Improving the quality and availability of migration statistics in Europe: - reviewing concepts and definitions to develop EU legislation for migration statistics David Thorogood Eurostat

Content EU legislation for migration statistics –What are the effects of EU statistical legislation? –Progress and future plans –Implementing the legislation Concepts and definitions –Many questions Conclusions –Lessons –Ideas for the future

Purpose of an EU regulation for migration statistics Most important areas of European statistics have a clear legal base in EU law Defines in detail –the data to be supplied to Eurostat –technical and quality standards –timing, reference periods, formats for data transmission –metadata –methods and data sources (usually, but not for migration) Regulation –directly applicable –legally binding on all EU Member States

Principles followed Freedom to use any appropriate data sources Harmonised statistical definitions –UN Recommendations –EU legislation on immigration, asylum, border controls Emphasis on metadata Some flexibility to update definitions in future Covers all existing migration-related statistics –Migration flows, foreign population stocks, asylum, acquisition of citizenship, measures against unauthorised entry and stay, residence permits

Current situation and future plans First drafts for informal discussion – August 2003 Commission proposal for legislation – September 2005 Review / amendment / voting –European Parliament –Council of the EU Votes expected in the coming months Coming into force on 2007? Implementation –Further legal work –Technical guidelines –Practical assistance projects

Definitions and concepts – detailed discussion and questioning Making something a legal obligation concentrates the mind… What do the UN Recommendations really mean? Are they appropriate, feasible, necessary? nationally, in the EU, globally Can the definitions be applied? by all Member States using all data sources

Example: Implementing a ’12-month stay’ definition of migration Why 12 months? –National systems: 3-6 months –EU visas/residence permits: 3 months Actual duration of stay, intended/expected stay, legally authorised stay? –Is ‘intention’ good enough? Which is the reference year? –Year of arrival or year when completes 12 months Time limit for data supply –Can only confirm if a 12-month migrant 12 months after the end of the reference year

Example: Implementing a ’12-month stay’ definition of migration (2) Definitions based on duration of stay… appropriate or useful? unwillingness to accept that citizens of a country or persons born in the country could ever be described as ‘migrants’ some users prefer to classify cross-border movements by reason for entry or by the rights granted to the person (employment etc.) feasible (for all migrants)? in a European context of open internal borders, ongoing removal of restrictions on EU citizens’ rights to work and establish residence, increasing cross-border commuting, retirement and ownership of second residences … less administrative data

Conclusions Definitions in the legislation broadly follow the UN Recommendations The 12-month duration of stay definition  remains an important and useful measure  serves well needs of population statisticians  but covers only some of the groups who could legitimately be counted as ‘migrants’  Closely documenting and rigorously applying definitions rapidly illustrates any problems or inconsistencies  Certain flows and stocks are becoming even harder to measure  emigration  intra-EU flows  flows and stocks of nationals and other EU citizens

Thank you