:PDF)
- Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the production method of EU statistics – joint strategy paper, ESSC/2010/05/6 (http://s-douceur.eurostat.cec/douceur301/GETDOCUMENT.ASPX?DOCID=13047&LANG=EN)
- Commission Communication on the robust quality management system for European statistics, COM(2011) 211 final (http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page/portal/quality/documents/COM-2011-211_Communication_Quality_Management_EN.pdf)
- Communication "GDP and beyond – measuring progress in a changing world", COM(2009)433 final (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2009:0433:FIN:EN:PDF)
- Stiglitz-Sen-Fitoussi Commission report on the measurement of economic performance and social progress (http://www.stiglitz-sen-fitoussi.fr/documents/rapport_anglais.pdf)
- Community Statistical Programme 2008-2012 (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2007:344:0015:0043:EN:PDF)
- Ex-post evaluation of the CSP 2003-2007 (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2009:0001:FIN:EN:PDF)
- Mid-term evaluation of the CSP 2008-2012 (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2010:0346:FIN:EN:PDF)
1Decision No 1578/2007/EC of the European Parliament and the Council, OJ L344, pp. 15-43.
2Article 338
3OJ L 87, p. 164.
4COM(2009)433 final
5Report on the Measurement of Economic Performance and Social Progress, J.E. Stiglitz, A.Sen, J. ‑P. Fitoussi, 2009 (hereinafter referred to as Stiglitz-Sen-Fitoussi Report)
6OJ L 145, 10.6.2009, p.1
7Communication on the production method of EU statistics: a vision for the next decade - COM(2009) 404 final of 10.08.2009
8Presented at the ESS Committee meeting on 20.05.2010 (doc. No. ESSC/2010/05/6)
9COM(2011) 211 final
10EP and Council Decision No. 223/2009, 11.3.2009
11The European Statistical System Committee is the highest level committee within the European Statistical System (ESS) established by the Regulation No. 223/2009 on European statistics. The Committee is chaired by the Commission (Eurostat) and composed of the representatives of Member States' National Statistical Institutes. EEA-EFTA countries' National Statistical Institutes participate as observers. Observers from European Central Bank, Organisation of Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development etc. may participate in the meetings of the Committee.
12Established by the Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council No 234/2008/EC
13DGINS Conference is held once a year with the aim of discussing topics related to the statistical programme and methods and processes for the production of Community statistics. It is hosted each year by a different Member State and the Director-General of the host country chairs the conference.
14The European Statistical System Committee is the highest level committee within the European Statistical System (ESS) established by the Regulation No. 223/2009 on European statistics. The Committee is chaired by the Commission (Eurostat) and composed of the representatives of Member States' National Statistical Institutes. EEA-EFTA countries' National Statistical Institutes participate as observers. Observers from European Central Bank, Organisation of Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development etc. may participate in the meetings of the Committee.
15Established by Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council No 234/2008/EC
16Established by Council Decision 2006/856/EC of 13 November 2006
17COM(2009) 1 final 13.01.2009
18COM(2010) 346 final, 30.06.2010
19COM (2009) 404 on the production method of EU statistics: a vision for the next decade, 10.08.2009
20Presented at the ESS Committee meeting on 20.05.2010, doc. No. 2010/05/6/EN
21COM(2011) 500
22COM (2010) 2020 final
23COM (2010) 2020 final
24http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/president/pdf/press_20090903_en.pdf, 03.09.2009
25Regulation (EC) 223/2009, Article 12
26In accordance with the Commission Communication COM(2009)404
27As regards the level of administrative burdens associated with the previous programme calculations made in the framework of the Action Programme for Reducing Administrative Burdens in the EU show that the level of administrative burdens associated with the most demanding legislative measures in the Priority Area Statistics account for less than 1 % of the total administrative burden.
28Independently on the measurements of administrative costs and burden undertaken for the Priority Area Statistics in the framework of the Action Programme for Reducing Administrative Burdens in the EU (study made by the consortium Capgemini/Deloitte/Ramboll Management; and the CEPS study), information on the production costs and response burden linked to statistical production is systematically gathered within the ESS through Rolling Reviews. Several production costs and response burden exercises focused on data collections where respondents were mainly businesses were also conducted as from 2008.
29Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 58/97 of 20 December 1996 concerning structural business statistics; Council Regulation (EC) No 638/2004 of the EP and the Council of 31 March 2004 on Community Statistics relating to the trading of goods between Member States and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) 3330/91; Council Directive 2001/109/EC of the EP and Council on fruit trees; Council Directive 93/23/EEC of 1 June 1993 on the statistical surveys to be carried out on pig production; Council Directive 93/24/EEC of 1 June 1993 on the statistical surveys to be carried out on bovine animals; Council Regulation (EEC) 3924/91of 19 December 1991 on the establishment of a Community survey of industrial production.
30Regulation (EC) No 808/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 April 2004 concerning Community statistics on the information society; Council Regulation (EC) No 1165/98 of 19 May 1998 concerning short-term statistics; Council Directive 95/57/EC of 23 November 1995 on the collection of statistical information in the field of tourism; Council Regulation (EC) No 1172/98 of 25 May 1998 on statistical returns in respect of the carriage of goods by road; Council Directive 95/64/EC of 8 December 1995 on statistical returns in respect of carriage of goods and passengers by sea
31COM(2009)544 final.
32In the stovepipe model statistics are traditionally produced in numerous parallel processes, country by country (in some cases even region by region) and domain per domain. In such a model every single product stovepipe corresponds to a specific domain of statistics together with the corresponding production system. For each domain, the whole production process from survey design over data collection and processing to dissemination takes place independently of other domains, and each domain has its own data suppliers and user groups. The stovepipe model is also reflected in the way statistical domains are regulated at the European level.
33ESS Committee document No. ESSC/2010/07/08/EN
34OJ L 340, 19.12.2008, p. 76
35IAC Audit Report ESTAT-2009-ESTAT-002 of 19 February 2010
36EU level analysis of capital (K), labour (L), energy (E), materials (M) and service (S) inputs on a detailed activity level: statistical and analytical research project to analyse productivity and growth across Europe
37System of National Accounts (United Nations)
38European System of Accounts
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