Institutional and organisational set up for refugee statistics:EU experience

International Conference on Refugee Statistics

Ms. Mariana KotzevaDeputy Director-GeneralEurostat

Presentation outline

1.Setting the scope: European Statistical System 2.The institutional set up:

a. Legal frameworksb. Role of NSIs and other statistical authoritiesc. Statistical principles and standardsd. Access to data sources

3.Organisational set up:a. Harmonisation of the statistical outputb. Quality assurance

Setting the Scope:

• European Union consists of 28 member states, a. operates through a system of supranational institutions

b. and intergovernmental-negotiated decisions by the member states.

The European Statistical System is partnership of :

• Statistical office of the European Union (Eurostat), • National statistical institutes (NSIs) in each Member sate • Other national authorities that develop, produce and

disseminate European statistics. • This Partnership also includes the EEA and EFTA countries.

Basic steps for the production of European statistics

1. Reception of data2. Checking of the content3. Assessment on the quality4. Asking for revision (if necessary)5. Database 6. Calculation of EU aggregates and indicators7. Publication of European statistics!

Legal bases for statistics:

General Law on Statistics

Sectorial Laws on Statistics

• European Code of Practice

Why the general law on statistics is important?

• It defines:

• Roles of key actors in producing statistics;• Definitions and principles of official statistics;• Means for producing statistics ( i.e. Annual work

programmes)• Data sources• Quality criteria• Data protection and Confidentiality

European Law on StatisticsRegulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European

statisticsCALLED THE 'EUROPEAN STATISTICAL LAW'

1. It provides the basic legal framework for development, production and dissemination of European statistics.

2. Recently amended: May 2015 – Ref. Regulation (EU) 2015/759• Access to administrative data• Coordination role of NSIs in national statistical systems• Profesisonal independance of the heads of NSIs

STATISTICAL PRINCIPES IN THE EUROPEAN LAW ON STATISTICS

- Professional independence

- Impartiality

- Objectivity

- Reliability

- Statistical confidentiality

- Cost effectiveness

Sectorial regulations on Population Statistics in the EU

1. Demography• Regulation (EC) No 1260/2013 on European demographic

statistics (Population, Vital events)• Commission Regulation (EU) No 205/2014 (Breakdowns of data)

2. Population census• Regulation (EC) No 763/2008 on population and housing

censuses (CENSUS)3. Migration and Asylum

• Regulation (EC) No 862/2007 on Community statistics on migration and international protection (Migration, Asylum, Residence permits, Enforcement)

• Commission Regulation (EU) No 216/2010 (Reasons for issuing permits)• Commission Regulation (EU) No 351/2010 (Country groups)

Role of NSIs in 'refugee' statistics

The specificity of data sources…• Administrative sources of primary importance

…implies important role of Other statistical authorities (ONAs) (Min. of Interior/Immigration agencies)

Thus COORDINATION at national level required

Co-ordination role of NSIsSpecified in the European Statistical Law

Scope of coordination:• statistical programming and reporting• quality monitoring• methodology• data transmission• communication on ESS statistical actions• sole contact point for Eurostat

Co-ordination role of Heads of NSIs

Heads of NSI :

• represent the national statistical system in the ESS;

• coordinate statistical activities of ONAs;

• issue national guidelines for ensuring quality of European statistics, monitor their implementation and ensure the compliance with them by the NSI

Access to all administrative recordsReinforced right of access in amended Euroepan Statistical Law

Eurostat, National Statistics Institutes , Other National Administrations shall have the right to access and use all administrative records for the development, production and dissemination of European statistics

Free of charge

Possibility to influence the design

Right to be involved before changes or discontinuation

Output harmonisation in EU context

Principle of harmonising output in statistical legislation:• 28+ national systems used to compile EU aggregates• Variety/Mix of sources used at national level to produce

population data• Use of harmonised methodology and international

standards

Example: Census 2011Variety of collection methods allowed while a program of topics and tables to be produced defined by legislation

Statistical quality criteria – EU Quality Assurance Framework (QAF)

• Relevance

• Accuracy

• Timeliness

• Punctuality

• Accessibility and clarity

• Comparability

• Coherence

Conclusions• Institutional and organizational set up plays an equally

important role to the methodological and technical issues.• Enhancing the coordinating role of NSIs is crucial for

producing high quality statistics.• Variety of available data sources requires wider use of

output harmonization based on minimum quality requirements.

• Exchange of best practices for getting access to administrative data and influencing their design for statistical purposes is of utmost importance.

• Challenges of tapping potential of data deluge and digital transformation are ahead of us!