COMMISSION STAFF WORKING PAPER IMPACT ASSESSMENT
Date: 2011-12-21
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU policy, EU statistics, Eurostat

EUROPEAN COMMISSION 

Brussels, 21.12.2011 
SEC(2011) 1625 final 

COMMISSION STAFF WORKING PAPER 

IMPACT ASSESSMENT 

Accompanying the document 

Proposal for a  
REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL 

on the European statistical programme 2013-2017 

{COM(2011) 928 final} 
{SEC(2011) 1623 final} 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS 

PROCEDURAL ISSUES AND CONSULTATION OF INTERESTED PARTIES... 5 

Identification ................................................................................................................ 5 

Legal framework .......................................................................................................... 5 

Organisation and timing............................................................................................... 6 

Consultation of the IAB ............................................................................................... 6 

Consultations with stakeholders................................................................................... 6 

Methodological approach........................................................................................... 10 

PROBLEM DEFINITION ......................................................................................... 10 

Problem description ................................................................................................... 10 

Justification for EU action: subsidiarity and added value of EU involvement .......... 13 

OBJECTIVES ............................................................................................................ 15 

POLICY OPTIONS ................................................................................................... 17 

Option 1: "zero option" with no European Statistical Programme (no EU action) ... 17 

Option 2: ESP 2013-17 will be a repetition of the CSP 2008-2012 (no change option)18 

Option 3: a new five-year European Statistical Programme is established ............... 19 

Other options considered but not further analysed .................................................... 20 

ANALYSIS OF IMPACTS ....................................................................................... 20 

Option 1: "zero option" with no European Statistical Programme ............................ 23 

Option 2: ESP 2013-17 will be a repetition of the CSP 2008-1012........................... 24 

Option 3: a new five-year European Statistical Programme is established ............... 25 

COMPARING THE OPTIONS ................................................................................. 26 

Option 1: "zero option" with no European Statistical Programme ............................ 26 

Option 2: ESP 2013-17 will be a repetition of the CSP 2008-1012........................... 26 

Option 3: a new five-year European Statistical Programme is established ............... 26 

The preferred option................................................................................................... 26 

Financial needs of the ESP 2013-2017 ...................................................................... 29 

MONITORING AND EVALUATION ..................................................................... 29 

1. 

1.1. 

1.2. 

1.3. 

1.4. 

1.5. 

1.6. 

2. 

2.1. 

2.2. 

3. 

4. 

4.1. 

4.2. 

4.3. 

4.4. 

5. 

5.1. 

5.2. 

5.3. 

6. 

6.1. 

6.2. 

6.3. 

6.4. 

6.5. 

7. 

Reference documents ............................................................................................................... 38 

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INTRODUCTION  

This Impact Assessment concerns the proposal for the European Statistical Programme (ESP) 
2013-2017 which is a logical and necessary follow-up of the current multi-annual programme, 
the  Community  Statistical  Programme1  (CSP)  that  covers  the  period  2008-2012.  It  is  the 
seventh programme of this kind. 

Official Statistics in the European Union are rooted in the Treaties, currently in the TFEU2. In 
accordance  with  Regulation  (EC)  No 223/2009  on  European  statistics3,  European  Statistical 
Programmes  (ESPs)  provide 
the  development,  production  and 
dissemination of European statistics and the main fields and objectives to be pursued. ESPs 
lay down priorities concerning the needs for information for the purpose of carrying out the 
activities of the European Union. 

the  framework  for 

The  economic  and  social  policy  debate  in  the  European  Union  over  recent  years  is  being 
driven  by  the  multifaceted  policy  response  to  the  financial  and  economic  crisis,  the 
confidence crisis that emerged after Greece's misreporting of EDP-related budgetary figures 
in fall 2009, and the very intense debate how to enhance economic governance of the Union 
building upon Commission's proposals adopted in September 2010. One core trait of the latter 
proposals is to introduce wider and more intense use of European statistics and indicators as 
one key and reliable underpinning for monitoring, decision-making and policy evaluation of 
economic and social policies and reforms at national and EU levels.  

At  the  same  time,  fast-evolving  and  pressing  needs  for  relevant  and  reliable  European 
statistics have to be confronted with the reality that producing high-quality European statistics 
up  to  the  expectations  is  not  a  straightforward  business.  Indeed,  the  European  Statistical 
System (ESS) is composed by 27+1 partners, 300 processes and 50 000 statisticians in total. 
Numerous  actors  strive  to  meet  numerous  competing  priorities  and  policy  demands  for 
official  and  reliable  information  and  hard-data,  to  adapt  to  tight  requirements  in  terms  of 
respecting  the  principles  of  subsidiarity  and  cost-effectiveness  while  being  confronted  with 
severe strains in terms of human and financial resources.  

The  debate  on  economic  governance  and  the  progressive  establishment  of  new  Community 
policies - such as home and justice affairs, climate change, research and innovation - and the 
policy initiatives and reforms that follow suit, all speak clearly of the strategic importance for 
the Commission to steer the European Statistical System into a joint commitment to develop, 
produce and preserve the highest quality standards for European statistics. 

Previous  Community  Statistical  Programmes  (CSPs)  have  proved  their  value  as  powerful 
programming tools at the European level to steer and lever out efforts within the ESS in order 
to  square  all  competing  needs  and  priorities  together.  They  have  served  efficiently  for  the 
Commission  – and Eurostat, in its  full capacity as the co-ordinator of statistical activities at 
Community  level  –  to  build  the  necessary  bridge  between  the  short-term  immediate  policy 
needs and the long-term strategic planning for the ESS.  

1 
2 
3 

Decision No 1578/2007/EC of the European Parliament and the Council, OJ L344, pp. 15-43.  
Article 338 
OJ L 87, p. 164. 

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The  present  proposal  for  the  European  Statistical  Programme  (ESP)  2013-2017  signals  one 
powerful step towards the materialisation of far-reaching, all-encompassing policy initiatives 
such  as  the  GDP  and  beyond  Initiative4,  the  revision  of  the  European  System  of  National 
Accounts (ESA2010) or the follow-up to the Stiglitz-Sen-Fitoussi Commission report on the 
measurement of economic performance and social progress5. It also aims at bringing to reality 
the statistical priorities and initiatives as decided by the Commission since late 2009.  

In  this  context,  the  following  key  elements  of  legislation  on  European  statistics  need  to  be 
highlighted: the above-mentioned framework Regulation on European statistics, the amended 
Regulation (EC) No 479/2009 on excessive deficit procedure statistics6, and the Commission 
Communication  on  the  production  method  of  EU  statistics7  as  well  as  the  joint  European 
Statistical  System  (ESS)  strategy  paper8and  the  Commission  Communication  on  the  robust 
quality management system for European statistics9.  

The  ESP  2013-2017  needs  to  be  embedded  in  this  complex  and  interrelated  set  of  political 
and legislative framework. In order to ensure that the programme adapts as much as possible 
to the continuously evolving requirements as regards European statistics, detailed information 
on  the  set  of  specific  objectives,  targets  and  indicators  will  be  provided  for  in  the  form  of 
annual  statistical  work  programmes  and  annual  management  plans  which  will  be  planned, 
approved, monitored and evaluated according to the standard procedures.  

The  ESP  2013-2017  covers  all  Eurostat's  operational  activities  and  budget  (with  year  2013 
being  the  only  exception  as  this  is  the  last  year  of  the  ongoing  Modernisation  of  European 
Enterprise and Trade Statistics Programme, MEETS).  

As mentioned above, the current proposal is a logical follow-up of the Community Statistical 
Programme  2008-2012.  On  the  one  hand,  this  European  statistical  infrastructure,  which  has 
been  developed  over  the  last  60  years,  has  to  be  maintained  and  regularly  updated.  This 
corresponds to the strong need of continuation and consistency. On the other hand, there is a 
significant  need  for  a  review  of  the  programme  and  the  production  method  of  official 
statistics.  Efficiency  improvements  are  to  be  prepared  with  sound  methodology  so  as  to 
ensure that European Statistics can continue to play its important role for European policies.  

The new Statistical Programme 2013-2017 is focused on the future structure of the portfolio 
of European Statistics as well as the re-engineering of the production system. In relation to the 
existing  infrastructure,  it  outlines  changes,  changes  with  their  objectives  and  main  features. 
This five-year programme is a framework programme and does therefore not provide detailed 
elements as this is the objective for the annual programmes which will be developed under the 
general  structure  provided  by  the  ESP.  This  is  in  line  with  recommendations  following 
evaluations of previous multi-annual programmes. 

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COM(2009)433 final 
Report  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) 
OJ L 145, 10.6.2009, p.1 
Communication on the production method of EU statistics: a vision for the next decade - COM(2009) 
404 final of 10.08.2009  
Presented at the ESS Committee meeting on 20.05.2010 (doc. No. ESSC/2010/05/6) 
COM(2011) 211 final 

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1. 

PROCEDURAL ISSUES AND CONSULTATION OF INTERESTED PARTIES 

1.1. 

Identification 

Draft  proposal  for  a  Decision  of  the  European  Parliament  (EP)  and  of  the  Council  on  the 
European Statistical Programme 2013-2017. 

Leading service: Eurostat 

Agenda planning identification number: 2010/ESTAT/003. 

1.2. 

Legal framework 

The  establishment  of  the  ESP  has  its  legal  basis  in  Article  13  of  Regulation  (EC) 
No 223/200910. The Regulation stipulates that: 

"The  European  Statistical  Programme  shall  provide  the  framework  for  the  development, 
production and dissemination of European statistics, the main fields and the objectives of the 
actions  envisaged  for  a  period  not  exceeding  five  years.  It  shall  be  decided  upon  by  the 
European Parliament and the Council. 
The  European  Statistical  Programme  shall  lay  down  priorities  concerning  the  needs  for 
information for the purpose of carrying out the activities of the Community. Those needs shall 
be  weighted  against  the  resources  needed  at  Community  and  national  level  to  provide  the 
required  statistics,  and  also  against  the  response  burden  and  the  respondent's  associated 
costs. 
The Commission shall introduce initiatives to set priorities  and  reduce the response  burden 
for all or part of the European Statistical Programme. 
The  Commission  shall  submit  the  draft  European  Statistical  Programme  to  the  European 
Statistical System Committee11 for prior examination". 

In  addition,  Article  1  of  Regulation  (EC)  No  223/2009  defines  European  statistics  as  those 
determined  in  the  ESP,  which  clearly  illustrates  the  necessity  of  the  programme  for  the 
development, production and dissemination of those statistics. 

The  Decision  of  the  EP  and  the  Council  on  the  current  Community  Statistical  Programme 
(CSP) 2008-2012 includes a specific indication with regard to the duration of the next multi-
annual programme, i.e. Article 6 "Reports" states that "The Commission shall […] present an 
interim  progress  report  […].  That  report  shall  address,  […]  the  issue  of  the  period  to  be 
covered by the next multi-annual statistical programme, taking into account the term of office 
of the European Parliament". 

The  Commission's  report  to  the  EP  and  the  Council  on the mid-term evaluation of  the CSP 
2008-2012 highlighted the following points to be taken into account in future programmes: 

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11 

EP and Council Decision No. 223/2009, 11.3.2009 
The  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.  

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Definition of new needs for statistical information. A more integrated approach using multiple 
and  combined  data  sources  together  with  harmonisation  of  methodology,  concepts  and 
definitions is required. 

Strengthened  partnership  in  the  ESS.  Establishment  of  more  and  different  integration 
cooperation models with the Member States was emphasised. 

Reflection  on  conceptual  approach  to  reprioritisation  of  activities  and  availability  of 
resources for implementing the CSP in order to reduce response burden and producers costs 
was considered necessary. 

1.3. 

Organisation and timing 

The meeting of the Impact Assessment Steering Group took place on 19 September 2011 with 
the participation of the Secretariat-General, DG AGRI, DG ECFIN, DG ELARG, DG EMPL, 
DG  SANCO  and  DGT.  Prior  to  the  meeting  of  the  Steering  Group  comments  on  the  draft 
Impact  Assessment  were  submitted  in  a  written  format  from  the  Secretariat-General, 
DG COMM, DG ENTR, DG ENV, DG RTD, DG TAXUD and DGT. 

Following  the  meeting  of  the  Impact  Assessment  Steering  Group  a  revised  version  of  the 
Impact  Assessment  was  prepared  and  submitted  to  the  Impact  Assessment  Board  together 
with  the  minutes  of  the  meeting  of  the  Steering  Group  and  an  executive  summary  of  the 
Impact Assessment itself. 

1.4. 

Consultation of the IAB 

The Impact Assessment Board examined the Impact Assessment for the European Statistical 
Programme  2013-2017  by  written  procedure  on  19  October  2011  and  sent  their  opinion  to 
Eurostat on 21 October 2011. 

This new version of the Impact Assessment incorporates the recommendations made by the 
Impact  Assessment  Board  elaborating  especially  the  problem  definition,  objectives,  options 
and their impacts and the evaluation of the programme. 

1.5. 

Consultations with stakeholders 

The  development,  production and dissemination  of  European statistics within the  legislative 
framework  of  the  European  Statistical  Programme  2013-2017  are  achieved  by  Eurostat 
through close and coordinated cooperation in the European Statistical System building upon 
partnership between Eurostat and the National Statistical Institutes as well as all other relevant 
authorities. 

1.5.1. Process of stakeholder consultations 

Extensive consultation of both users and producers of statistics took place before and during 
the preparation of the draft ESP 2013-2017. 

Prior  to  the  preparation  of  the  draft  ESP  2013-2017,  the  Directorates-General  of  the 
Commission, the European Central Bank and the European Statistical Advisory Committee12, 
were  consulted  during  the  summer  of  2010  on  their  needs  for  European  statistics  in  the 

12 

Established by the Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council No 234/2008/EC 

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reference  period.  In  addition,  special  stakeholder  dialogues  with  several  Commission  DGs 
(REGIO, RTD, ECFIN and AGRI), the ECON Committee of the EP and ESS representatives 
at top management level have been organised to address future statistical needs. 

Member States, EFTA Countries and Candidate Countries have been directly involved in the 
preparation of the proposal. The consultation was carried out in the following way: 

Firstly,  the  Directors’  Groups  in  different  statistical  domains,  representing  producers  of 
European statistics in different areas of statistics, were consulted on their needs for the period 
2013-2017 during summer 2010. 
Secondly,  the  DGINS  (Directors  General  of  the  National  Statistical  Institutes)13  were 
consulted on priorities for the period of 2013-2017 during their meeting on 29-30 September 
2010. 

As a major milestone of the stakeholder consultations, a meeting between the representatives 
of the ECON Committee of the European Parliament and Eurostat took place in March 2011. 
During  the  discussion,  particular  emphasis  was  placed  on  the  commitment  of  the  political 
level  to  provide  guidance  and  support  for  the  ESS  in  its  efforts  to  further  strengthen  its 
priority-setting  mechanism  with  the  objective  of  satisfying  the  increasing  needs  of  users  of 
European  statistics  while  taking  into  account  the  resource  constraints  at  both  national  and 
European level. At the same time, Eurostat confirmed the Commission's commitment to take 
new political initiatives in order to develop a more proactive and robust framework approach 
aiming  at  the  complementation  of  the  statistical  dimension  of  the  Economic  Governance 
Package. 

Based on the outcome of ESS consultations with stakeholders on their statistical needs for the 
period 2013-2017, the first draft of the ESP 2013-2017 was prepared for internal and external 
consultation. It was presented to the European Statistical System Committee (ESSC)14 in May 
2011. The European Statistical Advisory Committee (ESAC)15, the Committee on Monetary, 
Financial  and  Balance  of  Payments  Statistics  (CMFB)16  and  the  Working  Group  ESS 
Programming and Coordination were consulted in parallel. 

A  second  round  of  consultations  within  the  ESS  took  place  during  July-August  2011.  The 
results of this consultation have been taken into account when the new draft of the ESP 2013-
2017 was prepared. 

13 

14 

15 
16 

DGINS  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. 
The  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. 
Established by Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council No 234/2008/EC 
Established by Council Decision 2006/856/EC of 13 November 2006 

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1.5.2 Summary of responses 

1.5.2.a Summary of responses of users of European statistics 

Fourteen Directorates-General of the Commission and the European Central Bank replied to 
Eurostat’s request on their needs for European statistics for 2013-2017. Most of them listed 
detailed  requirements  for  statistics  required  to  back  up  European  policies  under  their 
responsibility.  Although  all  these  requirements  are  not  mentioned  explicitly  in  the  proposed 
framework programme, they have been carefully analysed by Eurostat and taken into account 
when drafting the objectives of the programme. 

1.5.2.b Summary of responses of producers of European statistics 

Six  Directors'  Groups  replied  to  Eurostat's  request  on  their  needs  for  2013-2017  (Directors' 
Group on Methodology, IT Directors' Group, Directors of Social Statistics, Directors' meeting 
on regional, spatial, environment statistics and accounts, Standard Committee for Agricultural 
Statistics  and  the  Business  Statistics  Directors'  Group).  Directors  Groups'  emphasised  the 
need to balance the increasing need for new statistics with reduced available resources. In this 
context, it was recommended to maximise the use of existing data instead of launching new 
data  collections;  liaise  with  other  data  providers  in  order  to  optimise  the  use  of  available 
information, including administrative data; reduce the level of detail of data required; improve 
efficiency  in  data  collection  by  using  modern  ICT  technologies;  analyse  the  consistency 
between different legal acts and decouple statistical instruments and users by setting up single 
survey  for  different  purposes.  In addition,  the  need  to  strengthen  the  role  of  Eurostat  as  the 
coordinator of the production of statistics was mentioned. These and other concrete comments 
have, to the extent possible, been taken into account when drafting the objectives of the ESP. 

During their meeting on 29-30 September 2010, DGINS endorsed the approach proposed for 
the ESP and the priority areas of the ESP stressing the need for a sufficiently flexible ESP, 
allowing  concrete  actions  to  be  included  in  the  annual  programming  cycle.  Due  to  serious 
resource  constraints  both  at  national  and  European  level  and  the  need  to  further  reduce  the 
administrative burden, DGINS stressed the importance of effective priority-setting in the next 
multi-annual programme based on a strategy-driven approach. 

1.5.2.c Summary of main comments on the draft ESP 2013-2017 

The ESSC meeting in May 2011 expressed general support for the conceptual approach. 

A number of delegations mentioned the high level of ambition of the ESP and expressed their 
concerns about the gap between the resource constraints at national level and the amount of 
new initiatives at EU level included in the ESP. 

Although acknowledging the need for a flexible programme, some delegations questioned the 
generality and the lack of detail of the ESP and stressed the need to link it more closely with 
future Annual Statistical Work Programmes. 

Doubts  were  expressed  by  some  delegations  whether  financing  of  new  initiatives  through 
efficiency  gains  in  the  new  production  method  of  European  statistics  was  realistic.  Some 
delegates  stressed  the  need  to  contemplate  other  ways  to  achieve  such  gains  (e.g.  increased 
priority-setting,  improved  efficiency,  better  use  of  administrative  data,  increased  use  of 
technology and sharing of good practices). 

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The  importance  of  emphasising  more  clearly  the  need  to  reduce  the  response  burden  was 
underlined by some delegations. 

Several  delegations  welcomed  the  strengthening  of  partnership  in  the  ESS  and  beyond  and 
stressed the importance of increased cooperation, both within the ESS and with the European 
System of Central Banks and international organisations. 

The  above  points  were  also  the  main  outcome  of  the  consultation  of  the  Working  Group 
Programming and Coordination. 

General  support  for  the  ESP  was  stated  by  the  majority  of  National  Statistical  Institutes 
(NSIs),  but  reservations  were  expressed  concerning  the  formulation  of  the  objective  on  the 
new method of production of European statistics and regarding the legislative policy. 

The  European  Statistical  Advisory  Committee  (ESAC)  represents  users,  respondents  and 
other stakeholders of European Statistics (including the scientific community, social partners 
and  civil  society)  as  well  as  institutional  users  (like  e.g.  the  Council  and  the  European 
Parliament).  The  Committee  plays  an  important  role  in  ensuring  that  user  requirements  as 
well as the response burden on information providers and producers are taken into account in 
developing  the  Statistical  Programmes.  It  delivers  its  opinion  on  the  multi-annual  statistical 
programme (the ESP), addressing in particular its relevance to the requirements of European 
integration. It also gives its view on the balance (priorities and resources) between different 
areas  of  the  multi-annual  statistical  programme  as  well  as  the  annual  statistical  work 
programme of the Commission. In its opinion on the draft programme, ESAC also addressed 
the issue of resource constraints and the need to continue to work on priority-setting to define 
negative  priorities.  While  acknowledging  that  the  different  stages  of  maturity  of  statistical 
systems in the Member States was problematic, ESAC highlighted in this context the need to 
increase  efficiency  through  greater  use  of  technology  and  exploitation  of  data  collected  for 
other purposes. ESAC also stressed the importance of knowledge-sharing, encouraging this to 
include  development  activities  to  reduce  the  cost  of  new  research.  Furthermore,  ESAC 
highlighted the importance of maximising data use and further integration and use of existing 
data. In a statement following the ECOFIN Council discussions, ESAC outlined the growing 
challenges the ESS is currently faced with; i.a. the need for high quality and timely statistical 
indicators  which  is  of  utmost  importance  especially  in  the  light  of  the  global  economic  and 
financial crisis which has shaken European economies; the importance of statistics which are 
fit  for  purpose  in  underpinning  decision-making,  that  is  policy  relevant,  reliable  and  up-to-
date statistics, collected in a transparent way to ensure that they are not vulnerable to political 
interference;  and  the  need  to  achieve  an  appropriate  balance  between  nationally/locally 
of 
specific 
European/international  standards  to  ensure  that  key  statistical  series  are  comparable  across 
Europe.  ESAC  expressed  their  serious  concerns  that  in  the  face  of  severe  budget  pressures, 
EU statistical offices will not have the adequate resources to cope with these major challenges 
and be able to deliver on the tasks for which they are responsible. Although acknowledging 
the need to restore the balance of public finances, ESAC stressed the fact that good decisions, 
whether  in  politics,  business,  science  or  society,  need  good  data,  and  good  statistical  data 
requires sufficient resources 

cross-nationally 

harmonised 

application 

correct 

data, 

and 

the 

In its opinion on the draft programme, the CMFB expressed its general support for ESP and 
the  main  priorities  and  objectives  defined  relating  to  the  development  and  coordination  of 
monetary, financial and balance of payment statistics. The CMFB stressed the importance of 
integration  across  statistical  domains  and  across  the  ESS  for  producing  multi-purpose 

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statistics  and  also  highlighted  the  need  to  aim  at  developing  statistical  information  on  the 
globalisation  phenomenon  and  the importance  of  increased  use  of  administrative  data  and  a 
better focus on the most expanding parts of the economy. In addition, the CMFB welcomed 
the envisaged wider use of statistical matching and data linking techniques as well standard IT 
tools. Finally, the CMFB stressed the importance of strengthened cooperation with the ESCB, 
European  and  international  organisations  through  common  projects  and  coordinated 
developments. 

1.5.4. External expertise 

There  was  no  need  for  external  expertise  in  the  preparation  of  neither  the  IA,  nor  the  ESP 
itself.  However,  lessons  from  the  ex-post  evaluation  of  the  CSP  2003-200717  and  the  mid-
term evaluation of the current multi-annual programme, the CSP 2008-201218, carried out by 
independent experts have been taken into account when preparing the current proposal. 

1.6.  Methodological approach 

Analysis  of  the  potential  impacts  of  the  different  policy  options  for  the  future  European 
Statistical Programme has been based on the methodology proposed in the Impact Assessment 
Guidelines of the Commission. As a first step, potential impacts were identified in relation to 
the  different  options  which  was  followed  by  a  primarily  qualitative  analysis  in  order  to 
identify  the  more  important  impacts  of  the  various  options.  This  qualitative  analysis  was 
complemented  with  the  analysis  of  information  available  from  a  number  of  monitoring  and 
evaluation  documents  linked  to  the  implementation  of  the  current  multi-annual  statistical 
programme as well as from a series of consultations with stakeholders of European statistics 
as explained in Sub-Section 1.5.  

When analysing the impacts of the different options, the following main aspects were taken 
into account: effectiveness in relation to the objectives; efficiency in achieving the objectives; 
coherence with overarching EU objectives; quality of statistics; and impact on budget. 

2. 

PROBLEM DEFINITION 

2.1. 

Problem description 

In  the  turbulent  times  that  the  European  Union  is  currently  facing  as  a  consequence  of  the 
economic  and  financial  crisis  with  its  far-reaching  economic  and  social  impacts,  the 
importance  of  high-quality  European  statistics  to  support  the  priority  policies  and  related 
fast-track initiatives of the Commission has become evident and therefore a flexible statistical 
planning instrument is required to cater for new and urgent demands.  

2.1.1.  Context of the problem 

The European Statistical System is currently faced with a number of challenges: 

(1) 

Firstly, the need for European statistics has been constantly increasing during the last 
years and it is unlikely that this tendency will change in the future.  

17 
18 

COM(2009) 1 final 13.01.2009 
COM(2010) 346 final, 30.06.2010  

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(2) 

(3) 

(4) 

Secondly, the nature of statistics is changing – there is a growing need for complex 
multi-dimensional statistics, of even higher quality and with shorter time delays than 
before.  

Thirdly,  due  to  the  appearance  of  new  actors  on  the  information  market  providing 
new types of statistics, including those providing information in nearly real time, the 
priority for the ESS in the future is the freshness of data, in particular when it refers 
to the short-term economic information.  

Fourthly, budget constraints both at national and European level, which have become 
more  pertinent  with  the  economic  crisis,  as  well  as  the  need  to  further  reduce  the 
burden on enterprises and citizens make the situation even more challenging.  

All  these  challenges  are  addressed  in  Communication  404  on  the  production  method  of  EU 
statistics19 as  well as the joint European Statistical  System  strategy20 on  its  implementation, 
aiming  at  reengineering  the  ways  of  working  in  the  ESS  in  order  to  make  the  ESS  more 
efficient  and  flexible.  Aiming  at  increasing  efficiency  of  the  production  method  of  EU 
statistics,  the  new  production  method  will,  when  implemented,  result  in  major  efficiency 
gains and will increase the ESS's capacity to satisfy new needs for statistical information, but 
the  need  to  reduce  response  burden  in  a  more  short-term  compared  to  the  long-term 
implementation  of  the  vision,  emphasises  the  necessity  of  improved  priority-setting  and 
reduction of burden more than ever. 

The  ESP  2013-2017  is  part  of  the  spending  proposals  related  to  the  Multi-annual  Financial 
Framework (MFF). However, it is not included in the Commission Work Programme or the 
Commission communication on A Budget for Europe 202021 (the "June MFF package") given 
the fact that it is not among the Commission initiatives which have been identified as having 
far-reaching economic, social and environmental impacts.  

2.1.2.  Drivers of the problem 

Shortcomings of the Community Statistical Programme 2008-2012 

An important constraint of the current multi-annual programme, the CSP 2008-2012 – which 
is briefly described in Sub-Section 4.1 (as Option 2) – is that the objectives are described in 
detail, which is a problem because the structure of the Programme is fixed for a period of five 
years.  Consequently,  it  does  not  allow  for  new  and  changing  political  priorities  to  be  taken 
into account. 

Since the current CSP was adopted, a number of important developments have taken place: 

• 

• 

19 
20 
21 

the basic legal framework for the production of European statistics has changed; 

the Lisbon Treaty came into force; 

COM (2009) 404 on the production method of EU statistics: a vision for the next decade, 10.08.2009 
Presented at the ESS Committee meeting on 20.05.2010, doc. No. 2010/05/6/EN 
COM(2011) 500 

EN 

11 

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• 

• 

• 

several  new  political  initiatives  were  launched  such  as  the  EU  2020  Strategy  for 
smart, sustainable and inclusive growth22, the Excessive Debt and Deficit Procedure 
and the scoreboard for the surveillance of macro-economic imbalances; 

the ESS governance structure was reinforced; 

the  financial  crisis  has  led  to  major  reductions  in  the  available  resources  for 
European Statistics.  

All these developments are not reflected in the current CSP which means that parts of the CSP 
have  become  outdated  and  there  is  a  gap  between  planned  and  actual  activities.  This 
diminishes the relevance of the reporting on the implementation of the CSP as many relevant 
activities are not reflected in the CSP while Eurostat must report on some activities mentioned 
in the CSP which are no longer carried out. For example, there was an objective defined that 
by 2010, the possibility of implementing the UN Human Development Index in the EU would 
be examined, taking into account the housing and employment/unemployment factors as well. 
Even  though  it  would  be  directly  feasible  with  information  available  at  Eurostat,  such  an 
indicator does no longer appear as meaningful for Member States, consequently, the objective 
has become obsolete in the meantime. 

Taking into consideration the rigidity of the current CSP 2008-2012, it is important to ensure 
that  the  ESP  2013-2017  is  sufficiently  flexible  to  allow  for  changing  priorities  or  new 
developments  to  be  taken  into  account,  while  at  the  same  time  provides  the  basis  for  the 
financial  envelope.  It  should  therefore  describe  in  a  general  manner,  to  the  extent  possible 
according to the Financial Regulation, the strategic objectives to be achieved and outputs to 
be  produced  during  the  next  programming  period.  Furthermore,  it  should  outline  the 
procedures which will allow for more detailed decision-making (including priority-setting) in 
an iterative process organised as part of the annual work programmes. 

Bringing Europe closer to the citizens 

European statistics are also indispensable for the understanding of Europe among the general 
public, for the participation of citizens in the debate and democratic process about the present 
and  future  of  the  EU.  Official  statistics  thus  represent  a  public  good  providing  an 
indispensable basis for the smooth functioning of democratic society.  

Increased need for statistical information for EU policies 

An  infrastructure  of  statistical  information  is  essential  for  evidence-based  decision-making 
and  a  pre-condition  for  the  implementation  of  EU  policies  as  reflected  in  the  Treaty. 
Statistical information is to be accepted and open to public scrutiny at European and national 
levels in particular, in the new enhanced Economic Governance of the European Union, the 
Europe  2020  Strategy23  and  in  other  policies  addressed  in  the  Commission's  strategic 
priorities for 2010-201424. 

Resource constraints both at European and national levels 

22 
23 
24 

COM (2010) 2020 final 
COM (2010) 2020 final 
http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/president/pdf/press_20090903_en.pdf, 03.09.2009 

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As  a  direct  impact  of  the  crisis,  producers  of  European  statistics  face  serious  resource 
constraints both at European and national level. Taking into account the constantly increasing 
needs  for  statistical  information  for  a  wide  range  of  policy  areas,  it  is  inevitable  that  in  the 
multi-annual  statistical  programme  particular  emphasis  must  be  put  on  priority-setting  and 
simplification  in  order  to  be  able  to  satisfy  statistical  needs  to  the  extent  possible  without 
compromising the quality of statistics. 

Requirement for the production of quality statistics  

The European Statistics Code of Practice sets out fifteen key principles for the production and 
dissemination  of  European  official  statistics  and  the  institutional  environment  under  which 
national  and  Community  statistical  authorities  operate.  It  builds  upon  a  common  ESS 
definition  of  quality  in  statistics  and  targets  all  relevant  areas  from  the  institutional 
environment, the statistical production processes to our output: European official statistics. 

2.2. 

Justification for EU action: subsidiarity and added value of EU involvement 

Union  statistics  and  the  right  for  the  Commission  to  propose  actions  have  their  basis  in 
Article 338 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. The shared competence 
between Union and national levels is justified by the transnational character of many aspects 
of  statistics  in  general  and  of  European  statistics  in  particular.  While  Member  States  will 
ensure the actual collection of the statistical information at national level, only a coordinated 
approach to the development, production and dissemination of European statistics as a whole 
will  guarantee  the  required  coherence  and  comparability  of  the  statistics  relevant  for  the 
activities of the Union. Furthermore, it is in the interest of policy makers at both national and 
EU levels that statistical activities are effectively and efficiently planned in advance, inter alia 
by  way  of  a  multi-annual  programme  as  foreseen  in  Regulation  (EC)  No  223/2009  on 
European  statistics.  The  scale  of  the  actions  included  in  the  programme  justifies  EU 
involvement since the objective of the proposed action, namely, the development, production 
and  dissemination  of  European  statistics  under  the  ESP  2013-2017,  cannot  be  sufficiently 
achieved by the Member States and is therefore better achieved at EU level on the basis of a 
European Union legal act. Only the Commission can coordinate the necessary harmonisation 
of statistical information at the European level in all statistical domains covered by this act, 
while, as mentioned above, the data collection itself can be carried out by the Member States. 
Consequently, the European Union may adopt measures in accordance with the principle of 
subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU).  

Statistics  provide  an  essential  infrastructure  for  the  sound  and  efficient  functioning  of 
democracy  and  a  modern  economy.  The  European  Union  needs  a  high  quality  statistical 
information service in order to fulfil its mission. As a consequence, the European Statistical 
System has co-developed as part of the historical phases of the European Union over the last 
60 years. Official Statistics are a cornerstone of trust into European institutions and European 
procedures.  Therefore,  the  information  must  be reliable,  timely  and  independent  of  political 
influence and provided in a convenient form for users. Furthermore, their preparation should 
not impose an excessive burden on data providers and their collection must be undertaken in 
accordance with the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality. 

In  this  regard  and  with  reference  to  the  above  problem  description,  the  added  value  of  EU 
action  is  that  it  allows  for  the  concentration  of  the  statistical  activities  on  EU  policies  and 
issues of relevance for the European Statistical System as a whole. In addition, it contributes 
to an effective use of resources and to helping national authorities to do what they need to do 

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13 

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but  do  not  always  have  the  capacity  to  do,  for  instance  in  terms  of  priority-setting, 
harmonisation  and  methodological  development.  Furthermore,  a  specific  added  value  of  the 
proposed action would be to make essential contributions to some priority Union activities, in 
particular the Europe 2020 strategy and the enhanced economic governance. 

The  vision  for  reforming  the  production  method  of  European  Statistics,  which  forms  the 
backbone of the ESP 2013-2017, will affect the production systems of the ESS as a whole. It 
has become obvious that the traditional way of producing statistics, i.e. the National Statistical 
Institutes  (NSIs)  of  the  Member  States  collecting  and  producing  harmonised  data  that  are 
compiled  by  Eurostat  to  construct  statistics  at  EU  level,  can  no  longer  be  adapted  to  the 
changing  environment  and  the  large  number  of  constantly  emerging  new  needs  at  both 
national and European levels. This traditional method includes numerous parallel processes, 
country by country and domain per domain following the traditional stovepipe model, which 
is  no  longer  considered  appropriate  for  addressing  the  challenges  the  European  Statistical 
System is faced with. It is clear that the modernisation of the business architecture cannot be 
implemented  by  Eurostat  plus  27  National  Statistical  Offices,  working  to  a  high  degree  in 
parallel  settings.  The  objective  for  the  next  five  years  has  to  be  the  establishment  of  a  real 
System of European Official Statistics, as foreseen in the European Regulation 223/2009. It 
has  to  be  built  upon  the  joint  efforts  of  all  ESS  partners  where  all  stakeholders  have  their 
particular role to play under the full respect of the principle of subsidiarity. As some Member 
States  have  already  started  implementing  a  number  of  the  changes  proposed  in  the 
Communication  404,  one  of  the  aims  of  the  Communication  and  the  strategy  paper  is  to 
coordinate  their  efforts  so  as  to  avoid  duplication  of  work  and  to  exploit  synergies  to  the 
maximum extent. 

The proposal complies with the proportionality principle for the following reason(s): in line 
with  the  principle  of  proportionality,  the  proposed  Decision  confines  itself  to  the  minimum 
required to achieve its objective and does not go beyond what is necessary for this purpose. 
The proposal defines objectives for the five-year period. These objectives are subject to more 
detailed  definition  and  planning  in  the  Annual  Statistical  Work  Programmes  of  the 
Commission  which  are  prepared  in  close  cooperation  with  the  Member  States  and  adopted 
taking into account the opinion of the ESS Committee and the resource constraints at both EU 
and  national  level.  Furthermore,  new  statistical  requirements  will  be  subject  to  specific 
legislation which is prepared with early and direct involvement of the Member States. 

The  quality  criteria  for  European  Statistics  are  defined  in  European  Statistical  Law25. 
Statistical  authorities,  comprising  the  Commission  (Eurostat),  National  Statistical  Institutes 
and other national authorities responsible for the development, production and dissemination 
of European Statistics, together with governments, ministries and the European Council, have 
committed themselves to adhere to the Code of Practice. A reporting system based on a self-
regulatory  approach  across  the  European  Statistical  System  (ESS)  has  been  established  to 
monitor  adherence  to  the  European  Statistics  Code  of  Practice  of  the  ESS  in  line  with  the 
proportionality principle.  

Efforts  to  harmonise,  streamline  and  regulate  can  best  be  initiated  at  the  European  Union 
level,  where  such  projects  can  be  carried  out  with  optimal  efficiency  gains  and  quality 
improvements.  This  is  fully  in  line  with  the  vision  and  mission  of  the  ESS  as  stated  in  the 
Code of Practice and is particularly important in a context of scarce resources where efforts to 

25 

Regulation (EC) 223/2009, Article 12 

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14 

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strengthen cooperation to explore synergies, exchange good practices and avoid duplication of 
work are of utmost importance. 

3. 

OBJECTIVES 

The  purpose  of  the  proposal  for  the  European  Statistical  Programme  is  to  establish  a 
comprehensive  framework  for  the  development,  production  and  dissemination  of  European 
statistics  for  the  period  2013-2017  while  putting  in  place  the  new  production  method  of 
European  statistics26  (efficiency  approach)  and  addressing  the  need  for  simplification  and 
increased priority-setting (effectiveness approach) in the ESS. 

As far as the objectives of a multi-annual programme are concerned, there is obviously a great 
variety  of  possibilities  to  choose  from.  However,  after  having  conducted  extensive 
consultations  with  all  stakeholders  of  the  European  Statistical  System  while  taking  into 
account  the  respective  provisions  of  the  existing  legislation  on  European  statistics,  the 
following  general,  specific  and  operational  objectives  have  been  defined  as  appropriate  to 
offer a satisfactory reply to the highest number of stakeholder needs identified . 

The general objectives of the multi-annual statistical programme are the following: 

• 

• 

• 

Objective 1: provide quality statistical information to support the development, 
monitoring  and  evaluation  of  the  policies  of  the  European  Union  properly 
reflecting priorities; 

Objective  2:  implement  new  methods  of  production  of  European  statistics 
aiming at efficiency gains and quality improvements; 

Objective 3: strengthen the partnership within the ESS and beyond in order to 
further  enhance  its  productivity  and  its  leading  role  in  official  statistics 
worldwide. 

The specific objectives, complementing the above general objectives, are the following: 

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

EUROPE 2020: Provide quality statistical information to monitor the implementation 
of Europe 2020 policy for smart, sustainable, inclusive growth. 

ECONOMIC  GOVERNANCE:  (a)  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. (b) Provide 
European  decision-makers  with  reliable  statistics  and  indicators  for  administrative 
and regulatory purposes and for monitoring specific EU policy commitments. 

ECONOMIC GLOBALISATION: Enhance the indicators and statistical information 
available on economic globalisation and global value chains for EU decision-makers 
and the public at large. 

26 

In accordance with the Commission Communication COM(2009)404 

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(4) 

(5) 

(6) 

(7) 

(8) 

ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  PERFORMANCE:  (a)  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.  (b)  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. 

ENVIRONMENTAL  PRESSURES:  Provide  environmental  accounts,  and  climate 
change related statistics, taking into account international developments in this area. 

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. 

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. 

GEOSPATIAL, ENVIRONMENTAL AND SECTORAL STATISTICS: (a) Support 
evidence-based  policy-making  by  a  more  flexible  and  increased  use  of  spatial 
information  combined  with  social,  economic  and  environmental  statistical 
information. (b) Provide quality environmental statistics to support the policies of the 
EU. (c) Provide quality energy and transport statistics to support the policies of the 
EU.  (d)  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. 

The  operational  objectives,  complementing  the  above  general  and  specific  objectives  of  the 
multi-annual statistical programme are the following: 

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

ESS  QUALITY  MANAGEMENT:  (a)  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.  (b) 
Strengthen sharing of good practices in the implementation of the Code of Practice 
and ensure that quality reporting is targeting different user needs. 

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. 

MULTIPURPOSE  STATISTICS  AND  EFFICIENCY  GAINS  IN  PRODUCTION: 
(a)  Put  in  place  gradually  an  ESS  business  architecture  allowing  a  more  integrated 
production of EU statistics; harmonise and standardise statistical production methods 

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(4) 

(5) 

(6) 

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. (b) Ensure the good functioning and coherence of the ESS through 
effective collaboration and communication. 

DISSEMINATION  AND  COMMUNICATION:  (a)  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.  (b)  Extend  and  rationalise  the  range  of 
dissemination products to meet the needs of users using new technologies. (c) Set up 
a  cost-efficient  and  integrated  secure  infrastructure  within  the  ESS  for  access  to 
official statistics confidential data for scientific purposes. (d) Start producing public 
use files. 

(a)  Satisfy 

INNOVATION  AND  RESEARCH: 

TRAINING, 
learning  and 
development  needs  in  the  ESS  based  on  a  combination  of  training  courses  and 
learning and development opportunities. (b) 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.  (c)  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. 

PARTNERSHIP  WITH  THE  ESS  AND  BEYOND:  (a)  Implement  the  enhanced 
ESS  governance  framework.  (b)  Enhance  the  coordinating  role  of  Eurostat  as  the 
Union's Statistical Office. (c) 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. (d) 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. 

4. 

POLICY OPTIONS 

As  mentioned  under  Section  1.2,  the  establishment  of  a  multi-annual  European  Statistical 
Programme is a legal requirement. It has its legal basis in Article 13.1 of the Regulation (EC) 
No 223/2009. 

Taking  into  account  all  potential  scenarios,  three  main  directions  indicating  three  possible 
options for action have been identified: 

4.1. 

Option 1: "zero option" with no European Statistical Programme (no EU action) 

Without  a  legal  framework  of  the  European  Statistical  Programme,  users  of  European 
Statistics  will  have  to  collect  and/or  produce  the  statistical  information  they  need  by 
themselves,  with  the  help  of  the  ESS  institutional  providers  and/or  private  providers.  In 
their  own 
particular, 
"statistical capacity"  with  their  own  resources,  in  an  independent  way  and  without  a  proper 
legal basis.  

the  different  Commission  services  will  have 

to  develop 

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4.2. 

Option  2:  ESP  2013-17  will  be  a  repetition  of  the  CSP  2008-2012  (no  change 
option) 

This  option  means  no  change 
the  current 
Community Statistical Programme. This could be considered as the baseline scenario against 
which the other options can be compared. 

terms  of  statistics  covered 

in 

in 

The current multi-annual statistical programme is based on the following policy priorities: 

(a) 

prosperity, competitiveness, innovation and growth; 

(b) 

solidarity and human development; 

economic,  social  and  regional  cohesion,  sustainable  development  and  demographic 

(c) 
challenges; 

(d) 

security; and 

(e) 

further enlargement of the European Union. 

The  CSP  2008-2012  contains  about  130  objectives  broken  down  into  the  following  main 
chapters:  

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

(4) 

(5) 

The role of statistics in European integration 

Relations  with  stakeholders:  (1)  The  European  Statistical  System;  (2)  Cooperation 
with  users;  (3)  Technical  cooperation  with  third  countries;  (4)  Cooperation  with 
international organisations. 

Instruments: (1) Better regulation; (2) Compliance monitoring; (3) Increased ability 
to  respond  to  users’  needs;  (4)  Financial  support  for  actions  contributing  to 
Community objectives; (5) Utilising partners’ expertise for Community purposes; (6) 
Dissemination; (7) The balance of costs and benefits. 

Cross-sectional statistical activities in support of overall community policy priorities: 
(1) Structural indicators and sustainable development indicators; (2) Enlargement 

Statistical needs broken down by the Titles identified in the Treaty establishing the 
European Community (EC Treaty); (1) Free movement of goods; (2) Agriculture; (3) 
Free  movement  of  persons,  services  and  capital;  (4)  Policies  related  to  free 
movement of persons; (5) Transport; (6) Common rules on competition, taxation and 
approximation  of  laws;  (7)  Economic  and  monetary  policy;  (8)  Employment;  (9) 
Common  commercial  policy;  (11)  Social  policy,  education,  vocational  training  and 
youth;  (13)  Public  health;  (14)  Consumer  Protection;  (16)  Industry;  (17)  Economic 
And  Social  Cohesion;  (18)  Research  and 
technological  development;  (19) 
Environment;  (20)  Development  Cooperation;  (21)  Economic,  financial  and 
technical cooperation with third countries. 

The financial envelope for Option 2 will be the same as that of the current CSP 2008-2012 
transposed  over  the  new  programme  period  even  though  the  Modernisation  of  European 
Enterprise and Trade Statistics Programme (MEETS), which used to have a separate financial 
envelope,  will  be  integrated  into  the  multi-annual  statistical  programme  at  the  end  of  2013 
when it expires. 

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Mio € 
Operational costs 

2013 
52.70 

2014 
53.80 

2015 
54.80 

2016 
55.90 

2017 
57.00 

Total 
274.20 

4.3. 

Option 3: a new five-year European Statistical Programme is established 

A  new  European  Statistical  Programme  for  the  period  2013-2017  would  be  proposed  for 
adoption  It  will  cover  the  objectives  listed  in  Chapter  3  that  have  been  identified  in  the 
consultations with all stakeholders of the European Statistical System. These three objectives 
are the following: 

Objective  1:  provide  quality  statistical  information  to  support  the  development,  monitoring 
and evaluation of the policies of the European Union properly reflecting priorities. 

European statistics must respond to constantly fluctuating data requirements in the context of 
global structural changes and an increasing need for statistically-based decision-making. This 
has been further demonstrated by the global financial and economic crisis which has shown 
that high-quality and timely statistical indicators are of paramount importance. 

Objective 2: implement new methods of production of European statistics aiming at efficiency 
gains and quality improvements  

So far, European statistics are developed, produced, and disseminated on the basis of uniform 
standards and harmonised methods. The National Statistical Institutes (NSIs) of the Member 
States  collect  and  produce  harmonised  data  that  are  compiled  by  Eurostat  to  construct 
statistics  at  EU  level.  This  is  done  in  numerous  parallel  processes,  country  by  country  and 
domain  per  domain,  following  the  traditional  stovepipe  model.  This  way  of  producing 
statistics  is,  however,  no  longer  fully  adapted  to  the  changing  environment.  Growing 
requirements for new additional statistics (which are to a large extent multi-dimensional and 
cover  various  domains),  the  need  for  simplifying,  improving  and  integrating  European 
statistical  regulations,  zero-growth  or  even  reduction  of  resources  in  NSIs,  reducing  the 
burden  on  respondents  all  constitute  major  challenges  of  the  ESS,  which  requires  an 
ambitious reform of the ESS statistical production system. 

Objective  3:  strengthen  the  partnership  within  the  ESS  and  beyond  in  order  to  further 
enhance its productivity and leading role in official statistics worldwide 

The ESS operates with professional independence, consistent with European and national law, 
and  strict  integrity,  to  ensure  that  statistics  are  produced  and  disseminated  impartially,  that 
statistical  quality  is  managed  effectively,  and  that  respondents’  privacy  is  maintained.  An 
emphasis  on  cost-effectiveness  requires  the  adoption  of  good  practices  and  co-ordinated 
production, and the careful control of burdens on businesses and households that supply data. 
A  strong  partnership  within  the  ESS  thus  guarantees  that  European  Statistics  are  of  high 
quality and are produced in line with users’ needs and disseminated in formats that different 
types of users find most accessible. 

These general objectives reflect the need and ambition to balance the increasing demand for 
high-quality statistics and existing resource constraints, which will require a new approach to 
the production of statistics and strengthened cooperation within the ESS. 

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4.4. 

Other options considered but not further analysed 

It should be noted that a number of intermediate options could be identified between Options 
1 and 3 as well as a multitude of sub-options could be identified under Option 3 by defining 
different  combinations  of  subsets  of  European  Statistics  which  would  be  included  in  the 
multi-annual  programme.  Although  these  various  sub-options  or  other  options  have  been 
considered, they have not been included in this document for the following reasons: 

• 

• 

an extensive consultation regarding the statistical domains to be included in the ESP 
has already been carried out in with all main stakeholders (see Section 1.5). 

one  of  the  main  shortcomings  of  the  current  multi-annual  programme  is  that  it 
defines actions to be undertaken at a very detailed level. The intention of Option 3 is 
to define a multi-annual programme which is sufficiently flexible  in order  to  allow 
for a quick response to changing political priorities and new developments. The ESP 
is  a  framework  programme  that  will  be  implemented  through  annual  work 
programmes  which  are  prepared  according  to  a  standard  procedure  that  involves 
dialogues  with  producers  and  users  of  statistics  as  well  as  with  policy-makers  in 
order to define each year the priority areas and related actions. 

5. 

ANALYSIS OF IMPACTS 

As  explained  in  detail  under  Section  3,  the  ESP  2013-2017  is  not  among  the  Commission 
initiatives  which  have  been  identified  as  having  far  reaching  economic,  social  and 
environmental impacts and it is therefore not included in the Commission Work Programme. 

The decisions to produce European statistics are driven by policy-making. The objective is to 
support  policy-making  by  providing  European  Institutions  and  the  governments  of 
Member States with relevant statistical information needed to design, implement, monitor and 
evaluate EU policies.  

The  "impact  of  statistics"  is  linked  to  the  fact  that  it  is  an  infrastructure  serving  many 
purposes in modern information societies. The social, economic and environmental impact of 
statistics  or  a  statistical  legislative  proposal  is  not  measurable  since  the  role  of  European 
statistics  is  a  basic  precondition  for  evidence  based  decision-making.  How  important  high 
quality  statistical  figures  are,  has  become  more  than  evident  throughout  the  last  years, 
whenever a lack of solidity has led to costly wrong decisions, to misallocations of money or 
even  to  major  disruptions  of  the  political  system.  The  Greek  crisis  is  an  example  of  the 
potential  impact  of  bad  statistics.  The  design  and  the  evaluation  of  European  policies  are 
significantly  depending  on  good  statistics.  Statistical  information  help  political  decision-
makers assess (ex-ante) the expected impact of and measure (ex-post) the actual impact of EU 
policies.  Statistics  are  needed  to  help  drive  the  outcomes  that  policies  are  aiming  at  and 
measure  progress  towards  these  outcomes.  Statistics  must  continue  to  be  fit  for  purpose  in 
under-pinning decision-making for those critical policies which are most relevant to European 
citizens and where wrong decisions would have a very high cost for Europe.  

For most statistical legislative proposals, the formal requirements for Impact Assessments as 
concerns analysis of impact are not applicable as the impact of statistical programming is on 
Commission policies. 

However,  the  production  of  European  statistics  has  an  impact  in  terms  of  administrative 
burden on national institutions and response burden of enterprises and citizens.  

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In  line  with  the  Commission  Guidelines  on  Impact  Assessment  for  all  policy  options,  the 
Impact  Assessment  should  provide  details  of  the  information  obligations  for  businesses,  for 
citizens and national/regional/local administrations that are likely to be added or eliminated if 
the option were implemented. In those cases in which the change in administrative burden is 
likely to be significant, the effects should be quantified using the EU Standard Cost Model. 
This approach is difficult to apply while analysing the impact in terms of costs and burden of 
a  multi-annual  statistical  programme.  Firstly,  due  to  the  difficulty  of  performing  an 
information obligations' mapping exercise in the long term, related to the multitude of users of 
EU statistics and their changing needs, being at the origin of information requested. Secondly, 
because  of  the  national  specificities  in  terms  of  organisation  of  the  statistical  production 
systems, which render it difficult to apply the EU Standard Cost Model for the quantification 
in a consistent way, especially in the context of the implementation of Communication on the 
production method of EU statistics. While analysing the impact in terms of costs and burden 
of the different policy options, the Commission services based, inter alia, on the experience 
gathered  from  the  previous  multi-annual  programmes27,  combining  it  with  the  evidence 
gathered  from  previous  and  ongoing  quantitative  and  qualitative  assessments  of  costs  and 
burden related to the statistical production in certain fields28. 

Many initiatives included in the programme can further foster the reduction of administrative 
costs  and  burdens  for  the  public  authorities  and  businesses.  This  objective  can  best  be 
achieved  through  long  term  projects,  deriving  mostly  from  the  implementation  of  the 
Communication on the production method of EU statistics. Aiming at increasing efficiency of 
the production method of EU statistics, when implemented, the Communication will result in 
efficiency  savings  and  will  lighten  the  process  of  satisfying  the  new  needs  for  statistical 
information. Further projects, which now fall into the scope of the MEETS programme, will 
be part of the European Statistical Programme at the end of 2013. 

In order to ensure that tangible results as regards the reduction of burden are achieved also in 
the  short  term  and  to  help  free  up  the  necessary  resources  for  new  and  strategic  needs, 
Eurostat has put in place a strategy-driven priority-setting mechanism. It is composed of two 
elements:  review  of  priorities  and  the  introduction  of  sunset  clauses  in  new  legal  acts.  The 
review of priorities involves an annual review on existing statistical requirements. Every year, 
when preparing the Annual Statistical Work Programme of the following year, Eurostat will 
screen existing requirements for statistics, examine the possibility of stopping data collection 
in  certain  areas  with  higher  impact  in  terms  of  cost  and  burden  reduction  and  make  initial 
proposals  for  repealing  an  existing  legal  act  requiring  statistical  data  collections;  stopping  a 
voluntary statistical data collection based on gentlemen's agreement; and areas under review 
for simplification. These proposals will be thoroughly discussed with the producers and users 
of statistics in order to come up with a list agreed by all stakeholders which is subsequently 
incorporated  in  the  Annual  Work  Programme  of  Eurostat  which  is  adopted  by  the 

27 

28 

As  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.  
Independently 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. 

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Commission.  The  second  element  of  priority-setting  mechanism  is  the  introduction  of  the 
concept of "sunset clauses" in new legal acts. This measure implies that expiration/validations 
dates for carrying out data collections will be included in new legal acts to be prepared in the 
future. This means that once the expiration date is approaching, a thorough discussion will be 
initiated in order to understand the need to continue the data collection and that data collection 
is not going to be carried out without a clear and justified need.  

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 

29 

30 

31 

Council  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. 
Regulation  (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 
COM(2009)544 final. 

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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. 

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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 

32 

In 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. 

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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 

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25 

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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: 

33 

ESS Committee document No. ESSC/2010/07/08/EN 

EN 

26 

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++ = 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 

Quality of 
statistics 

Impact on 
budget 

Coherence 
with 
overarching 
EU objectives, 
strategies and 
priorities 

Option 1 

- 

Option 2 

Option 3 

-- 

++ 

-- 

- 

+ 

-- 

+ 

++ 

-- 

- 

++ 

- 

0 

+ 

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 

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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 € 
Operational costs 

2013 
57.30 

2014 
58.72 

2015 
59.89 

2016 
61.11 

2017 
62.31 

Total 
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 

EN 

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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 

34 

OJ L 340, 19.12.2008, p. 76 

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29 

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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. 

35 

IAC Audit Report ESTAT-2009-ESTAT-002 of 19 February 2010 

EN 

30 

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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 
sustainable, 
2020  policy 
inclusive growth. 

smart, 

for 

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 

Statistical  input  for  the  macroeconomic  imbalances  scoreboard  and  the 
underlying analysis provided;  

EN 

31 

   EN 

Specific objectives: 

The objectives will be implemented by: 

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 an enhanced Stability and Growth Pact provided;  

Set of indicators to measure competitiveness developed and produced; 

statistics  and 

Provide  European  decision-makers  with 
reliable 
for 
administrative  and  regulatory  purposes 
and  for  monitoring  specific  EU  policy 
commitments.  

indicators 

Economic Globalisation 

available 

To  enhance  the  indicators  and  statistical 
information 
economic 
globalisation  and  global  value  chains  for 
EU  decision-makers  and  the  public  at 
large. 

on 

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. 

A robust quality management implemented in the production chain, also 
covering  upstream  public  finance  data  and  the  underlying  workflows  in 
Member States. 

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. 

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. 

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; 

36 

EU  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 

EN 

32 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
                                                 
Specific objectives: 

The objectives will be implemented by: 

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. 

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 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. 

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 

Environmental Pressures 

Provide  environmental  accounts,  and 
climate  change  related  statistics,  taking 
into account international developments in 
this area.  

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. 

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 
labour 
market,  education  and  training,  quality  of 

in  particular), 

EN 

33 

   EN 

 
 
 
Specific objectives: 

The objectives will be implemented by: 

life,  safety,  health  and  disability,  free 
movement  and  single  market,  mobility  of 
young 
technological 
innovation and new life style choices. 

people, 

and 

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.  

Provide quality environmental statistics to 
support the policies of the EU.  

European  Spatial  Data 
(Infrastructure for Spatial Information in Europe) architecture available; 

Infrastructure  based  on 

INSPIRE 

the 

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. 

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; 

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 
and 
development, 
dissemination of statistics.  

production 

Statistics  on 
disseminated; 

energy 

savings/energy 

efficiency  produced 

and 

Statistics  on 
traffic 
transport  safety,  passenger  mobility, 
measurement and intermodal freight transport produced and disseminated. 

road 

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 
implemented; 

indicators 

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 

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34 

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Operational objectives 

The objectives will be implemented by: 

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.  

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.  

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. 

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 
reduced/discontinued communicated to users. 

to  be  simplified  and  data  collections 

to  be 

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 

Effective and efficient support to partnership in the ESS; 

EN 

35 

   EN 

 
 
Operational objectives 

The objectives will be implemented by: 

and communication.  

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 
range  of 
rationalise 
dissemination  products  to  meet  the  needs 
of users using new technologies. 

the 

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.  

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 
innovative 
approaches in statistical production.  

common 

and 

the  contribution  of 

Organise  the  activities,  the  participation 
and 
the  research 
communities  in  the  improvement  of  the 
statistical  production  chains  and  of  the 
quality of official statistical information.  

III. PARTNERSHIP 

Partnership within the ESS and Beyond 

Implement  the  enhanced  ESS  governance 
framework.  

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 
technologies; 

to 

the  users'  needs  using  new 

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.  

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 
communities;  

the  statistical  research 

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. 

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.  

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Operational objectives 

The objectives will be implemented by: 

the  co-operation  with 

Strengthen 
the 
European  System  of  Central  Banks, 
European  and  international  organisations 
involved  in  the  production  of  data  for 
administrative  purposes 
statistical  or 
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 
unavailability of data minimised; 

leading 

to 

Agreements  /  Memoranda  of  Understanding  signed  with  countries 
outside the EU; 

Technical cooperation programmes designed and implemented; 

Technical assistance focused on data harmonisation and delivery. 

37 
38 

System of National Accounts (United Nations) 
European System of Accounts 

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8. 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

REFERENCE DOCUMENTS 

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) 

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