1. CCSA Conference on Data Quality
The European Statistical System Peer Reviews: Results, experiences and lessons learnt
CCSA Conference on Data Quality
Rome, 7-8 July 2008
Martina Hahn, Eurostat

2. ESS Peer reviews Objectives
monitoring of the implementation of the Code of Practice
to boost quality, to enhance credibility of European statistics
identification of ESS benchmarks and common difficulties
sharing of ESS best practices and knowledge transfer
Scope
27 EU MS + 4 EFTA MS + Eurostat
institutional environment and dissemination practices
co-ordination role of NSI

3. High overall ESS compliance levels

4. High diversity across ESS; lack of transparency in some cases
Strengths of the ESS
sufficient legal mandate for NSI,
practical difficulties to use admin. data
Strong in practice, legislation to be supplemented in some SAs to reinforce independence
High diversity across ESS; lack of transparency in some cases
Strong legal basis, impressive safeguards across the ESS; excellent practices in micro-data access

5. Areas of improvement for the ESS
High service orientation;
modern dissemination channels;
some SAs need to improve metadata and accessibility
Broadly satisfactory resources, some severe exceptions and risks for meeting future demands
Lowest compliance levels compared to other principles, improvements needed on the ESS- wide scale

6. ESS best practices for compliance with the Code of Practice by other national producers of European Statistics (not the NSI)
Statistical law covering all actors at national level
delineation of the statistics function
co-ordinated community (recruitment, training, ethical standards)
common dissemination platform
labelling/certification mechanism

7. Experiences CoP as assessment framework Suitability of PR methodology
4 indicators fully met by (almost) all
“not met” limited to 5 indicators
overlaps, precision of concepts
Suitability of PR methodology
quality assurance by Eurostat
validity of results confirmed by quantitative analysis
importance of qualitative
High investments
Peers: 31 peers from 18 countries + 18 from Eurostat + 2 from IOs
NSIs: about 600hrs in total
learning curve

8. Lessons learnt successful exercise, benefits going beyond objectives
adequate scope – future domain specific reviews?
evolution of the Code of Practice (new benchmarks, modification of indicators)
quantitative and qualitative results
limit number of peers
improvement of user satisfaction survey methodology
good practices – more guidance

10. Thank you for your attention!