What is the ESS and how it works
The European Statistical System guarantees that those European Statistics compiled in all the Member States of the European Union are reliable, following common criteria and definitions, and processing the data in an appropriate way so that it is always comparable among the different countries of the EU.
The European Statistical System (ESS) is comprised of: Eurostat (the statistics office of the EU), the statistical offices of all the Member States (the different National Statistical Institutes) and other institutions that compile European statistics.
The objective of the European Statistical System (ESS) is to guarantee statistics data that is harmonised, reliable, pertinent and usable.
Currently, the ESS is regulated by the European Statistical Law, passed in 2009 through Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council (Regulation (EC) No. 223/2009) of the European Parliament and of the Council. The Regulation contains the fundamental principles for compiling European statistics. The last major revision took place in 2015, while another revision is currently being prepared.
European Union statistics are prepared, compiled and disseminated by both the European Statistical System (ESS) and the European System of Central Banks (ESCB).
The nucleus of the ESS is the European Statistical System Committee. Participating therein are Eurostat and the presidents of the national statistical offices of the Member States and the Member States of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). This Committee offers professional orientation for the planning, compilation and dissemination of European statistics.
The ESS has a European Statistical Programme, which includes the statistical planning for a period of five years. This Programme is passed by the European Parliament and by the Council.
Although the activity planning is carried out jointly among the National Statistical Institutes and Eurostat, the production of harmonised national statistics corresponds to the authorities of the Member States, whereas Eurostat collects the data provided by the Member States, analyses it, and based on this, offers comparable and harmonised figures, making it possible to define, undertake and analyse community policies.
Furthermore, Eurostat undertakes to ensure the coordination necessary to guarantee the functioning of this complex system (different languages, very diverse forms of administrative organisation, specific nomenclatures, etc.) and to ensure the coherence and quality of the data.
More information at the European Statistical System website
