Methodological Database MARS Berthold Feldmann June 1997 Amsterdam Treaty berthold.feldmann@cec.eu.int

The history 2000: Collection of meta data in candidate countries Published in 3 books Should be extended to old MS Should be updated Should be a user friendly web product

The history (2) Achievements in 2003/2004 Creation of a web based database Loading content of the 3 books into the database MARS (=Methodological Database for Regional Statistics) Started a questionnaire to old and new Member States in order to update the content Abandoned for contractual reasons

Now.. New contract under way to create questionnaires to all Member States and 4 candidate countries Runs November 2005 – September 2006 Will increase transparency of methods used and comparability of regional data

Classification of subjects in MARS Institutional information Administration - Organisation Regionalisation of organisation Person responsible Legal base Current legal base Obligation for data supply Access to administrative data Changes of legislation planned National Classifications Regional breakdown Other classifications Data sources Register Type of data collection (survey/administrative data/census) Statistical units Periodicity Data flow

Classification of subjects in MARS Compilation Methods of compilation Confidentiality requirements Expected changes Quality Past experience Future plans Production database Type of database Access to database Dissemination Dissemination on paper in local language Electronic dissemination (web and other) Dissemination in English (paper and electronic)

Your cooperation is needed! Please fill in the questionnaire as complete as possible when it arrives Cooperate in further questions Thanks a lot