COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORT Accompanying the document Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics
Date: 2023-07-10
Institutions: European Commission, Eurostat
Subjects: EU statistics, European Statistical System, data collection, data protection, data sharing, data-processing law, personal data, source of information

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  EN 

   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 10.7.2023  SWD(2023) 241 final  COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT  EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORT  Accompanying the document Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics {COM(2023) 402 final} - {SEC(2023) 269 final} - {SWD(2023) 240 final}  
 
 
A. Need for action  

What is the problem and why is it a problem at EU level?   

The  problem  is  that  European  statistics  are  not  sufficiently  timely,  frequent,  detailed,  and  cost-
efficient. Statistical authorities do not sustainably reuse new and innovative data sources emerging 
as  by-products  of  digital  services.  The  European  Statistical  System  (ESS)  is  not  sufficiently 
responsive to urgent information needs in times of crises.  

This  is  a  problem  at  EU  level  because  the  EU  legal  framework  does  not  provide  the  mandate  to 
address the problem.  

What should be achieved?  

The  general  objective  is  to  make  sure  European  statistics  are  more  up  to  date,  detailed  and  cost-
efficient  and  provided  on  a  more  frequent  basis.  They  should  also  be  more  responsive  to  urgent 
information demands in times of crisis.  

What is the value added of action at the EU level (subsidiarity)?   

The added value of acting at EU level is mainly that these statistics are needed to guide the work of 
the EU in its various policy areas, especially political priorities such as the European Green Deal, 
economic growth, and increased use of digital technologies. 

B. Solutions  

What are the various options to achieve the objectives? Is there a preferred option or not? If 
not, why?  

Three policy options were assessed:  

0 – the baseline option, which would not entail a revision of Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 

1 – a targeted  revision of the regulation  aimed  at  introducing  legal  certainty and empowering 
both the data holders and the ESS to harness opportunities offered by digital technology, with 
adequate tools that enable them to respond swiftly and in a coordinated manner to urgent user 
demands in times of crisis 

2  –  a  revision  of  the  regulation,  which  would  be  more  ambitious  in  terms  of  imposing 
obligations on data holders and the national statistical authorities in EU countries. 

The preferred option is policy option 1. 

What are different stakeholders' views? Who supports which option?   

Users and producers of European statistics are strongly in favour of the preferred option. 

The  general  public  are  also  in  favour  of  the  preferred  option,  provided  that  there  are  strong 
safeguards to ensure confidentiality.  

Businesses  appreciate  the  benefits  in  terms  of  access  to  up-to-date,  detailed  statistics  that  the 
preferred  option  would  provide,  but  as  data  holders  they  may  incur  costs.  They  are  open  to  the 
preferred option, provided that a fair solution is found for cost compensation.  

The possible reduction of the burden on businesses and households by replacing surveys with  the 
use of new data sources is appreciated by all.  

C. Impacts of the preferred option  

 
 
What are the benefits of the preferred option (if any, otherwise of main ones)?                                      

Direct benefits include: 

  an increase in the volume, timeliness, and quality of statistics  
  a reduction of the response burden caused by surveys 
  much faster availability of relevant, standardised information in times of crisis. 

Indirect benefits include: 

  better policy decisions, especially in times of crisis  
  better informed decisions by businesses 
  considerable efficiency gains for the ESS 

The  direct  benefits  are  estimated  at  €1.5  billion annually,  of  which  €577  million  would  accrue  to 
businesses. 

What are the costs of the preferred option (if any, otherwise of main ones)?                                     

The  direct  costs  are  estimated  at  €757  million  a  year,  of  which  €196  million  would  fall  on 
businesses.  

What are the impacts on SMEs and competitiveness?   

Significant  savings  relate  to  replacing  surveys  with  new  data  sources  or  decreasing  their  size, 
lessening the burden on businesses. This will benefit in particular SMEs. Micro and small firms will 
be exempted from mandatory data sharing. 

Competitiveness will be buttressed by having the same rules applied throughout the EU. 

Will there be significant impacts on national budgets and administrations?   

The  net  direct  costs  on  national  budgets  and  administrations  are  estimated  to  be  €85  million 
annually. 

Will there be other significant impacts?   

Better  policy  decisions  will  significantly  benefit  society.  Another  significant  impact  is  better 
democracy because of a better-informed public debate. 

Proportionality?   

The initiative  takes  a measured approach, resulting in  overall benefits  to  society  that considerably 
outweigh the total costs. It provides all safeguards that can reasonably be required.  

D. Follow up  

When will the policy be reviewed?   

Five years after its implementation, the revised Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 will be evaluated.