COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
Brussels, 25.2.2003
COM(2003) 88 final
REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND
THE COUNCIL
on the implementation of the EDICOM programme
(1997-1999)
  
2TABLE OF CONTENTS
Summary ........................................................................................................................ ............ 4
1. INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................... 52. GENERAL OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME................................................. 63. IMPLEMENTATION OF PROGRAMME ................................................................. 73.1. Operational context...................................................................................................... 7
3.2. Definitions of centralised and decentralised measures ................................................ 7
3.3. Management system..................................................................................................... 83.4. Performance indicators................................................................................................. 93.5. Monitoring of programme.......................................................................................... 124. RESULTS OF MEASURES...................................................................................... 134.1. Measures related to automation and tele matic tools for information providers......... 13
4.2. Measures related to automation and telematic tools for administrations................... 13
4.3. Measures related to standard s and formats of exchange............................................ 14
4.3.1. Development of messages.......................................................................................... 144.3.2. Computerisation of the management  and dissemination of the Combined
Nomenclature and re lated products............................................................................ 14
4.3.3. Study of the facilitation of the classification of goods by using the trade names of
products...................................................................................................................... 1 5
4.4. Measures related to methods...................................................................................... 154.4.1. Continuation of work of harmonising st atistical methods following international
recommendations ....................................................................................................... 15
4.4.2. Analysis of simplifications that can be ma de to the Intrastat system as part of the
SLIM initiative........................................................................................................... 16
4.4.3. Improving statistical methods for processing fi scal data as part of the Intrastat system17
4.4.4. Improving the information system for statistics on trade in goods............................ 184.4.5. Improving statistical processing of basic data ........................................................... 184.4.6. Consolidation and expansion of rang e of statistics on external trade ........................ 19
4.5. Measures related to the organisati on and management of the programme................ 21
5. GENERAL REVIEW AND CONCLUSIONS.......................................................... 22ANNEX I USE OF BUDGET 1997-1999 ............................................................................... 25
ANNEX II USE OF ELECTRONIC MEDIA.......................................................................... 34
3Summary
The introduction of the internal market in 1993 co mpletely changed the statistical system for
monitoring trade in goods between Member St ates of the European Union, by abolishing
customs declarations and replacing them with a system based on collecting statisticalinformation directly from businesses (Intrastat
1).
In order to support this significant change, the Council adopted in 1994 a Decision (Edicom)
aiming to implement an interoperable system, at  European level for the collection, production
and dissemination of these statistics. The actions implemented, which came within the scopeof the priorities for the guidelines on trans-European telecommunications networks, aimed tomodernise the statistical syst em and promote the production of  quality harmonised statistics
whilst limiting the burden on businesses. The Council Decision, adopted in 1994 for a period
of five years
2, has now expired.
The purpose of this report is to provide inform ation on the results of the actions undertaken in
1997-1999 in connection with the 1996 Edicom Decision3, in accordance with Article 9 of the
Decision.
The main results at the completion of the programme were as follows:– the programme helped considerably in intr oducing the Intrastat system under suitable
conditions;
– in particular, it allowed the design, development and promo tion of electronic Intrastat
declaration forms distributed to more than 50 000 firms required to provide statistical
information;
– it allowed the infrastructure for collecting, processing, transmitting and
disseminating statistical information to be modernised in the Member States and atEurostat, with a notable positive impact on information quality, dissemination timesand arrangements for access to statistics, especially the development of theComext data base, wh ich is now a reference tool at Eurostat;
– it was involved in the work of standardis ing messages and promoting electronic data
exchange resulting in a considerable improvements to data bases, their speedyavailability and reduced costs of statistical production;
– it allowed the computerisation of the management and dissemination of information
related to the nomenclature, as well as the availability of such information to internaland external users;
– it was involved in improving and harmonising  statistical methods, thus contributing
to better data quality;
                                                
1Since 1993 Intrastat has referred to the system for collecting statistics on the trading of goods between
Member States. Its main feature is therefore the direct collection of information from businesses,
whereas the "Extrastat" system for trade between the EU and non-member countries uses theinformation on customs declara tions for statistical purposes.
2This Decision was annulled following a challenge to its legal basis and was replaced by a new Decision
for the period 1997-1999.
3Council Decision 96/715/EC of 9 December 1996 on inter- administration telematic networks for
statistics relating to the trading of goods between Member States (OJ L 327, 18.12.1996).
4– it was involved, as part of the SLIM initiative,  in adapting Intrastat rules to the needs
of the internal market by ensuring a bette r balance between user requirements and the
burden placed on information providers.
On the basis of these results, the Commission (Eurostat) in 1999 proposed guidelines on the
future of statistics on trade in goods in a st rategic document which was the outcome of broad
consultation with national administrations and professional circles. These guidelinesrecommended that statistical met hods be adapted and that modern isation efforts be continued
with a view to easing further the burden on firms, while boosting the effectiveness of thestatistical system.
In this context, a Decision of the Eu ropean Parliament and of the Council
4 outlining a five-
year work programme was adopted in 2001. The two main objectives of the programme were:
– to encourage the organisation of the statis tical network in the most modern, rational
and effective manner possible and to adopt  measures necessary for improving and
harmonising the methods used, in order to  produce statistics whic h are more reliable
and less expensive for the information providers and administrations, become
available more quickly and better sa tisfy the expectations of users;
– to develop existing computer tools for the collection, production, transmission and
dissemination of statistical da ta, taking into account the latest technological advances
and seeking to optimise cost-effectiveness.
The work has begun. In cooperation with th e Member States the Commission will regularly
review the actions financed under the Decisi on, in order to ascertain whether the stated
objectives have been attained and to provide guidelines for improving the effectiveness offuture actions.
                                                
4Decision No 507/2001/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 March 2001 concerning
a set of actions relating to the trans-European network for the collection, production and dissemination
of statistics on the trading of goods within the Community and between the Community and non-
member countries (OJ L 76 of 16.03.2001, p. 1).
51. INTRODUCTION
The creation of the single market on 1 January  1993 brought with it the abolition of customs
formalities and the introduction of In trastat, a system designed to ensure an adequate level of
information on trade in goods between Member States. The Intrastat rules provided for the
direct collection of information from firms (which had to send the relevant statistical service amonthly summary declaration containing inform ation for the previous month) and laid down
the conditions for optimal use of computerised processing and electronic transmission ofinformation. In order to ease the administra tive burden both for firms and for the national
administrations in charge of collecting the basic data.
An initial Edicom Decision
5 had been prepared in connection with this and dealt with inter-
administration telematic  networks for statis tics relating to the trading of goods between
Member States. A Court of Justice ruling of  28 March 1996 annulled this Decision because of
a legal problem but approved the actions that had been undertaken hitherto. On 9 December
1996 the Council adopted for a period of three years a new Decision on inter-administration
telematic networks for statistics relating to the trading of goods between Member States
(Edicom).
According to Article 9 of the Decision, "the Commission shall submit to the European
Parliament and the Council, on the conclusion of EDICOM, a report on its implementation
together, where appropriate, with proposals for further measures".
The purpose of this report is thus to present the results of the actions undertaken under the
Edicom programme. Although the programme covered the period 1997-1999, the final results
of some actions begun during the third year of the programme were not available until 2001,
which explains the delay in producing this report.
Also, aware of the need to adapt statistical me thods and to continue actions to modernise the
statistical system, the Commission produced at the end of 1999, without waiting for the final
results, a strategic document outlining guidelines for the future of statistics relating to thetrading of goods. On this basis, the European  Parliament and the C ouncil adopted in 2001 a
Decision defining a five-year work programme covering a wider sphere of action than the
1996 Edicom Decision. This work programme ha d been drawn up in close cooperation with
the Member States and had been the s ubject of a detailed ex-ante evaluation.
                                                
5Council Decision 94/445/EC of 11 July 1994 on inter-administration telematic networks for statistics
relating to the trading of goods between Member States (OJ L 183 of 19.7.1994).
62. GENERAL OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME
The basic EDICOM Decision set out the guidelines for the implementation of the programme.
The general objective was "the implementation of a set of measures facilitating the conversion
of regional, national and Community systems to wards interoperable systems at European
level, as a first stage, for the collection of  returns on the trading of goods between Member
States from businesses, the validation and pre-processing of such returns and thedissemination of the statis tics derived therefrom.
These systems should be based in particular on the use of electronic data interchange for the
transmission of statistical returns. Computerised  procedures could be made available to the
competent national and Community authorities and to the parties responsible for providing
statistical information by agreement with the competent national authorities."
The basic Decision was subseq uently supplemented by the following Commission Decisions:
– Commission Decision of 18 March 1999 conc erning the approval of 29 proposed
measures which qualify in the 1999 budget for Community financing pursuant toCouncil Decision 96/175/EC of 9 Decembe r 1996 on inter-adminis tration telematic
networks for statistics rela ting to the trading of goods between Member States;
– Commission Decision of 31 March 1998 conc erning the approval of 28 proposed
measures which qualify in the 1999 budget for Community financing pursuant toCouncil Decision 96/175/EC;
– Commission Decision of 24 April 1997 concerning the approval of 29 proposed
measures which qualify in the 1999 budget for Community financing pursuant toCouncil Decision 96/175/EC;
– Commission Decision of 20 May 1999 concerning the approval of 23 proposed
measures which qualify in the 1999 budget for Community financing pursuant toCouncil Decision 96/175/EC.
The idea behind the programme was that the Intrastat system required statistical data on trade
in goods to be collected directly from firms,  by using methods and techniques ensuring that
the data were exhaustive, reliable and up-to-date,  without giving rise to the parties concerned,
especially small and medium-sized businesses,  to a burden out of proportion to the results
which users of the said statistics could reasonably expect.
To achieve this aim, the Edicom Decision propos ed a programme designed to modernise in a
coherent and harmonised manner  the system of collecting, processing and disseminating
statistics on trade in goods between Member Stat es. Modern tools were to be developed and
promoted to benefit the various levels - regi onal, national and Community - of the system.
This measure, at the core of the programme , was to be based on co mmon standards, methods
and procedures.
73. IMPLEMENTATION OF PROGRAMME
3.1. Operational context
The primary objective of Edicom was to de velop a telematic netw ork linking the firms
required to provide informati on, the relevant regional and national administrations and
Eurostat, with a view to compiling statistics on trade in goods between Member States. The
context in which the programme operate s is shown by the following diagram:
INTRASTAT
Transmission of data
Dissemination
Diagram showing INTRASTAT systemEUROSTAT
     Firms Relevant national
administrations
3.2. Definitions of centralised and decentralised measures
The programme was subdivided into centra lised measures run by the Commission and
decentralised measures to be implemented by the Member States in charge of collecting,
processing and transmitting data to Eurostat.
The measures to be undertaken we re classified in five groups:
1. Automation and telematic tools for those re sponsible for providing information -
design, development and promotion of so ftware for the collection, validation and
transmission of statistical information and assistance to the Member States.
2. Automation and telematic tools for the administrations - design, development and
promotion of software for the acceptance, validation and processi ng of data, as well
as assistance in this area.
3. Standards  - design, development and promotion of formats for the exchange of
information, and making them available.
4. Methods - design, documentation and promotion of methods.
5. Organisation/Administration/Management.
8The centralised measures were the subject of invitations to tender and the decentralised
measures involved regulated grants to the Member  States to carry out actions compatible with
the objectives of the Decision or aimed at implementing tools or methods developed in
connection with the centralised measures.
The annual budget allocated to each measure is shown in Annex 1. For the whole period
1997-1999, centralised measures accounted for 43% and decentralised measures for 57%.
The guidelines for the implementation of the measures were as follows (Article 4 of the
Decision):
1. to facilitate the introduction and use of th ese systems, by means of promotion and
awareness campaigns aimed mainly at businesses and users,  conducted by the
competent Community bodies by agreeme nt with national and regional bodies;
2. to undertake special measures for the benefit of less-developed regional and national
bodies to enable them to take part in these systems;
3. to promote the use of the most appropria te telematic technologi es and tools to meet
the needs of the statistical system, and thei r incorporation into the various computer
environments of the authorities concerned.
The similarity of the objectives of the Edicom programme with those of the IDA (interchange
of data between administrations) programme must be emphasised. The aim of the EdicomDecision was to supplement the measures und ertaken in this broader context by " operational
measures, particularly in the statistical sphere ".
3.3. Management system
Article 5 of the Edicom Decision refers  to the following management system:
"The Commission shall be responsible for the im plementation of Edicom. It shall be assisted
by:
(a) the Committee on the Statistical Programme of the European Communities,
established by Decision 89/382/EEC, Eu ratom, in drawing up, quantifying and
approving the annual work programme, in a ccordance with the procedure laid down
in Article 6;
(b) the Committee on statistics relating to th e trading of goods between Member States,
set up by Regulation (EEC) No 3330/91:
– for the approval of calls for tenders and the evaluation of projects and
measures of a total value of more than ECU 200 000, in accordance with theprocedure laid down in Article 6,
– for measures to implement Edicom othe r than those referred to in point (a) and
the first indent of this point, in accordance with the procedure laid down inArticle 7.
Eurostat Unit C4 (Methodology, nomenclature and statistics of external and intra-community
trade) and Unit A2 (Information and co mmunication technologies for the community
statistical system) are the units which were in charge of the Edicom programme for the period1997-1999. A Task Force comprising representativ es of Eurostat and the Member States
9cooperated actively in prepar ing and coordinating work pr ogrammes and actions to be
presented to the Statistical Programme Committee and to the Committee on Statistics relatingto the Trading of Goods.
3.4. Performance indicators
The most significant positive results achie ved under the programme can be evaluated
primarily on the basis of the following indicators:
a) Change in use of electroni c media for the transmission  of Intrastat declarations
The development of electronic media and standardised messages for the transmission
of Intrastat declarations was the main objective of the programme. The key elementsallowing the changing situation to be assessed are shown below. More detailedinformation for the European Union and ea ch Member State can be found in Annex
2.
– on average, for all the Member States the number of lines transmitted by
printed form went down by 18%  between 1997 and 1999;
– the number of lines transmitted by diskette and electronic media increased
during the same period by 15% ;
– the number of lines transmitted by EDIFACT in the Cusdec/Instat format
(recommended by Eurostat) went up by 43% ;
– use of IDEP/CN8 (electronic form for Intrastat declarations) has increased in
recent years:
Year Number of Member States Number of firms
1994 7 3 000
1995 8 7 000
1996 11 14 500
1997 11 25 000
1998 12 30 000
1999 12 36 000
b) Change in time taken by Member States  to transmit statistics to Eurostat
The improvement in the time taken by Member States to transmit statistical
declarations to Eurostat is a result of modernising the system, for informationproviders and users of electronic media for compiling declarations as well as fornational administrations. The result is greater compliance with Community rules andbetter response to user needs.
10– Transmission of detailed extra-Community data
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
Indicator 1* 34 14 11 8 2 -2
I n d i c a t o r  2 * 121451 1
– Transmission of detaile d intra-Community data
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
Indicator 1* 15 9 3 -3 -5 -8
Indicator 2* 2 4 5 8 10 13
Indicator 1: average time (in days) for detaile d EU statistics to be available (mean of annual
average times of the 15 Member States)
Indicator 2: number of Member States comply ing with regulations laying down transmission
times
Note : a "-" sign indicates dispatch a data ahead of required times
c) Change in use of Comext data base
The Comext data base allows the processing and storage of all the data for statistics
on trade in goods. This data base has been  modernised and its content continually
improved. It has become a reference tool at Eurostat, and its use has increased
considerably.
– Number of on-line users of Comext
Commission Other institutions and administrations
1997 546 20
1998 659 50
1999 759 70
11– Number of on-line uses of Comext
Registrations (mio) Number of times system
accessed
1997 3092 22478
1998 5600 85000
1999 10309 92500
– Access to Comext (number) - mont hly data - moving average over 12
months
0100020003000400050006000700080009000
12– Registrations Comext extracts (mio) - monthly data - moving average over
12 months
0100200300400500600700800900
3.5. Monitoring of programme
The Council Decision laid down that during th e implementation of the Edicom programme
the Commission had to report:
– regularly to the IDA Committee;
– annually to the Committee on Statistics re lating to Trading in Goods between
Member States;
– at the conclusion of the programme, to the European Parliament and the Council
with, where appropriate, propos als for further measures.
This report is intended to provide a summary of  the results achieved in connection with the
Decision and on the new measures which have been proposed since 1999.
134. RESULTS OF MEASURES
4.1. Measures related to automation and te lematic tools for information providers
The computer tools developed for compiling Intrastat declarations and the standardisation of
formats and messages are among the major results of the programme. Several tools areinvolved: IDEP/CN8 developed by Eurostat, IR IS developed by the Netherlands statistical
office (CBS), IDES (Intra-trade Data Entry Software) and W3stat (on-line declaration form)developed by Germany and the Intrastat E-form developed by the United Kingdom.
IDEP/CN8, distributed to a bout 50 000 firms, and IRIS, used by about 15 000 firms in
Germany and the Netherlands (until 1999), are th e prime examples of the success of the
telematic tools that were developed.
A considerable effort has been made to provi de annual updates of software and the Combined
Nomenclature and upgrades of  technology in use. DOS and Windows versions of the IDEP
and IRIS software are currently available.
The main benefits of using machine-readable forms are as follows:1. easing of administrative burden in compiling declarations;2. reduction in number of errors and hence improvement in data quality;
3. standardisation of formats for dispatching data;4. production of Community-wide tools;5. reduction of non-response rate among information providers.
4.2. Measures related to automation and telematic tools for administrations
Measures were planned to optimise the computer processing of information and
administrative infrastructure, especially:
1. modernisation of the infrastructure of the relevant national or regional
administrations: computer equipment, servers, information storage systems, printers,writers, communication systems;
2. introduction of optical scanning system s for Intrastat printed declarations;
3. introduction of diskette-reading systems for Intrastat declarations on diskettes;
4. introduction of scanning systems for In trastat declarations received by fax;
5. introduction of reception systems for Intr astat declarations received by telematic
media (modem, on-line data transfer, etc).
Major work was also done on data bases in th e Member States and at Eurostat where the
Comext data base, for processi ng and storing all the data for statistics on trade in goods
between the Member States, was modernised.
14On-line and regular access to Comext is current ly available for about 750 internal users (all
the Commission directorates-gen eral are connected) and more than 150 external users
(ministries, international organisations, statis tical offices, central banks, consultants). With
regard to content, the data base uses more than 160 gigabytes and c ontains detailed data not
only from the Member States but also from countries involved in the Phare and Tacis
programmes, many other non-member countries and internati onal organisations such as the
United Nations (access to the Comtrade data base), the IMF, etc. The system can beconsidered a point of reference throughout th e world for statistical data bases on external
trade. In view of its size and variety of possibl e uses, it is a considerable tool in support of the
European Union's external and internal policies.
4.3. Measures related to standards and formats of exchange
The main activities under this heading concer n the Combined Nomenclature (CN) and
EDIFACT message formats used for Intrastat declarations.
4.3.1. Development of messagesUsing the UN/EDIFACT standards (ISO sta ndard 9735, Electronic Data Interchange For
Administrations, Commerce and Transport) , CUSDEC/INSTAT, CUSDEC/EXSTAT and
CUSDEC/INSRES (confirmation of reception) messages were developed by the WG5
working group "External Trade" in coopera tion with the EG3 expert group "Taxes and
Customs" as part of EBES-EG6 (European Board for EDI Standards, Expert Group 6 -
Statistics). These messages are universally used for applications for the collection of primary
data as well as for their transfer to the centralised national systems. In order to keep up withthe rapid development in the world of communications and the spread of "e-activities", workto define messages in XML (eXt ended Markup Language) has begun.
4.3.2. Computerisation of the management  and dissemination of the Combined
Nomenclature and related products
The Combined Nomenclature (CN) of goods is  one of the essential metadata used for
commercial transactions as well as for compiling statistics on external trade. It requiresprocessing as a matter of priority so that it can be continually adapted to the new needs of EUpolicies and to technological and commercial developments.
Since the CN is a detailed nomenclature, extensive but complex, a set of related products was
devised with a view to making it easier to us e by statistical information providers and by
national administrations. These re lated products are mainly self-e xplanatory texts, keywords,
explanatory notes, alphabe tical index, annual code conversi on tables, correlation tables for
other nomenclatures a nd code aggregates.
In this context, in order to manage the CN  and its related products , the following activities
were undertaken:
– Design and development of a computerised  data base system. This system is in
response to the need to manage amendments to the CN, to draw up workingdocuments (proposals for am endments) for consideration by the Customs Code
Committee - Tariffs and Statistical Nomenc lature Section, to update the files
containing the annual versions of the nomenclature and related products and to
transfer data to other data base systems, in particular the IDEP/CN8, NPS andComext systems, and to do so in the 11 official languages of the Community.
15– Design and development of a computeris ed system for the production of computer
files, with a view to improving the disse mination of such information. The aim is to
meet the needs of CN users and to provide  them with printed copies of the CN, as
well as several types of file (SGML, TX T, ACCESS, etc) for use with other data
base systems (in particular, IDEP/CN 8, NPS and Comext) of Eurostat, other
Commission departments, national administrations of the Member States orproviders of statistical information.
4.3.3. Study of the facilitation of the classifi cation of goods by using the trade names of
products
In spite of all the efforts that have been made to make the Combined Nomenclature easier to
use for statistical informati on providers and national adminis trations, there are some user
categories which still find it hard to classify goods correctly. One of the reasons for these
problems is the difference in the terminologies us ed in the CN and those of professional users.
An analysis was thus conducted in order to ma ke an objective assessment of this "terminology
gap" and to analyse to what extent an expansi on of keyword files in the CN to include trade
synonyms would help to overcome these problems.
The information sources for this expansion have  been surveyed and analysed. There are a lot
of them, and making use of them is complicat ed and costly. However, it has been shown that
modern language analysis tools would indeed make access to nomenclatures easier as part ofthe practical implementation of the results of the analysis.
4.4. Measures related to methods
The main results of the methodol ogical work are as follows:
4.4.1. Continuation of work of harmonising st atistical methods following international
recommendations
The compilation of statistics on trade in goods  is being greatly harmonised at Community
level. To a large extent, the rules are formulated in accordance with the common rulescontained in a series of Community Regulati ons (basic Regulations of the Council and, in
some cases, of the European Parliament, suppl emented by implementin g Regulations of the
Commission). Harmonisation has not been achieved, however. There are in particular specific
movements or goods (aircraft, ships, satellites, sea products, repairs, etc) for which the
complexity of the transactions or the difficulty of securing information means that reliableand internationally comparable statistics cannot be obtained. In ternational efforts to improve
the treatment of these goods have been made, and the results are cont ained in "Statistics of
international trade in goods - Concepts and de finitions" which was recently revised by the UN
Statistical Commission (work in which th e Commission, in the form of Eurostat,
participated).
Also, in spite of harmonised rules for compiling Community statistics, some Member States
continue to produce national statistics according to rules which occasionally differ from thosein use at Community level in order to satis fy specific national requirements or demands.
In this context, various efforts have been made  at Community level with a view to continuing
the work of harmonisation, by bringing it clea rly in line with intern ational recommendations,
and also with a view to making users bette r about the methodological rules used for the
various statistics to which they have access.
16Harmonising the treatment of specific movements or goods has continued on the basis of
various work:
– the operation of evaluating na tional systems, which was c onducted by Eurostat using
a detailed questionnaire and visits to the Member States and which highlighted
certain shortcomings in national practices;
– the revision of "Statistics of international trade in goods - Concepts and definitions"
by the UN Statistical Commission.
Recommendations have been made , and in some Member States pilot projects have been
launched with the following objectives:
– identification of alternative information sources making it possible to obtain the
information needed for the collection of statistics or to check the information that isavailable in customs or Intrastat declarations;
– analysis of the content of the availabl e information, its usefulness for statistical
purposes and, where possible, its reliability;
– analysis of the conditions (medium, frequency, deadlines, cost, confidentiality, etc)
in which statistical administrations can access and use these sources.
On the basis of the results of these projects, Community rules
6 (Intrastat et Extrastat) have
been supplemented so that these goods can be treated in a manner that is harmonised and in
line with international recomme ndations. The goods or movements for which work still needs
to be done have been identified.
With regard to informing users about the methodological rules em ployed for the various
statistics they can access, a user guide has been prepared with special attention focused on thedifferences that can exist between the Community statistics published by Eurostat andnational statistics on trade in goods which can in  particular be used by other international
organisations.
4.4.2. Analysis of simplifications that can be m ade to the Intrastat system as part of the
SLIM initiative
The request to simplify the Intrastat system emerged with the launch of the SLIM initiative
(Simpler Legislation for the Internal Market) by the Internal Market Ministers in 1996. An
expert group was set up with the task of maki ng concrete proposals for the simplification of
the system. The group made the following proposals:
– reduce the amount of information to be coll ected in accordance with statistical needs
and the difficulties experienced by firms;
– simplify the declaration of product nomenclature, main difficulty for declarants (with
its 10 000 subheadings), while involving th e trade associations which are the main
private users of detailed statistics;
– carry out studies aimed at radically reforming the statistical system with a view to
reducing the costs borne by informa tion providers and administrations;
                                                
6Commission Regulations (EC) Nos 1901/2000 of 7.9.2000 (OJ L 228 of 8.9.2000) and 1917/2000 of
9.9.2000 (OJ L 229 of 9.9.2000).
17– encourage the use of modern methods of co llecting and processing data among firms
and national administrations.
These proposals were used to launch a large num ber of methodological studies, in cooperation
with the national administrations, on the following subjects:
– usefulness and quality of certain variables (country of origin, mode of transport,
nature of the transaction, etc) ; effect of their elimination;
– possible adaptation of the threshold system;
– feasibility of alternative systems challe nging the requirement  to produce detailed
statistics every month; the ex treme version of this proposal was a system based on a
single flow;
The methodological results of this work were as follows:– adoption of a Regulation of the Council a nd of the European Parliament amending
the basic Intrastat Regulation by reducing the number of variables to be collected;
– adoption of a Regulation of the Council a nd of the European Parliament amending
the basic Intrastat Regulation by simplifying the declaration of productnomenclature.
The proposals for a more fundament al reform (alternative system s) have not resulted in any
amendment to the legislation because of a l ack of agreement between the Commission and the
Member States during technical committee discussions. The principle of continuing thisapproach was nevertheless included in the broader and longer-term strategic guidelines,
adopted in 1999, on the future of statis tics relating to the trading of goods.
4.4.3. Improving statistical methods for processing fiscal data as part of the Intrastat
system
From the outset, the Intrastat system was built on the basis of a very close link with the VAT
reporting system on intra-Community trade in g oods. The main features of this link were as
follows:
– Providers of statistical information are identified on Intrastat declarations by their
VAT number. Statistical services can thus manage the register of intra-Communityoperators and carry out the necessary cross-checks.
– The tax authorities of the Member States are required at least every three months to
provide the statistical services with a lis t of operators who ha ve been involved in
dispatches or arrivals, together with th e amounts of the transactions. Most Member
States also have access to the data declared by those liable to tax as part of the VIESsystem (VAT Information Exchange System)
.. The statistical authorities can thus
check the exhaustiveness and quality of the statistical data and also supplement the
statistical base with the data that are available on operators below the so-called"assimilation" threshold, which provides exemption from statistical obligations.
– Finally, the link with the fiscal system is a condition for the very existence of
Intrastat in its current form, as it will cease to apply "on the date of changeover to a
unified system of taxation in the Member State of origin" (Article 1 of the IntrastatRegulation).
18Since the link with the VAT system is a key element of the operation of the system, several
actions have been taken designed to optimise the use of fiscal data by statistical authoritiesand also to forestall the risk of this link's disappearing in the event of changes to fiscallegislation.
The main results achieved were as follows:– initially, a review of the operation of the current link between Intrastat and the fiscal
system, particularly in the light of the va riety of organisation in the Member States;
– recommendations at the level of national or ganisation and use of fiscal sources to
improve the quality and availability of statistical data;
– a forward analysis of the possible consequences of the disappearance of the link
between Intrastat and the fiscal system, especially in order to identify informationsources that could repl ace fiscal information.
4.4.4. Improving the information syst em for statistics on trade in goods
The introduction of Intrastat in 1993 and the deve lopment of methodological work since then,
prompted by the SLIM initiative, have resulted in a need for measures aimed at ensuring thatusers of statistics are better informed and at  organising the management of methodological
material. This objective takes concrete form in the regular publication of an Edicom andIntrastat "Newsletter" and the launch of a project for an information system containing themethodological reference documentation c oncerning statistics on trade in goods.
A data base, partly opera tional, has thus been de veloped with a dual purpose:
– management of internal documentation at Eurostat, with easier access to this
information;
– providing users with better information about comprehensive basic methodological
documentation comprising a number of sec tions: guide to concepts and definitions
used at Community level; a guide for users of statistics; a guide for departmentsresponsible for compiling statistics on trade in goods; access to me tadata and to the
acquis communautaire .
4.4.5. Improving statistical processing of basic dataThe fundamental objectives were to improve the quality and availability of the data that were
disseminated and to allow the collection burden to be reduced by means of suitable statisticalprocessing. The main measures were as follows:
– Studies of adjustment methods:
The aim of these studies was to improve data reliability by estimating unreported trade. This
can occur as a result of applying threshol ds or because of non-response. Estimates of
statistical value using invoiced value, which is better known by firms, were also studied.
– Production forward indicators for external trade
The time taken by the Member States to transmit data did not allow intra- and extra-
Community trade statistics to be produced within the deadlines compatible with userrequirements, especially in the case of the macroeconomic aggregates.
19Studies were launched to improve transmission times, at both Member State and centralised
levels, in order to develop tec hniques that would make it possible to forecast late submissions.
Several methods were tested a nd evaluated (sampling, modellin g of time series, regression).
A computer application was deve loped and introduced to estimate  data that were missing or
submitted late by certain Member States.
– Bilateral analyses of statistics between Member States
Following the introduction of Intrastat in  1993, cases of significant asymmetry between
Member State trade flows were noticed. These have a considerable impact on balances ofpayments and national accounts.  Bilateral studies were conduc ted to identify and correct,
wherever possible, the various  possible causes of asymmetry.
– Improving information checks
The checks conducted on data transmitted by th e Member States were mainly checks on the
formal validity of the information. To impr ove data quality, it was decided to develop
probability checks on quantitative data.
The main results achieved were as follows:– The deadlines for supplying intra-Community  statistics were considerably reduced.
A tool for estimating missing data is re gularly used for the first publication of
monthly data.
– The quality of the published data has been improved thanks, in pa rticular, to better
statistical adjustments.
– Checks of basic information improved (especially, checks on the exhaustiveness of
responses by large firms).
– A programme for detecting outliers has been devised. Reports are regularly sent to
the national collection authorities to inform them of suspect trends.
– Member States have been able to simplif y the Intrastat declaration, while monitoring
the effect of simplifications on data quality (e.g., elimination of collecting data onstatistical value).
– The main causes of asymmetry between Memb er States were identified and, in some
cases, dealt with. However, the available data did not make it possible to make a
significant reduction in overall intra-EU asymmetry.
– A test model for reconciling intra-EU flows, based on analysis of time series, was
devised.
4.4.6. Consolidation and expansion of range  of statistics on external trade
New statistical information needs were identified, relating in particular to the globalisation of
the economy and the creation of monetary union.
20The main actions undertaken in respons e to these needs were as follows:
– Statistics related to firms
Economic analysis of international trade re quires a better understanding of the amount of
trade between affiliated firms, as well as a measurement of external trade broken down byfirms' sector of activity. Pilot studies have been  carried out in several Member States in order
to identify the most relevant collection methods  for measuring intra-firm trade and also to
measure the trade conducted by firms that are subsidiaries of foreign groups. Studies have
also been undertaken to obtain data by sector of activity by means of links between registers
of external trade operators and general business registers.
– Production of series adjusted seasonally and by working days
Since the dissemination of raw series does not allow accurate observation of sub-annual
trends in external trade flows, an applica tion for calculating CSV/NWD series was devised.
– Information on data quality
Communication about the quality of  Intrastat data was very poo r. It was decided to compile
and disseminate quality reports at Me mber State and Eurostat level.
– Indices of external trade
The application for calculating external trade indices was completely rewritten for an SAS
environment. These new programmes make it possible to calculate indices for any
combination of declarant countries, partners and products, according to user requirements.
In addition, specific survey systems fo r import/export prices were compared.
– Convergence with balances of  payments and national accounts
Comparability of external trade statistics with the equivalent indicators disseminated in
connection with the balances of payments and national accounts is based on the assumption
that overall imports are measured according to their FOB (free on board) value. Studies werecarried out on the different methods of estimatin g the CIF/FOB conversion rate used by the
Member States.
– Dissemination of data
In response to user needs, indicators or pub lications with specific reference to certain
geographic areas were developed (e.g. monetary union or candidate countries).
Also, the various geographic groupings used by the Member States were analysed.
The main results obtained were as follows:– The possible collection methods for measur ing intra-firm trade were defined and
evaluated.
– The links with general business register s were expanded. However, some Member
States are still not in a position to make such links (especially for extra-EU trade) andthus cannot produce statistics by sector of activity.
21– Series adjusted seasonally and by working days are produced and published every
month.
– Quality reports have been disseminated, especi ally on Eurostat's Internet site, using a
common structure. Eleven Member States out of 15 have produced their own quality
reports with a standard presentation.
– The deadlines for supplying the external  trade indices have been considerably
reduced. The new programmes make it possibl e to cope with all user requirements,
either in connection with the EMU or  the future enlargement of the EU.
– A review of the methods of estimating the CIF/FOB conversion rate was carried out.
This review reveals tremendous differen ces in the methods and resulted obtained.
4.5. Measures related to the organisatio n and management of the programme
In this group of measures, mention must be made  of the meetings of the Edicom Task Force,
which was behind most measures and which wa s responsible for managing and monitoring
the programme.
Training and seminars were also organised in the Member States and made a big contribution
to promoting Intrastat and Idep among firms.
225. GENERAL REVIEW AND CONCLUSIONS
The result of the actions undertaken (see Pa rt 4) shows that they allowed a noticeable
improvement in the quality of intra-Community statistics after the reorganisation that tookplace in 1993. In particular, joint efforts made it possible to attain objectives that would have
been impossible if efforts had been made solely at Member State level.
The main results at the end of the programme were as follows:– the programme helped considerably in intr oducing the Intrastat system under suitable
conditions;
– in particular, it allowed the design, development and promo tion of electronic Intrastat
declaration forms distributed to more than 50 000 firms required to provide statistical
information;
– it allowed the infrastructure for collecting, processing, transmitting and
disseminating statistical information to be modernised in the Member States and atEurostat, with a notable positive impact on information quality, dissemination timesand arrangements for access to statistics, especially the development of theComext data base;
– it allowed suitable messages to be compiled and information transmission to be
standardised in an international contex t (cooperation with the United Nations), thus
facilitating data exchange and comparability not only at the level of the EuropeanUnion but also at international level (in particular, by expanding the collection of
data to include a number of non-member countries);
– it allowed the computerisation of the management and dissemination of information
related to the nomenclature, as well as the availability of such information to internaland external users;
– it was involved in improving and harmonising  statistical methods, thus contributing
to better data quality;
– it was involved, as part of the SLIM initiative,  in adapting Intrastat rules to the needs
of the internal market by ensuring a bette r balance between user requirements and the
burden placed on information providers.
Extra- and intra-Community trade statistics ha ve entered a new phase of development. They
must primarily meet the growing and more demanding information needs of users in a climateof uncertainty about the administrative envi ronment of the collection system and about
available resources, at both Community and na tional levels. In respons e to these challenges,
the Commission (Eurostat) in 1999 proposed a num ber of strategic guidelines designed to
increase data accuracy and reliability, to speed up the availability of statistics, to change the
range of statistics on offer and to prepare a more extensive overhaul of the system in themedium/long term.
In this regard, a new Decision of the European  Parliament and of th e Council was adopted in
2001 in order :
23– encourage modern, rational a nd effective organisation of the trans-European network
for the collection, processing and disse mination of intra- and extra-Community
statistics;
– to develop computer tools for the co llection, processing, transmission and
dissemination of statistical in formation, taking into acc ount the latest technological
advances and seeking to optimise cost-effectiveness.
The work has begun. In cooperation with th e Member States the Commission will regularly
review the actions financed under the new Deci sion, in order to ascert ain whether the stated
objectives have been attained and to provide guidelines for improving the effectiveness offuture actions.
24ANNEX I
USE OF BUDGET 1997-1999
25DECISION 1997 Phase I - BREAKDOWN OF DECENTRALISED EXPENDITURE
Member States Amount of Decision Amount spent
Belgium 240.000 240.000
Denmark 160.000 160.000
Germany 300.000 300.000
Greece 160.000 160.000
Spain 200.000 200.000
France 280.000 280.000
Ireland 160.000 160.000
Italy 260.000 260.000
Luxembourg 150.000 150.000
Netherlands 190.000 190.000
Austria 170.000 170.000
Portugal 170.000 170.000
Finland 160.000 160.000
Sweden 180.000 180.000
United Kingdom 220.000 220.000
TOTAL 3.000.000 3.000.000
26DECISION 1997 Phase II - BREAKDOWN OF DECENTRALISED EXPENDITURE
Member States Amount of Decision Amount spent
Belgium 100.000 100.000
Denmark 80.000 80.000
Germany 130.000 130.000
Greece 80.000 80.000
Spain 175.000 175.000
France 130.000 130.000
Ireland 80.000 80.000
Italy 120.000 120.000
Luxembourg 32.000 32.000
Netherlands 178.000 178.000
Austria 55.000 55.000
Portugal 80.000 80.000
Finland 80.000 80.000
Sweden 80.000 80.000
United Kingdom 100.000 100.000
TOTAL 1.500.000 1.500.000
27DECISION 1998 - BREAKDOWN OF DECENTRALISED EXPENDITURE
Member States Amount of Decision Amount spent
Belgium 374.600 299.255
Denmark 227.200 227.200
Germany 533.000 533.000
Greece 183.200 177.620
Spain 325.100 192.013
France 492.900 492.900
Ireland 192.400 188.727
Italy 446.000 321.734
Luxembourg 146.100 103.950
Netherlands 619.200 619.200
Austria 239.400 234.515
Portugal 221.100 221.100
Finland 201.100 201.100
Sweden 275.000 274.660
United Kingdom 387.700 387.700
TOTAL 4.864.000 4.474.674
28DECISION 1999 - BREAKDOWN OF DECENTRALISED EXPENDITURE
Member States Amount of Decision Amount spent
Belgium 433.800 350.929
Denmark 263.000 263.000
Germany 617.200 617.200
Greece 212.100 210.069
Spain 376.500 345.649
France 570.700 570.000
Ireland 222.800 139.093
Italy 516.500 206.600
Luxembourg 169.200 169.200
Netherlands 687.000 687.000
Austria 277.100 277.100
Portugal 256.000 256.000
Finland 232.800 232.800
Sweden 318.300 318.300
United Kingdom 449.000 449.000
TOTAL 5.602.000 5.091.940
29DECISION 1997 Phase I - BREAKDOWN OF CENTRALISED
EXPENDITURE
Title of project Amount of Decision Amount spent
Infrastructure and organisation 215.000 213.200
. Meetings/Task Force/Seminars
. Assistance and support activities
Trade in goods between Member States 360.000 357.600
. Optimisation of Intrastat operation
. SLIM initiative / Member State studies
Information system for statistics on trade in 255.000 254.000
goods
. Development of data bases
. Maintenance of COMEXT system
Classification of trade in goods 420.000 419.372
. Management of amendments
. Access to CN
. Related products
. Language consolidation and extension
. Documentation system
Publication / Studies 370.000 369.100
. Extraction / World Trade System
. Computerised editions of external trade publications
. Desktop publishing 2
. Notes to publications
. Production of indices
. Conversion of indices
. Adaptation of process of alignment of intra-EU trade
Machine-readable forms 390.000 385.138
. HelpDesk/Management support and maintenance
. Development of WINDOWS IDEP/CN8
. EDICOM project support
Standardisation/Telecommunications 210.000 206.900
. EDIFACT standardisation
. Support for Telecom introduction
Equipment 100.000 99.787
. Purchase and maintenance of equipment
Reconciliation exercise 100.000 99.200
Harmonisation of methods 120.000 119.100
Statistical analyses 125.000 124.250
. Analysis of data - Quality
. Data processing support
Globalisation, statistical methodology, support for studies 40.000 38.500
Dissemination system for statistics on trade in goods 150.000 149.875
. CD ROM COMEXT
Collection and production 145.000 143.800
TOTAL 3.000.000 2.979.822
30DECISION 1997 Phase II - BREAKDOWN OF CENTRALISED
EXPENDITURE
Title of project Amount of Decision Amount spent
Machine-readable forms 500.000 487.850
. Support and maintenance
. Re-design of IDEP/CN8
. Windows version of IDEP/CN8
Information system for statistics on trade in
goods 270.000 168.000
. Confidentiality of statistics in Comext
. Mirror statistics in Comext
. Conversion of two index calculation systems from VM/CMS to
Unix
Studies in Member States
. Simplification of variables 230.000 229.560
. Thresholds
. Single flow
. Data adjustment - Quality
. Links with VAT
. Reconciliation: intra-EU trade
. Globalisation
Technical studies by Eurostat
. Information feedback to information providers 150.000 150.000
. Telecommunications study
. Cooperation with software companies
EDICOM meeting and equipment 30.000 30.000
Classification of trade in goods
. Study on simpler classification of goods 130.000 126.500
. FEBI study on trade names of products
Dissemination of data
. Development of Internet service; production of publication 140.000 135.228
"Statistics in Brief"
. Maintenance of Comext CD/ROM
Trade in goods between Member States
. SLIM initiative - single flow
. SLIM initiative - sampling 140.000 138.000
TOTAL 1.590.000 1.465.138
31DECISION 1998 - BREAKDOWN OF CENTRALISED EXPENDITURE
Title of project Amount of Decision Amount spent
Coordination of assistance and support 200.000 199.080
Organisation of Task Forces/meetings/seminars 150.000 150.000
Infrastructure/computer equipment 150.000 149.740
Implementation of SLIM 200.000 198.300
. Analysis and summary
. Simulation of alternative systems
Statistical concepts and methods 220.000 218.000
. Impact of United Nations concepts
. Globalisation
Statistical analyses 300.000 298.800
. Quality analyses
. Data adjustment
. Technical support
Telematic tools/machine-readable forms 920.000 913.814
.  IDEP/CN8 support and maintenance. EDICOM project management
support
. EDIFACT support for EDICOM
. Assistance for EDICOM project
. Support and corrective and ongoing maintenance of the Windows
version of IDEP/CN8
. Infrastructure, meetings
Statistical production of data bases 450.000 447.776
. Collection and pre-processing
. Comext development
. Support and assistance
Classification 500.000 493.820
. Related products
. Access to CN
. Language consolidation and extension
Exploitation of data and derived data 400.000 398.213
. Desktop
. Indices/Conversion
. Alignment of intra-EU trade
. News releases and "Statistics in Brief"
Dissemination on-line 300.000 299.850
. CD-ROM production and development
. Internet
Analyses, methods and specific EDICOM measures 846.000 789.284
. Analysis of alternative collection systems; integration in European Statistical System (ESS)
. Simpler classification of goods
. Administrative source of data
. Intrastat/VAT
. Cost-benefit analyses
. Other measures
TOTAL 4.636.000 4.556.677
32DECISION 1999 - BREAKDOWN OF CENTRALISED EXPENDITURE
Title of project Amount of Decision Amount spent
Coordination of assistance and support 200.000 123.985
Organisation of Task Force/meetings 100.000 100.000
Organisation of seminars (under Title A7) 50.000 0
Infrastructure/computer equipment 150.000 149.714
Systemic design of EDICOM programme and reporting 250.000 49.315
Implementation of SLIM 200.000 199.750
. Analysis and summary
. Simulation of alternative systems
Statistical concepts and methods 220.000 219.400
. Impact of United Nations concepts
. Globalisation
Quality measures 450.000 443.800
. Improvement of checking systems and adjustment methods
. Technical support
. Other quality measures
Telematic tools/machine-readable forms 1.042.000 1.041.645
. Corrective and ongoing maintenance of IDEP/CN8 (DOS and Windows
versions)
. Corrective and ongoing maintenance of EDIFACT messages
 used for external trade statistics
. Assistance to Member States (IDEP/CN8, telecommunications,
EDIFACT), assistance for EDICOM project
. Technical studies, pilot projects
. Infrastructure, meetings
Statistical production of data bases 596.000 595.876
. Collection and pre-processing
. Comext development
. Support and assistance
Classification 450.000 449.589
. Related products
. Access to CN
. Language consolidation and extension
Exploitation of data and derived data 400.000 350.295
. Desktop
. Indices/Conversion
. Alignment of intra-EU trade
. News releases and "Statistics in Brief"
Dissemination on-line 300.000 296.359
. CD-ROM production and development
. Internet
Analyses, methods and specific EDICOM measures 990.000 747.055
. Integration in European Statistical System (ESS)
. Intrastat/VAT
. Adaptation of national systems to new Community
rules
. Trade statistics manual
. Meta-information modules
. Reconciliation exercise modules
. Rapid Data Exchange
. Other measures
TOTAL 5.398.000 4.766.783
33ANNEX II
USE OF ELECTRONIC MEDIA
34The figures shown in the following pages are taken from the "EDI" questionnaires which are
completed once a year by the Member States. They make it possible to assess the trend in theuse of electronic media by the European Un ion as a whole and by each Member State.
An initial table shows the figures for all 15 Me mber States of the European Union, followed
by 15 tables giving the figures for each Member State.
The following information is available:Number of "PSI" arrivals and dispatches: numbe r of firms providing statistical information
(arrivals and dispatches)
(PSI = provider of statistical information)Number of declarations (arrivals and dispatches)
Number of lines (arrivals and dispatches)Percentage value of total trade (arrivals and dispatches)
35EU-15
Avera ge month in the referenced period (first half of the year)
Number of PSIs - Arrival 1997 1998 1999
Media Paper 220.646 226.428 217.052
Diskette 60.601 67.398 67.779Telecom 14.694 17.185 20.933
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 23.692 30.473 32.236
Other EDIFACT messages 952 899 884
Non EDIFACT format 55.990 64.487 33.500
Number of declarations - Arrival
Media Paper 241.065 273.510 261.242
Diskette 67.732 79.760 79.121
Telecom 87.993 103.461 101.013
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 62.533 73.337 75.206
Other EDIFACT messages 9.044 9.678 6.974
Non EDIFACT format 65.821 79.560 80.455
Number of lines - Arrival
Media Paper 2.473.846 2.158.830 2.029.449
Diskette 3.832.864 3.854.691 3.901.278
Telecom 631.397 909.548 1.196.678
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 1.067.722 1.273.470 1.530.060
Other EDIFACT messages 173.464 57.983 55.799Non EDIFACT format 3.624.603 4.489.956 4.684.421
Percentage value of total trade - Arrival
Media Paper
DisketteTelecom
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT
Other EDIFACT messages Non EDIFACT format
Number of PSIs - Dispatch
Media Paper 177.441 175.812 167.341
Diskette 46.504 53.417 54.289
Telecom 10.610 12.685 16.279
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 15.540 21.040 20.927
Other EDIFACT messages 561 537 573
Non EDIFACT format 45.495 54.773 24.675
Number of declarations - Dispatch
Media Paper 313.752 333.479 308.929
Diskette 68.758 84.466 89.013
Telecom 42.825 54.087 58.796
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 30.260 34.336 38.462
Other EDIFACT messages 4.028 3.818 2.737Non EDIFACT format 55.405 79.696 90.162
Number of lines - Dispatch
Media Paper 2.868.959 2.225.877 2.002.173
Diskette 7.042.311 8.111.998 8.160.428Telecom 825.399 1.107.012 1.397.876
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 585.766 709.537 897.768
Other EDIFACT messages 194.725 64.568 68.600Non EDIFACT format 5.805.414 8.514.018 8.630.696
Percentage value of total trade - Dispatch
Media Paper
DisketteTelecom
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format
Any Comment: 
36BELGIUM
Avera ge month in the referenced period (first half of the year)
Number of PSIs - Arrival 1997 1998 1999
Media Paper 11500 13315 9104
Diskette 1165 4556 3510Telecom 1389
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 1100 3460 3024
Other EDIFACT messages 5
Non EDIFACT format 65 1543 1875
Number of declarations - Arrival
Media Paper 11700 9104
Diskette 4135 3510
Telecom 1389
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 3024
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format 1875
Number of lines - Arrival
Media Paper 325000 191793 160716
Diskette 117500 135822 107251
Telecom 72141
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 100000 90468
Other EDIFACT messages Non EDIFACT format 17500 88924
Percentage value of total trade - Arrival
Media Paper 77,00% 46,94% 41,44%
Diskette 23,00% 53,06% 37,28%Telecom 21,28%
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 20,00% 42,89% 43,35%
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format 2,50% 15,22%
Number of PSIs - Dispatch
Media Paper 11500 9199 6718
Diskette 1165 3791 2871
Telecom 1085
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 1100 3460 2305
Other EDIFACT messages 5
Non EDIFACT format 65 1543 1651
Number of declarations - Dispatch
Media Paper 8462 6718
Diskette 3125 2871
Telecom 1085
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 2305
Other EDIFACT messages Non EDIFACT format 1651
Number of lines - Dispatch
Media Paper 325000 125235 114237
Diskette 117500 113520 100645Telecom 46681
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 100000 89633
Other EDIFACT messages Non EDIFACT format 17500 57693
Percentage value of total trade - Dispatch
Media Paper 77,00% 44,59% 37,49%
Diskette 23,00% 55,41% 39,29%Telecom 23,23%
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 20,00% 11,68% 47,32%
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format 2,50% 15,19%
Any Comment: 
37DENMARK
Avera ge month in the referenced period (first half of the year)
Number of PSIs - Arrival 1997 1998 1999
Media Paper 3806 3877 4106
Diskette 1312 1433 1494Telecom 1664 1468 1364
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 825 896 947
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format 2266 2005 1911
Number of declarations - Arrival
Media Paper 4169 4312 4174
Diskette 22741 24290 21988
Telecom 38211 43332 40383
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 1310 1473 1333
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format 59642 66149 61039
Number of lines - Arrival
Media Paper 37321 39429 38930
Diskette 122677 130861 128135
Telecom 81484 83214 73938
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 41487 49629 44310
Other EDIFACT messages Non EDIFACT format 162674 164446 157763
Percentage value of total trade - Arrival
Media Paper 38,00% 38,67% 37,62%
Diskette 32,00% 32,74% 31,22%Telecom 30,00% 28,58% 31,16%
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 16,00% 18,02% 16,63%
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format 46,00% 43,31% 45,00%
Number of PSIs - Dispatch
Media Paper 2464 2384 2312
Diskette 802 848 869
Telecom 391 368 351
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 379 382 385
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format 865 834 835
Number of declarations - Dispatch
Media Paper 2742 2779 2549
Diskette 30416 38918 42135
Telecom 18923 27144 29316
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 766 748 642
Other EDIFACT messages Non EDIFACT format 48573 65314 70810
Number of lines - Dispatch
Media Paper 28090 28505 25049
Diskette 157460 180339 213590Telecom 41770 52788 54215
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 31236 35668 38936
Other EDIFACT messages Non EDIFACT format 167995 197459 228870
Percentage value of total trade - Dispatch
Media Paper 40,00% 39,69% 39,08%
Diskette 36,00% 36,08% 35,58%Telecom 24,00% 24,08% 25,34%
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 11,00% 12,53% 11,85%
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format 49,00% 47,78% 49,07%
Any Comment: 
38GERMANY
Avera ge month in the referenced period (first half of the year)
Number of PSIs - Arrival 1997 1998 1999
Media Paper 30000 31000 30000
Diskette 15000 14500 13200Telecom
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format 15000 14500 13200
Number of declarations - Arrival
Media Paper 92000 102000 110000
Diskette 3308 4097 6000
Telecom
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format 3308 4097 6000
Number of lines - Arrival
Media Paper 280000 315000 332000
Diskette 1323000 1266000 1343000
Telecom
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT
Other EDIFACT messages Non EDIFACT format 1323000 1266000 1343000
Percentage value of total trade - Arrival
Media Paper 43,00% 43,33% 41,73%
Diskette 57,00% 56,67% 58,27%Telecom
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format 57,00% 56,67% 58,27%
Number of PSIs - Dispatch
Media Paper 30000 30500 29500
Diskette 6900 7500 7200
Telecom
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format 6900 7500 7200
Number of declarations - Dispatch
Media Paper 220000 227000 220000
Diskette 4037 4889 6900
Telecom
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT
Other EDIFACT messages Non EDIFACT format 4037 4889 6900
Number of lines - Dispatch
Media Paper 660000 676000 652000
Diskette 3480000 4073000 4230000Telecom
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT
Other EDIFACT messages Non EDIFACT format 3480000 4073000 4230000
Percentage value of total trade - Dispatch
Media Paper 37,00% 35,58% 37,44%
Diskette 63,00% 64,42% 62,56%Telecom
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format 63,00% 64,42% 62,56%
Any Comment: 
39GREECE
Avera ge month in the referenced period (first half of the year)
Number of PSIs - Arrival 1997 1998 1999
Media Paper 11000 14182 17900
Diskette 95 115 158T e l e c o m 1 11 53 7
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 106 130 195
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format
Number of declarations - Arrival
Media Paper 11000 14482 18090
Diskette 95 115 174
T e l e c o m 1 11 54 0
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 106 130 214
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format
Number of lines - Arrival
Media Paper 104500 74785 84131
Diskette 17970 11031 8247
Telecom 320 400 1972
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 18290 11431 10249
Other EDIFACT messages Non EDIFACT format
Percentage value of total trade - Arrival
Media Paper 93,30% 92,33% 89,14%
Diskette 6,26% 6,50% 9,54%Telecom 0,44% 1,17% 1,32%
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 100,00% 100,00% 100,00%
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format
Number of PSIs - Dispatch
Media Paper 2000 2582 3000
D i s k e t t e 34 65 9
Telecom 1 3 15
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 4 49 74
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format
Number of declarations - Dispatch
Media Paper 2000 2582 3200
D i s k e t t e 34 64 9
Telecom 1 3 13
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 4 49 62
Other EDIFACT messages Non EDIFACT format
Number of lines - Dispatch
Media Paper 13300 10250 11807
Diskette 10 800 731Telecom 10 30 207
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 20 829 938
Other EDIFACT messages Non EDIFACT format
Percentage value of total trade - Dispatch
Media Paper 98,00% 90,91% 92,70%
Diskette 1,60% 8,66% 5,54%Telecom 0,40% 0,43% 1,76%
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 100,00% 100,00% 100,00%
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format
Any Comment: 
40SPAIN
Avera ge month in the referenced period (first half of the year)
Number of PSIs - Arrival 1997 1998 1999
Media Paper 22589 22730 17855
Diskette 7821 9062 11048Telecom 85 326 1015
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 7906 9062 12063
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format 0 0 0
Number of declarations - Arrival
Media Paper 23221 24845 18122
Diskette 6786 10538 11176
Telecom 89 352 1020
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 8692 10538 12196
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format 0 0 0
Number of lines - Arrival
Media Paper 98320 98259 74082
Diskette 117327 108069 124661
Telecom 2285 10102 22169
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 119552 108069 146830
Other EDIFACT messages Non EDIFACT format 0 0 0
Percentage value of total trade - Arrival
Media Paper 38,54% 36,00% 17,63%
Diskette 58,25% 61,00% 72,73%Telecom 1,75% 3,00% 9,64%
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 61,46% 61,00% 82,37%
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format 0,00% 0,00% 0,00%
Number of PSIs - Dispatch
Media Paper 14980 15217 11775
Diskette 5739 6941 8670
Telecom 69 226 715
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 6069 6941 9285
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format 0 0 0
Number of declarations - Dispatch
Media Paper 15157 16942 11913
Diskette 6547 8221 8655
Telecom 73 248 719
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 6620 8221 9374
Other EDIFACT messages Non EDIFACT format 0 0 0
Number of lines - Dispatch
Media Paper 67946 69568 51973
Diskette 62599 66423 79159Telecom 883 1942 7409
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 63482 66423 86568
Other EDIFACT messages Non EDIFACT format 0 0 0
Percentage value of total trade - Dispatch
Media Paper 36,37% 32,00% 16,80%
Diskette 61,50% 65,00% 72,61%Telecom 2,13% 3,00% 10,59%
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 63,63% 65,00% 83,20%
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format 0,00% 0,00% 0,00%
Any Comment: 
41FRANCE
Avera ge month in the referenced period (first half of the year)
Number of PSIs - Arrival 1997 1998 1999
Media Paper 56558 57681 58908
Diskette 7229 8217 8287
Telecom 7179 8093 9312
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 2358 3201 4298
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format 7017 7394 7009
Number of declarations - ArrivalMedia Paper
Diskette
Telecom
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format
Number of lines - Arrival
Media Paper 627801 604650
606315
Diskette 613052 612189 561288
Telecom 148453 298228 396416
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 117105 252402 335120
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format 1942101 2086950 2149842
Percentage value of total trade - Arrival
Media Paper 50,00% 44,90% 40,80%
Diskette 37,00% 36,60% 34,10%
Telecom 13,00% 18,50% 25,10%
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 9,34% 13,30% 16,50%
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format 38,87% 38,60% 39,10%
Number of PSIs - DispatchMedia Paper 56558 57681
58908
Diskette 7229 8217 8287
Telecom 7179 8093 9312
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 2358 3201 4298
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format 7017 7394 7009
Number of declarations - DispatchMedia Paper
Diskette
Telecom
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format
Number of lines - Dispatch
Media Paper 640992 570239
526508
Diskette 889925 924122 890905
Telecom 426778 559827 711059
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 117105 252402 335120
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format 1942101 2086950 2149842
Percentage value of total trade - Dispatch
Media Paper 39,56% 33,60% 30,80%
Diskette 39,14% 38,50% 35,50%
Telecom 21,30% 27,90% 33,70%
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 7,91% 11,90% 14,00%
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format 53,66% 52,60% 52,80%
Any Comment: 
42IRLAND
Avera ge month in the referenced period (first half of the year)
Number of PSIs - Arrival 1997 1998 1999
Media Paper 4820 5113 5019
Diskette 920 951 1007Telecom 176 161 67
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 465 491 465
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format 631 621 609
Number of declarations - Arrival
Media Paper 5360 5327 5379
Diskette 977 1019 1085
Telecom 176 181 73
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 465 536 507
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format 688 664 651
Number of lines - Arrival
Media Paper 91167 88483 70831
Diskette 75858 84983 92466
Telecom 5090 4528 2640
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 27266 34241 34524
Other EDIFACT messages Non EDIFACT format 53682 51215 60582
Percentage value of total trade - Arrival
Media Paper 64,00% 57,00% 53,00%
Diskette 31,00% 40,00% 44,00%Telecom 5,00% 3,00% 3,00%
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 11,00% 11,00% 12,00%
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format 25,00% 30,00% 33,00%
Number of PSIs - Dispatch
Media Paper 1303 1329 1308
Diskette 299 318 302
Telecom 23 19 13
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 107 105 116
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format 215 118 199
Number of declarations - Dispatch
Media Paper 1455 1379 1408
Diskette 324 335 335
Telecom 23 20 15
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 107 120 117
Other EDIFACT messages Non EDIFACT format 240 235 233
Number of lines - Dispatch
Media Paper 21022 20455 15343
Diskette 39607 35696 42967Telecom 638 479 402
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 9498 11212 13265
Other EDIFACT messages Non EDIFACT format 30747 24897 30104
Percentage value of total trade - Dispatch
Media Paper 45,00% 43,00% 39,00%
Diskette 53,00% 56,00% 58,00%Telecom 2,00% 1,00% 3,00%
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 9,00% 18,00% 19,00%
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format 46,00% 38,00% 40,00%
Any Comment: 
43ITALY
Avera ge month in the referenced period (first half of the year)
Number of PSIs - Arrival 1997 1998 1999
Media Paper 21361 21709 21600
Diskette 13093 15086 15150Telecom
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 1517 2237
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format 28833 29714
Number of declarations - Arrival
Media Paper 22261 25222 25000
Diskette 13644 15459 16000
Telecom
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format
Number of lines - Arrival
Media Paper 116514 104370 113442
Diskette 226113 221786 286986
Telecom
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT
Other EDIFACT messages Non EDIFACT format
Percentage value of total trade - Arrival
Media Paper 28,00% 27,00% 24,00%
Diskette 72,00% 73,00% 76,00%Telecom
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format
Number of PSIs - Dispatch
Media Paper 24387 24270 24000
Diskette 14947 16865 17000
Telecom
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 1517 2237
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format 28833 29714
Number of declarations - Dispatch
Media Paper 25763 28271 24500
Diskette 15790 17328 16000
Telecom
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT
Other EDIFACT messages Non EDIFACT format
Number of lines - Dispatch
Media Paper 264139 248082 200997
Diskette 616310 670741 791238Telecom
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT
Other EDIFACT messages Non EDIFACT format
Percentage value of total trade - Dispatch
Media Paper 30,00% 27,00% 25,00%
Diskette 70,00% 73,00% 75,00%Telecom
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format
Any Comment: 
44LUXEMBOURG
Avera ge month in the referenced period (first half of the year)
Number of PSIs - Arrival 1997 1998 1999
Media Paper 2100 2100 1971
Diskette 850 910 931
Telecom 160 290 335
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 765 910 980
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format 245 290 286
Number of declarations - Arrival
Media Paper 2130 2210 2074
Diskette 862 1130 1154
Telecom 163 300 360
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 780 1130 1215
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format 245 300 299
Number of lines - Arrival
Media Paper 65000 61300 49667
Diskette 54000 40700 40414
Telecom 8000 5000 22452
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 45500 40700 43635
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format 16500 5000 19231
Percentage value of total trade - Arrival
Media Paper 29,63% 48,71% 46,34%
Diskette 19,08% 36,78% 37,27%
Telecom 8,25% 14,51% 16,39%
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 47,94% 38,35% 41,21%
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format 6,70% 12,96% 12,45%
Number of PSIs - Dispatch
Media Paper 760 830 748
Diskette 480 530 534
Telecom 80 130 147
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 370 380 407
Other EDIFACT messages Non EDIFACT format 190 280 274
Number of declarations - Dispatch
Media Paper 790 910 850
Diskette 490 720 720Telecom 82 140 153
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 382 570 592
Other EDIFACT messages Non EDIFACT format 190 290 281
Number of lines - Dispatch
Media Paper 10000 9300 7616
Diskette 7000 17500 5109Telecom 2500 3400 5045
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 7500 17700 7204
Other EDIFACT messages Non EDIFACT format 2000 3200 2950
Percentage value of total trade - Dispatch
Media Paper 21,90% 34,16% 34,30%
Diskette 12,89% 47,92% 47,91%Telecom 8,25% 17,93% 17,79%
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 40,20% 56,75% 58,50%
Other EDIFACT messages Non EDIFACT format 5,16% 9,09% 7,20%
Any Comment: 
45NETHERLANDS
Avera ge month in the referenced period (first half of the year)
Number of PSIs - Arrival 1997 1998 1999
Media Paper 5000 4800 4500
Diskette 7000 6100 6150Telecom 1500 2300 2550
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 87 100 50
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format 1413 8300 8000
Number of declarations - Arrival
Media Paper 4000 5400 4900
Diskette 6500 6500 6400
Telecom 1300 2500 3100
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 81 100 50
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format 1219 8200 7950
Number of lines - Arrival
Media Paper 42000 56000 52000
Diskette 670000 750000 710000
Telecom 88000 155000 190000
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 13000 15000 12000
Other EDIFACT messages Non EDIFACT format 75000 890000 820000
Percentage value of total trade - Arrival
Media Paper 22,00% 15,50% 12,50%
Diskette 72,00% 72,20% 69,00%Telecom 6,00% 12,30% 18,50%
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 1,50% 1,00% 1,00%
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format 98,50% 99,00% 99,00%
Number of PSIs - Dispatch
Media Paper 2100 2700 2400
Diskette 6200 5400 5550
Telecom 1300 2000 2600
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 100 100 50
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format 1200 7300 7100
Number of declarations - Dispatch
Media Paper 1800 3000 2800
Diskette 6100 5700 5500
Telecom 1100 2200 2500
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 90 100 50
Other EDIFACT messages Non EDIFACT format 1010 7800 7500
Number of lines - Dispatch
Media Paper 36000 28000 26000
Diskette 1400000 1800000 1600000Telecom 167000 320000 360000
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 8500 9000 7000
Other EDIFACT messages Non EDIFACT format 150500 2111000 1900000
Percentage value of total trade - Dispatch
Media Paper 21,00% 11,40% 9,50%
Diskette 71,00% 76,40% 74,30%Telecom 8,00% 12,20% 16,20%
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 1,00% 1,00% 1,00%
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format 99,00% 99,00% 99,00%
Any Comment: 
46AUSTRIA
Avera ge month in the referenced period (first half of the year)
Number of PSIs - Arrival 1997 1998 1999
Media Paper 5912 7291 5978
Diskette 5033 5184 4258Telecom 1090 1966 2715
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 6123 7150 6973
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format
Number of declarations - Arrival
Media Paper 24111 26982 20509
Diskette 7283 6590 5079
Telecom 2258 5521 4474
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 9541 12111 9553
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format
Number of lines - Arrival
Media Paper 83818 94235 71425
Diskette 346627 410992 389917
Telecom 111525 193769 260041
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 458152 604761 649958
Other EDIFACT messages Non EDIFACT format
Percentage value of total trade - Arrival
Media Paper 27,19% 26,91% 21,34%
Diskette 52,74% 47,18% 41,99%Telecom 20,07% 25,91% 36,67%
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 72,81% 73,09% 78,66%
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format
Number of PSIs - Dispatch
Media Paper 3228 3230 2778
Diskette 2159 2049 1694
Telecom 496 802 1096
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 2655 2851 2790
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format
Number of declarations - Dispatch
Media Paper 7218 7720 6793
Diskette 2062 2190 1799
Telecom 440 785 1226
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 2502 2975 3025
Other EDIFACT messages Non EDIFACT format
Number of lines - Dispatch
Media Paper 22663 24409 22062
Diskette 120920 160769 119123Telecom 48187 66518 96130
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 169108 227267 215253
Other EDIFACT messages Non EDIFACT format
Percentage value of total trade - Dispatch
Media Paper 24,29% 23,31% 21,60%
Diskette 57,95% 51,01% 45,22%Telecom 17,76% 25,68% 33,18%
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 75,71% 76,69% 78,40%
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format
Any Comment: Monthly average.
47PORTUGAL
Avera ge month in the referenced period (first half of the year)
Number of PSIs - Arrival 1997 1998 1999
Media Paper 13185 13885 12902
Diskette 0 72 566Telecom 0 0 106
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 0 72 672
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format
Number of declarations - Arrival
Media Paper 13258 16142 13324
Diskette 0 72 567
Telecom 0 0 107
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 0 72 674
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format
Number of lines - Arrival
Media Paper 105971 114324 102412
Diskette 0 1034 9708
Telecom 0 0 2313
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 0 1034 12021
Other EDIFACT messages Non EDIFACT format
Percentage value of total trade - Arrival
Media Paper 100,00% 97,50% 86,78%
Diskette 0,00% 2,50% 8,55%Telecom 0,00% 0,00% 4,67%
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 0,00% 2,50% 13,22%
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format
Number of PSIs - Dispatch
Media Paper 4477 5545 5131
Diskette 0 16 178
Telecom 0 0 29
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 0 16 206
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format
Number of declarations - Dispatch
Media Paper 5387 6463 5291
Diskette 0 16 178
Telecom 0 0 29
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 0 16 207
Other EDIFACT messages Non EDIFACT format
Number of lines - Dispatch
Media Paper 28249 30479 27308
Diskette 0 233 1518Telecom 0 0 263
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 0 233 1781
Other EDIFACT messages Non EDIFACT format
Percentage value of total trade - Dispatch
Media Paper 100,00% 98,20% 91,77%
Diskette 0,00% 1,80% 5,52%Telecom 0,00% 0,00% 2,70%
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 0,00% 1,80% 8,23%
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format
Any Comment: 
48FINLAND
Avera ge month in the referenced period (first half of the year)
Number of PSIs - Arrival 1997 1998 1999
Media Paper 4660 4120 3776
Diskette 520 530 858Telecom 1600 1400 885
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 1600 1810 1392
Other EDIFACT messages Non EDIFACT format 520 120 351
Number of declarations - Arrival
Media Paper 6415 6207 5849
Diskette 719 587 1166Telecom 24059 26835 25320
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 24059 27272 25888
Other EDIFACT messages Non EDIFACT format 719 150 598
Number of lines - Arrival
Media Paper 54749 57126 55033
Diskette 34146 33545 48674Telecom 88085 100269 84987
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 88085 107469 96932
Other EDIFACT messages Non EDIFACT format 34146 26345 36729
Percentage value of total trade - Arrival
Media Paper 44,50% 46,70% 43,00%
Diskette 10,00% 10,10% 21,50%Telecom 45,50% 43,20% 35,50%
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 45,50% 45,40% 45,40%
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format 10,00% 7,90% 11,60%
Number of PSIs - Dispatch
Media Paper 1700 1500 1631
Diskette 210 450 267
Telecom 600 600 170
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 600 960 325
Other EDIFACT messages Non EDIFACT format 210 90 112
Number of declarations - Dispatch
Media Paper 4009 4052 3754
Diskette 1355 1548 1566Telecom 5587 5846 5786
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 5587 6226 5974
Other EDIFACT messages Non EDIFACT format 1355 1168 1378
Number of lines - Dispatch
Media Paper 22163 23665 22024
Diskette 14571 19412 19863
Telecom 11732 12579 10902
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 11732 14479 13907
Other EDIFACT messages Non EDIFACT format 14571 17512 16858
Percentage value of total trade - DispatchMedia Paper 43,40% 42,60% 42,80%
Diskette 29,10% 31,20% 34,70%Telecom 27,50% 26,20% 22,40%
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 27,50% 29,30% 26,60%
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format 29,10% 28,10% 30,50%
Any Comment: Number of PSIs - nil returns not included
49SWEDEN
Avera ge month in the referenced period (first half of the year)
Number of PSIs - Arrival 1997 1998 1999
Media Paper 11063 8760 9762
Diskette 88 266 604Telecom 752 688 477
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 840 954 1081
Other EDIFACT messages Non EDIFACT format
Number of declarations - Arrival
Media Paper 11684 8950 8354
Diskette 91 272 420Telecom 17408 19703 19375
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 17499 19975 19795
Other EDIFACT messages Non EDIFACT format
Number of lines - Arrival
Media Paper 95297 83446 81868
Diskette 2748 8454 10866
Telecom 36537 40280 40411
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 39285 48734 51277
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format
Percentage value of total trade - Arrival
Media Paper 75,00% 71,74% 65,84%
Diskette 1,60% 4,35% 8,86%
Telecom 23,40% 23,91% 25,29%
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 25,00% 28,26% 34,15%
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format
Number of PSIs - Dispatch
Media Paper 7098 5350 6076
Diskette 48 152 374Telecom 233 206 208
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 281 358 582
Other EDIFACT messages Non EDIFACT format
Number of declarations - Dispatch
Media Paper 7339 5479 5147
Diskette 49 161 232Telecom 14153 15150 15385
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 14202 15311 15617
Other EDIFACT messages Non EDIFACT format
Number of lines - Dispatch
Media Paper 73109 67058 69051
Diskette 1586 5679 8891
Telecom 65999 68645 72683
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 67585 74324 81574
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format
Percentage value of total trade - Dispatch
Media Paper 80,00% 75,93% 72,44%
Diskette 1,60% 3,70% 4,75%
Telecom 18,40% 20,37% 22,81%
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 20,00% 24,07% 27,56%
Other EDIFACT messages 
Non EDIFACT format
Any Comment: 
50UNITED KINGDOM
Avera ge month in the referenced period (first half of the year)
Number of PSIs - Arrival 1997 1998 1999
Media Paper 17092 15865 13671
Diskette 475 416 558
Telecom 477 478 681
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 0 0 96
Other EDIFACT messages 952 894 884Non EDIFACT format 0 0 259
Number of declarations - Arrival
Media Paper 21456 19731 16363
Diskette 4726 4956 4402
Telecom 4318 4722 5372
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 0 0 757
Other EDIFACT messages 9044 9678 6974Non EDIFACT format 0 0 2043
Number of lines - Arrival
Media Paper 346388 175630 136597
Diskette 111846 39225 39665Telecom 61618 18758 27198
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 0 0 2736
Other EDIFACT messages 173464 57983 55799
Non EDIFACT format 0 0 8350
Percentage value of total trade - Arrival
Media Paper 73,90% 73,50% 67,70%
Diskette 14,90% 14,10% 18,60%Telecom 11,20% 12,40% 13,70%
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 0,00% 0,00% 3,80%
Other EDIFACT messages 26,10% 26,50% 86,90%
Non EDIFACT format 0,00% 0,00% 9,30%
Number of PSIs - Dispatch
Media Paper 14886 13495 11056
Diskette 323 294 434Telecom 238 238 538
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 0 0 104
Other EDIFACT messages 561 532 573Non EDIFACT format 0 0 295
Number of declarations - Dispatch
Media Paper 20092 18440 14006
Diskette 1585 1269 2073Telecom 2443 2551 2569
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 0 0 497
Other EDIFACT messages 4028 3818 2737Non EDIFACT format 0 0 1409
Number of lines - Dispatch
Media Paper 656286 294632 230198
Diskette 134823 43764 56689Telecom 59902 20804 32880
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 0 0 6589
Other EDIFACT messages 194725 64568 68600Non EDIFACT format 0 0 14379
Percentage value of total trade - DispatchMedia Paper 74,60% 73,60% 62,60%
Diskette 13,90% 14,70% 22,60%
Telecom 11,50% 11,70% 14,80%
Electronic format CUSDEC/INSTAT 0,00% 0,00% 5,40%
Other EDIFACT messages 25,40% 26,00% 89,50%Non EDIFACT format 0,00% 0,00% 5,10%
Any Comment: