1. International Seminar on Modernizing Official Statistics:
Meeting Productivity and New Data Challenges
Tianjin, People’s Republic of China
October 2013
Modernization of official statistics: European Statistical System experience
Mariana Kotzeva, Advisor Hors Classe, Eurostat
Eurostat
ESTAT

2. This presentation :
Describes the ESS vision for modernizing EU statistical production;
Shares the results achieved and lessons learned so far;
Outlines challenges ahead and next steps in the implementation of the Vision.
All that having in mind the specificity of the ESS construction:
modernisation in the supranational context of the EU.
modernisation as in any other
production system of statistics.
Mariana Kotzeva, Eurostat
Eurostat
ESTAT

3. Background:
The Communication of the European Commission 2009 (404): introduces the Vision calling for efficiency gains through standardisation and industrialisation of statistical production;
A number of internal Eurostat Vision Implementation Projects (VIPs) and ESSnets (collaborative projects with Members States) were launched to implement the Vision;
The ESS.VIP Programme, started in 2012, consolidates the efforts and focuses on a limited number of projects to achieve efficiency gains in the production of European statistics;
The European Statistical Programme includes concrete actions and projects for Vision implementation.
Mariana Kotzeva, Eurostat
ESTAT
Eurostat
M. Kotzeva Eurostat

4. Modernization of EU statistical production: from pre to post-industrialisation.
Mariana Kotzeva, Eurostat
Eurostat
ESTAT
M. Kotzeva Eurostat

5. Industrialisation ? Multiple sources Data integration Multiple
purposes
Industrialisation ?
Mariana Kotzeva, Eurostat
ESTAT
Eurostat

6. Modernisation of Statistics includes also:
Change in the set of products and services;
Change in the organisation and management of the statistical production;
Adjustment of the quality framework;
Implementation of technical and statistical standards;
Making up the HR strategy an integral part of the modernisation strategy.
Mariana Kotzeva, Eurostat
Eurostat
ESTAT

7. Census 2011: Example of a modern design of statistical production
Combines different sources: administrative registers, geographical data, sample survey data;
Employs mixed mode data collection (CAWI, CATI);
Uses output quality orientation with emphasis on the validation at the beginning of the production chain.
Mariana Kotzeva, Eurostat
Eurostat
ESTAT

8. Modernisation of the production chain in the context of the EU
Development
Vision for modernization of EU statistics
Data acquisition
National solutions based on subsidiarity principle
Coordinated common solutions when cost-effective and compatible
Dissemination
National solutions based on subsidiarity principle
Coordinated common solutions when cost-effective and compatible
Data validation
Data processing,
integration and analysis
Shared :
Information
Infrastructure
Services
Costs
among ESS partners
Shared :
Information
Infrastructure
Services
Costs
among ESS partners
Mariana Kotzeva, Eurostat
ESTAT
Eurostat

9. Statistics on intra-EU trade (SIMSTAT project) = example of modern design of statistics
Re-uses available information by making microdata on export of other Member State available;
Thus:
opening up the possibility of gradually replacing the import survey by data on export provided by the other Members states;
providing opportunities for improving quality of import flow, i.e. through using as far as possible sampling surveys for quality assurance.
Mariana Kotzeva, Eurostat
Eurostat
ESTAT

10. Physical Networks such as EDAMIS, CCN-CCI;
SIMSTAT requires:
Physical Networks such as EDAMIS, CCN-CCI;
Shared services accompanying data exchange;
Application software and hardware at both national and European level;
Standards for data exchange (SDMX and DDI) and appropriate legal frameworks.
Mariana Kotzeva, Eurostat
Eurostat
ESTAT

11. Key changes in the statistical processes
Data acquisition:
Integrating data from different sources;
Mixed mode data collection;
Digital data capture and new data sources (big data).
Data validation:
Verifying the quality of raw data;
Verifying the quality of processes;
Output orientation of quality assurance.
Mariana Kotzeva, Eurostat
ESTAT
Eurostat

12. Data integration and reusability
Use generic software solutions;
Shared infrastructure and new forms of data exchange;
Data warehousing around clusters of statistics (i.e. households and enterprises).
Data Processing
Transform
MS1
Transmission
Processing Database
Staging Warehouse
Data Warehouse
Data Disseminate
Cube
Report
Extract
Load
MS2
Source: Gartner
Mariana Kotzeva, Eurostat
Eurostat
ESTAT

13. Data dissemination Updating mix of disseminated products and services;
Micro data dissemination;
Visualisation tools and communication of statistics;
Combining geographic and statistical information.
Mariana Kotzeva, Eurostat
ESTAT
Eurostat

14. Where we are with the implementation of the Vision ?
VIPs ?
ESSnets
MEETS ?
ESS.VIP
Mariana Kotzeva, Eurostat
Eurostat
ESTAT
M. Kotzeva Eurostat

15. Standards and architecture
Which of the aspects of the Vision have been covered by VIPs and ESSnets so far
SDC
Access to microdata
SDMX
CORA
CORE
Standardisation
Access to Microdata
Standards and architecture
ESSnets
Culture
Health
Tourism
Energies
SILC
ICT
Sectoral
Small Area Estimation
Data Integration
Multimode Data Collection
Methodology
MEETS
MEETS programme
Mariana Kotzeva, Eurostat
ESTAT
Eurostat

16. Where we are: conclusions
A lot has been achieved in terms of setting legal frameworks, ESS governance and redesigning concrete statistical domains;
The projects undertaken so far have addressed individual aspects of the Vision, however, not all aspects have been equally covered;
IT strategy needs to be incorporated as a key element of modernisation of statistical production;
The role of modern organisation methods and new cooperation models (i.e. matrix organisation and Centres of Competences) are still to be explored.
Mariana Kotzeva, Eurostat
ESTAT
Eurostat

17. Are we too ambitious? Challenges ahead and lessons learned
Mariana Kotzeva, Eurostat
Eurostat
ESTAT

18. Lesson learned: Transform the Vision into reality;
Clear governance and allocation of responsibilities of all stakeholders;
Modernisation is a long-term process that benefits from small but consistent steps;
Leadership and mobilisation of skills and expertise are crucial;
Setting priorities and sequence the Redesign projects;
Monitoring of the progress towards the goals.
Mariana Kotzeva, Eurostat
ESTAT
Eurostat

19. Thank you for your attention!
Eurostat
ESTAT