Implementation of the European Statistics Code of Practice Yalta September 2009 Pieter Everaers, Eurostat

2 12/5/2015 Implementation of the Code of Practice 1.The European Statistics Code of Practice 2.Eurostat implementation strategy 3.Monitoring and Reporting 4.Quality label for European official statistics

3 3 headings – 15 principles – 77 indicators Institutional environment Professional independence, Mandate for data collection, Adequacy of Resources, Quality commitment, Statistical confidentiality, Impartiality and objectivity Statistical processes Sound methodology, Appropriate statistical procedures, Non- excessive burden on respondents, Cost effectiveness Statistical output Relevance, Accuracy and reliability, Timeliness and punctuality, Coherence and comparability, Accessibility and clarity Example of indicators: (…) V. Statistical release dates and times are pre-announced. VI. All users have equal access to statistical releases at the same time and any privileged pre-release access to any outside user is limited, controlled and publicised. In the event that leaks occur, pre- release arrangements should be revised so as to ensure impartiality. (…) Example of indicators: I. Where European Statistics are based on administrative data, the definitions and concepts used for the administrative purpose must be a good approximation to those required for statistical purposes. II. In case of statistical surveys, questionnaires are systematically tested prior to the data collection. III. Survey designs, sample selections, and sample weights are well based and regularly reviewed, revised or updated as required. IV. Field operations, data entry, and coding are routinely monitored and revised as required. (…) VI. Revisions follow standard, well- established and transparent procedures. Example of indicators: I. Timeliness meets the highest European and international dissemination standards. II. A standard daily time is set for the release of European Statistics. III. Periodicity of European Statistics takes into account user requirements as much as possible. IV. Any divergence from the dissemination time schedule is publicised in advance, explained and a new release date set. V. Preliminary results of acceptable aggregate quality can be disseminated when considered useful. The European Statistics Code of Practice (1)

4 12/5/2015 addresses Users: to show that statistics are trustworthy, objective and reliable. Governance authorities (Government, Ministries): to ensure that statistical services are professionally organised and resourced, promote independence. Respondents: to show that confidentiality is protected and response load controlled. Statistical authorities: to provide benchmarks and values that should be adopted to produce and disseminate high quality statistics; to serve the organisation’s public image. Staff: to provide guidelines for managers and staff that promote sharing of values and contributes to the integration of new colleagues, help to create a high quality workplace and a climate of integrity and excellence. The European Statistics Code of Practice (2)

5 The Code of Practice and the UN Fundamental Principles Institutional environment Statistical processes Statistical output Code of Practice UN Fundamental Principles 3 The European Statistics Code of Practice (3) UN Fundamental Principles 5, 9, 10 UN Fundamental Principles 1, 2, 4, 6, 7 8

6 12/5/2015 Implementation of the Code of Practice in the ESS 1.The European Statistics Code of Practice 2.Eurostat Implementation strategy 3.Monitoring and Reporting 4.Quality label for European official statistics

Self-assessments by all NSIs based on a common questionnaire Detailed questions for each indicator, strength/weaknesses, improvement actions Protocols on selected issues Extension to other data providers at national level ESS Implementation strategies (1) ESS good practices

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9 12/5/2015 Implementation of the Code of Practice in the ESS 1.The European Statistics Code of Practice 2.Eurostat Implementation strategy 3.Monitoring and Reporting 4.Quality label for European official statistics

10 Surveillance  ESS-wide peer reviews during  Regular reporting & monitoring of improvement actions  European Statistical Governance Advisory Board Transparency  2006 Report to the EFC on self-assessments  Publication of peer review reports  Eurostat quality website  2008 Report to EP and Council Monitoring and Reporting (1)

11 12/5/2015 Objectives –monitoring of the implementation of the Code of Practice –to boost quality, to enhance credibility –identification of ESS benchmarks and common difficulties –sharing of ESS best practices and knowledge transfer Scope –27 EU MS + 4 EFTA MS + Eurostat –institutional environment and dissemination practices –co-ordination role of NSI Mechanics fully met /largely met/ partly met /not met –common guidelines and assessment basis fully met /largely met/ partly met /not met –2 ½ days, 3 peers, information package, various interlocutors Monitoring and Reporting (5) ESS peer reviews

12 Results of the ESS peer reviews High overall ESS compliance levels

13 Results of the ESS peer reviews: Strengths sufficient legal mandate for NSI, practical difficulties to use admin. data Strong legal basis, impressive safeguards across the ESS; excellent practices in micro- data access Strong in practice, legislation to be supplemented in some SAs to reinforce independence High diversity across ESS; lack of transparency in some cases

14 Results of the ESS peer reviews: Areas for improvement High service orientation; modern dissemination channels; some SAs need to improve metadata and accessibility Broadly satisfactory resources, some severe exceptions and risks for meeting future demands Lowest compliance levels compared to other principles, improvements needed on the ESS- wide scale

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16 Statistical law covering all actors at national level delineation of the statistics function co-ordinated community (recruitment, training, ethical standards) common dissemination platform labelling/certification mechanism ESS best practices: Compliance with the Code of Practice by other national producers of European Statistics (not the NSI)

17 12/5/2015 Implementation of the Code of Practice in the ESS 1.The European Statistics Code of Practice 2.Eurostat Implementation strategy 3.Monitoring and Reporting 4.Quality label for European official statistics

18 12/5/2015 Guidance for users Campaign for the Code Positioning of official statistics in the information market Improving quality Improving quality reporting Strengthening the co-ordination of production of statistics at European level Objectives Quality label for European official statistics (1)

19 ESS improvement actions time Compliance with Code Labelling of European official statistics signalling compliance with the Code to users Quality label for European official statistics (2)

20 Thank you for your attention!