1. Seminar on ESA 2010 Metadata
DESTATIS, Wiesbaden, Germany
26-27 June 2017
Item 5 - Organisation of ESA 2010 metadata and links between metadata and quality reports
Eurostat Unit C2: National accounts production

2. Eurostat + County metadata
Overview
Eurostat + County metadata
Current Eurostat ESA metadata structure by domain/dataset
Proposal: Create metadata template covering all NA data domains with
common parts and specific parts
some domain specific information

3. Integrated ESS metadata and quality reporting based on SIMS
Single Integrated Metadata Structure (SIMS 2.0)
With underlying reporting structures:
Euro SDMX Metadata Structure (ESMS 2.0) ESS
Standard for Quality Reports Structure (ESQRS 2.0)
ESSC endorsed SIMS as standard for quality reporting (Article 12 of Regulation 223/2009).
Recommended its application to all statistical domains by end-2018.

4. ESA 2010 data in Eurostat
Add new

5. ESA 2010 data metadata
National accounts ESA 2010 (na10)

6. Work on ESA 2010 metadata templates
Preparatory work by Eurostat  using
ESA concepts and definitions
Relevant ESS guidelines
EUROSTAT ESMS based metadata
Eurostat would also aim to identify
SIMS fields not applicable to national accounts;
SIMS templates outlining limited additional country information needed and;
metadata already available in Eurostat that could be re-used or linked to fill specific fields.

7. Approach in circulated template
Each metadata field shows currently 3 sections
Common:
This section presents information that should be common to Eurostat and countries, e.g. references to methodology, common standards, definitions, etc.
Eurostat:
This section presents Eurostat specific information, e.g. how Eurostat implemented the concept. It also can include (links to) collections of country specific metadata already collected by Eurostat.
NSI:
NSIs should present relevant country specific information (e.g. specificities) in short descriptions and/or further information available (e.g. via links).
Attention: Published metadata would show only common and specific parts (either for Eurostat or NSI), without header!

8. Advantages and Practical considerations
Common Part:
References to ESA concepts and definitions, legislation, ESS guidelines would be consistent
Limited need for additional specific concept
Agreed proposal that can be updated for all
Eurostat part:
Eurostat filling can also be reused by NSIs with some modifications
Overview on metadata already available can also be re-used in specific parts
NSI part: focus on country specific additions only

9. How much domain specific information?
Problem:
Level of detail of metadata varies across NSIs and Eurostat domains (but there are many overlaps)
Compromise:
Focus on information that covers all NA data
Limited domain or dataset specific information where it creates significant value added
Possible further differentiation:
After metadata templates for "highest" level are agreed, further differentiation of domain or dataset specific templates could be second step

10. Seminar on ESA 2010 Metadata
DESTATIS, Wiesbaden, Germany
26-27 June 2017
Item 6 – Proposal for pre-filling ESA 2010 metadata – Review of circulated metadata in groups
Eurostat Unit C2: National accounts production

11. Seminar feedback: Review metadata in Groups
Group 1: concepts where Common parts dominate
Group 2: Concepts with link to quality Reports
Group 3: Concepts where mostly specific information is needed
Comments improvements for common parts?
Which country specificities should be mentioned?
Group 2: concepts where QR can be reused
What could be added, what left out?
Eurostat Part: Comments or additions?
Any comments on Eurostat's (draft) sections?
Which links to metadata should be presented?
Group 1: concepts where Common parts dominate:
NSI Part:
How to re-use information from the quality reports?
Which concepts need most efforts on NSI side?
What content/prefilling can/should be proposed?

12. Example for Group 1 metadata
3.6. Statistical population
Common:
The national accounts population of a country consists of all resident statistical units (institutional units or local KAUs, see section 3.5). A unit is a resident unit of a country when it has a centre of predominant economic interest on the economic territory of that country — that is, when it engages for an extended period (one year or more) in economic activities on this territory.
 Eurostat:
The population of the countries' national accounts data as published by Eurostat includes, in principle, all resident statistical units. The population of the euro area and EU aggregates includes, in principle, all statistical units resident in the euro area respectively the EU. However, deviations might occur where the population in the received country data does not include all resident units.
NSI:

13. Example for Group 2 metadata
17.2. Data revision - practice
Common:
While revisions should be seen as a process to progressively improve the quality of national accounts as e.g. better sources and/or methods become available, the provision of metadata are a key element for the validation process of national accounts data and the understanding of users.
 Information on the main reasons for revisions and their nature (new source data available, new methods, etc.) as well as possibly quantitative and qualitative assessment on the average size of revisions and their direction based on historical data is therefore appreciated. 
 Eurostat:
Eurostat publishes information on its revision policy for European aggregates and its publication of national data on its website.
Information on the revision policy for main aggregates can be found here.
Revision triangles for quarterly EU and EA GDP aggregates are also published.
 NSI:
The national practice could be filled in.
Could consider if to publish information from quality reports with possible additional comments

14. Example for Group 3 metadata
8.2. Release calendar access
Common:
Release calendars should be easily available and accessible for users, e.g. by publication on the website of an NSI.
 Eurostat:
The release calendar, that includes all scheduled national accounts releases, is available on the Eurostat website (add link). It covers the releases for a full calendar year. For some national accounts domains separate release calendars, covering the releases of that specific domain, are available on the dedicated websites of each ESA 2010 domain.
 NSI:
Please provide link to national calendars.

15. Group work: feedback on the following aspects:
Common Parts:
Is description broadly appropriate?
What could be added, what left out?
Eurostat Part: Comments or additions?
Any comments on Eurostat's (draft) sections?
Which country metadata should be presented?
NSI Part:
Which country specificities should be mentioned?
How to re-use information from the quality reports?
Which concepts need most efforts on NSI side?
What content/prefilling can/should be proposed?