1. - Euro-SICS as an example
Comments on European co-operation in a short term economic statistics service
- Euro-SICS as an example
Jussi Melkas

2. It, however, requires product development and partnership definition
Introduction:
The presentation tries to argue that extending the user base of Euro-SICS is an urgent task
It, however, requires product development and partnership definition

3. Why do we need Euro-SICS type of service for general use?
Globalisation makes Europe a united target for statistics users
Because of information overflow, reliable information needs to be branded
Speed of communication grows
Electronic service is becoming a dominant channel for economic information
Customer groups interested in Euro-SICS are larger than central banks

4. The role of Euro-SICS as an international economic service
Main part of the international economic service is commercial
Euro-SICS should see it as a group of customers
Euro-SICS should be built in co-operation with OECD, IMF
Euro-SICS should be developed to a Europe-wide common brand of ESS
A common marketing plan for Euro-SICS should be made
on European level
on national level

5. Product development of Euro-SICS
Media combinations are worth considering
= Internet service + news service + paper publication
Collection of tables is not enough for many customers
= graphics + possibility to make own tables
= tailor-made user interfaces
= special dissemination services
Contents are already fairly well developed
improvements according to users’ wishes
Coordinate metadata with other services (IMF)

6. Users Market research is needed to identify potential users
possible uses of information
media selection
Feedback from customers (feedback page, customer surveys)

7. Price issues Euro-SICS should be a chargeable service
Some information can be disseminated free via other channels (news, key figures)
Price categories according to the use of the information
own use
information brokers
No special prices except for the institutions updating the system

8. Partnership Eurostat:
technical operation of the service (updating process, user interfaces)
organising
updating and reliability of own estimates
NSIs:
updating in time and reliability of the data
Data Shop Network:
marketing and selling

9. Division of rights Each party holds the copyright of its data
Division of revenues:
x% to Eurostat for hosting the service
x% to NSIs and Eurostat according to updated series and the use of their data
x% to the Data Shop Network to be divided according to its own rules