1. The ESS vision, ESSnets and SDMX
Håkan Linden
Unit B6, Eurostat

2. The Commission Communication 404/2009 “On the production method of EU statistics: a vision for the next decade”.
The basic ideas of this communication (from 08/2009) are:
From statistical stove pipes to more integrated statistical production processes;
Better integration of the ESS in terms of IT infrastructure, software, data quality, metadata, methodology etc. (both in terms of horizontal and vertical integration);
Increased use of administrative data sources in the statistical data production processes;
Statistical legislation should be broader and more cross-cutting in covering larger statistical domains.

3. The Joint ESS strategy (05/2010) The way forward
More harmonisation and standardisation of statistical methodologies for data collection, data validation, dissemination etc.
Harmonising the IT infrastructure and sharing IT tools as facilitator of the use of agreed statistical methods;
Harmonising metadata (role of metadata in the GSBPM);
More emphasis on cross-cutting areas such as data quality statistical methods, methodology, metadata, IT….
Data quality: need for harmonised high-level quality assurance and adaptation of the quality framework;

4. The Joint ESS strategy (05/2010) The way forward
Identify generic processes for producing ESS statistics;
Metadata driven IT infrastructure based on SDMX;
Some examples: the New Dissemination chain, the ESS Metadata Handler, Vision Infrastructure Projects…….
First candidates for integration: broader statistical domains such as business statistics, price statistics, etc.
Many actions already launched some years ago or ongoing (e.g. those based on the MEETS program);
……………
Overall: the aim is to reduce cost and burden for the whole European Statistical System

5. The Joint ESS strategy (05/2010) Some tools and instruments
New generation of framework regulations related to the standardisation of the statistical business processes (e.g. related to data/metadata exchange, data quality, etc.); but legislation will remain output-oriented;
Community financial contribution: ESSnets, grants etc.;
Sponsorships, ESSnets, MEETS and other collaboration networks;
SDMX as main enabler of this strategy.
Don’t forget that: “Statistical domains should be the drivers and owners of the process integration”

6. The ESS Strategy- the way forward
Work areas
Actions and actors
Quality
Harmonisation of quality reporting, quality indicators, etc.
Define a high-level and harmonised quality assurance within the ESS
Improve the COP
Actor: WG/Sponsorship on quality
Methodology
Design statistical business processes and document them; - Identify and define harmonised and agreed methods for key steps of the statistical business process and use them more broadly;
Integrate national and international statistical business processes;
Actors: Sponsorship on standardisation, DIME, Working Groups
Metadata and classifications
Broadly harmonise metadata and implement the metadata standards from end-to-end;
Use SDMX for the ESS metadata standards;
Actors: DIME, SDMX, Metadata Working Group

7. The ESS Strategy- the way forward
Work areas
Actions and actors
IT infrastructure
Design distributed IT architecture and standards for co-operative development
Use SDMX IT Reference Infrastructure more broadly
Create common data and metadata warehouses
Actors: ITDG, SDMX, Working Groups
IT tools
Develop and share more IT tools within the ESS (e.g. for data validation)
Use SDMX IT tools more broadly
Dissemination
Work on a harmonisation and integration of data dissemination within the ESS
Disseminate data in SDMX-ML
Actors: WG, Sponsorship on Communication

8. SDMX actions SDMX Technical Standards SDMX Statistical Standards
Version 2.1 to be adopted by SMDX Secretariat on
SDMX Statistical Standards
Further development of the Content-Oriented Guidelines and their different Annexes (Code lists, …)
SDMX IT tools and infrastructure
Further development and implementation of the SMDX-RI (using: 12 ESS countries + Mexico; interest: 9 ESS countries + Russia).
Census HUB (integrated countries: 11; interest/ work on integration: 13 countries; more information: 7 countries).
ESSnets on SDMX: more deliverables

9. SDMX actions SDMX Governance SDMX Capacity building SDMX communication
Weekly SDMX Secretariat meetings
SDMX Technical Standards Working Group
SDMX Statistical Working Group
SDMX Capacity building
Training courses (statisticians/ IT staff, IT developers, ESTP courses etc.)
Self-learning packages (8 ready; 2 to come)
SDMX communication
SDMX website more frequently updated (incl. SDMX Tools Repository)
SDMX Newsletters
SDMX Global Conference (2-4 May 2011)

10. GSBPM and integration of statistical business processes

11. The ESSnets
‘A network of several ESS organisations aimed at providing results that will be beneficial to the whole ESS’
Several partners. Results available for non-participating countries.
Issues of European interest
Compatible with the 5 Year Programme of the ESS
Cost-effective (avoid duplication)
Knowledge sharing, innovation, harmonisation
Sustainability
ESS organisations in partnership
The ESSnets contribute the horizontal and vertical integration in the European Statistical System

12. Coverage of an ESSnet action
Activities:
development of pilot tools for a specific phase of statistical production
drafting of guidelines
establishment of standards
improving data quality
testing new methods of gathering or producing information
etc..
Substantial methodological and development work to be provided
Over a limited period of up to 4 years
Not for standard production of statistics
Countries outsourcing some specific production processes to only one member do not qualify

13. ESSnet Country participation 2006-2010

14. The ESSnet portal

15. SDMX ESSnet phase I

16. SDMX ESSnet phase II
Kick off meeting 1 April 2011

17. Knowledge Transfer and Dissemination
Tasks:
Establishment of a Website for disseminating results
Training sessions to non-members
Workshops, Handbooks or manuals for implementation
Development of methodological and IT tools made available
Provision of customised support for implementation
Coordination between ESSnets
Open source software applications (
Well documented/ described results (in English)
Present ideas to ensure inclusion of non-participating MS’s after the end of the project