1. INTERNATONAL STATISTICAL CONFERENCE 14 September 2009, Prague Intrastat simplification Johan Debruyn : Eurostat Unit G4 International Trade – Methodology and Classifications

2. 2 Overview of earlier simplifications Since 1993: Intrastat 2005 : 99 to 97% coverage : exemptions CN8 codes Simplified reporting Investments in IT

3. 3 CN Codes

4. 4 Lisbon agenda Further burden reduction commitment COM Council presidencies Quantified 2007 by ECOFIN 25% Measurement 13 areas, consortium Statistics includes Intrastat; 50% of burden WG 2007 : SF and thresholds EC 222/2009 thresholds 97 to 95% arrivals Potential 190,000 exemptions

5. 5 2008: 17 MS Studies Conclusions SF Serious quality issues (timeliness, accuracy…) for trade data and BoP, NA Variants as well Exemptions are important, but accross board Burden reduction in monetary terms Dispatches are best Problem of putting dispatches thresholds up More supporters

6. 6 2008: 17 MS Studies Conclusions TH Best option for most MS Less quality problems Straightforward Number of exemptions equivalent More focus on SMEs

7. 7 2008: 17 MS Studies Other conclusions CN code on invoice Estimation of statistical value Less detailed CN reporting

8. 8 Single flow advantages Burden reduction, savings for enterprises Burden reduction, savings for statistical offices Timeliness, increased response speed

9. 9 Single flow drawbacks Data quality, asymmetries no longer visible Loss of Member State sovereignty Coverage problem Breaks in series Also variants show drawbacks

10. 10 Single flow burden reduction At 97% PSIs -63% but quality problems So SF threshold at 98% PSIs -56% So SF threshold at 99% PSIs -40% Amended Regulation potentially -35% without major quality issues and geared to SMEs

11. 11 State of play September 2009 IP in ISC; final approval Q4 of 2009 MEETS programme call for proposals Consortium recommendations taken up by HLG : further analyse potential of SF with guarantees for data quality. Recommendation to the Commission to eventually switch to SF.

12. 12 Perspective 2050 30 years of single flow Pressure to simplify Abandon Intrastat ? Lots of political preconditions Cfr. Euro

13. 13 Thank you