European statistics

PURPOSE: to make the legal framework governing European statistics fit for the future and significantly improve the responsiveness of the ESS to data need.

PROPOSED ACT: Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the European Parliament decides in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure and on an equal footing with the Council.

BACKROUND: the current legal framework governing European statistics is Regulation (EC) No 223/200. It was revised in 2015 to strengthen the overall governance of the European Statistical System (ESS) and, notably, its professional independence. Since then, this strengthened governance has proved to be effective.

The recent financial, migration and Covid-19 crises followed by the Russian military aggression against Ukraine have, however, amplified demands for and expectations of timelier and more detailed European statistics, needed to inform EU decision-making and ensure the best possible EU response to crises.

At the same time, the ESS operates in a context driven by profound digital transformation that have created new information needs alongside the emergence of many digital data sources. These sources are ready to be tapped and can help generate European statistics that can meet these needs in a more efficient, extensive, and timelier manner.

To address growing expectations for timelier, more frequent and more detailed European statistics as well as for a faster and more coordinated ESS response to urgent statistical demands in times of crisis, it is necessary to amend Regulation (EC) No 223/2009.

CONTENT: the purpose of this Regulation is to ensure that European statistics stay relevant by taking into account those changing and more demanding user needs, notably by tapping the full potential of digital data sources and technologies, by enabling their re-use for European statistics, by making the ESS more agile and able to respond effectively and swiftly to crises, and by promoting data sharing and strengthening coordination among ESS partners.

The proposed measures will:

- ensure sustainable and fair use of digital data sources for European statistics by establishing a mechanism whereby private data holders can be required on a mandatory basis to enable the reuse of the data they hold for the purpose of developing and producing such statistics;

- allow to initiate statistical actions conducted directly at EU level in response to crisis and extraordinary circumstances;

- mandate data sharing among the partners of the ESS for statistical purposes where relevant and justified;

- allow the Commission (Eurostat) to share data with the NSIs via a secure infrastructure; and

- enable the NSIs to assume data governance in their respective data ecosystems, thereby enhancing data interoperability and standardisation

Thanks to these measures, the ESS will be able to produce statistics that are more relevant, available more promptly, and more detailed. This will improve efficiency and reduce the costs and burdens on the Member States and survey respondents.