1. SIMSTAT IS progress report
ITDG plenary meeting 25/2/2015
Christine Wirtz, ESTAT.B3 – IT for statistical production

2. Background
SIMSTAT (Single Market Statistics) is a project on micro-data exchange for intra-EU trade
ESSC agreed on 24/5/2012 to launch the project
ESAC (Oct'12) expressed a positive opinion saying "SIMSTAT stands for a European approach for producing high quality international trade statistics. This is a change in paradigm in the ways European statistics are produced and disseminated."
ESSC (Nov'12) included SIMSTAT in the ESS.VIP programme
ESSC (Nov'14) approved the alignment of SIMSTAT to the ESS Vision 2020 and that the project should continue according to plan

3. Main deliverables Information system Trial data exchange through which
MSs will provide access to some of their micro-data
and
will receive relevant micro-data from other MSs.
Trial data exchange
IS to be successfully tested by around 20 MS.
Feasibility study report
Documentation and manuals
Recommendations / requirements for other corporate software functionality.

4. SIMSTAT Information System consists of …
SIMSTAT HUB
central IS for receipt, validation, transformation of data, as well as sending of data and reports
SIMSTAT communication component
central part (HUB) & client part (in MS)
allows communication with CCN
SIMSTAT infrastructure
hosting of the HUB and the transmission network
National systems
To produce data files to be sent to the partners, as well as to receive, store and process incoming data and reports
National CCN gateway
To connect from the NSI to the relevant national administration

5. SIMSTAT Information System in use …
20th April 2015: Trial data exchange will start
Before: the SIMSTAT IS needs to be tested
Testing by MSs is crucial to ensure that the IS works with the national environments

6. SIMSTAT Information System … testing
Step 1: Transmission infrastructure
Eurostat tested during Dec’14
Testing by / with MSs started on 12/1/2015
11 (out of 20) MSs connected by 23/2/2015
Connectivity / network capacity testing ongoing with connected MS
Step 2: Complete Simstat IS
Eurostat installations and testing ongoing
Testing by / with MSs starting:
Presentation to MSs at ESSnet workshop Feb’15
ESSnet has a work-package to test the SIMSTAT IS

7. ITDG is invited to support the next steps
Connection to CCN (for 9 – out of 20 - MS)
Testing of the complete SIMSTAT IS (for the connected MS)
Ensure that national systems are prepared