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Division 2.1 The European Statistical System

United Kingdom

Original text. Later amendments are not shown.

Eurostat is responsible for ensuring the production of Community statistics for EU policy purposes. The efficient production of the Community statistics covered by this programme, where Member State authorities are responsible for the production of harmonised national statistics and where Eurostat is responsible for the production of Community statistics on the basis of data supplied mostly by the national statistical authorities, necessitates close and coordinated cooperation. Such cooperation is achieved through the ESS.

The ESS is the partnership comprising Eurostat, national statistical institutes and other national statistical bodies responsible in each Member State for producing and disseminating European statistics in line with the principles of the European Statistics Code of Practice. Eurostat will ensure the necessary management and coordination of this structure in order to ensure the timely provision of statistics in support of EU policy needs.

Exchange of experience, best practices, know-how and key methodological techniques amongst the members of the ESS is also a fundamental element of the smooth functioning of the system. This is promoted through the development of the European Statistical Training Programme.

The objectives for the programme period are:

  • for the Commission and the Member States to take the appropriate initiatives towards compliance with the European Statistics Code of Practice,

  • to establish a European Statistical Governance Advisory Board to complement the governance structure,

  • to explore a quality labelling of European official statistical aggregates in feasibility studies for the development of suitable procedures, standards and criteria for that purpose, and

  • to ensure that the European Statistical Training Programme aims at improving the overall quality of European statistics by raising the qualification of statisticians, promoting their independence, encouraging both theoretical and practical training and exchanging experience and best practices.